Are you the cause of an accident? This is important now!
An accident is always a shock for everyone involved. But especially when you're the cause of an accident, it's not easy to keep calm. The most important rule: never hit and run!
With every accident in which you are involved or witness, you must first secure the scene of the accident, take care of the injured, notify the police if necessary and document the course of the accident. If you go through our checklist calmly, you can prevent worse. Only when the scene of the accident has been secured should you responsibly devote yourself to settling the claim .
Accident - what to do?
With this checklist you will not forget anything and ensure that the claims settlement process runs smoothly.
Secure the scene of the accident
First you activate the hazard warning lights , then put on the safety vest and set up the warning triangle about 100 meters away.
If the damage is only minor , it is important that the scene of the accident is cleared as quickly as possible. In the event of a major accident, make sure that no one removes important traces. This means that the cars stay where they are until the police record the accident.
Take care of injured people
To do this, dial 110 or 112. The following information is then important :
- Who reports? Entering your name and location is important here.
- Where did the accident happen?
- What happened?
- How many cars are involved, how many people are injured?
- who is hurt
Inform the police
If it is a minor fender bender , the police do not have to be there. But of course it is not forbidden to call them either. In the event of major damage , injured persons or unclear guilt, you must inform the police in any case.
Document the course of the accident
- For the documentation, you should have everyone involved show you their identity papers and write down their names and addresses.
- You should also write down the license plates of the vehicles involved in the accident.
- The documentation also includes information about the insurance and the insurance number.
- If the driver is not the vehicle owner , you still need the name and address of the owner. You can find this data in the vehicle registration document of the injured party.
- You should also check the exact time and location of the accident
- Photos of the scene of the accident and damage to the vehicles as well as a sketch of how the accident happened are extremely important . Never underestimate the importance of detailed photos and take a few more than too few.
- Don't forget the names and addresses of any witnesses to the accident , if there are any.
- All this information then belongs in the accident report.
Who pays for the damage caused to the person who caused the accident?
If there is personal injury , the motor vehicle liability insurance will cover the costs . Compensation for pain and suffering is also possible. It should be noted that only the injured parties are entitled to it and not the person who caused the accident. If he is injured himself, his health insurance pays.
The damage to the vehicles of the other parties involved in the accident is completely replaced by the insurance of the person who caused the accident if he alone is to blame. If you are partially to blame for the accident - if other parties are also partly to blame - the insurance company pays the corresponding shares.
If the person who caused the accident acted with gross negligence , the insurance cover may be limited. This can happen, for example, in an accident under the influence of alcohol.
Attention: Liability does not pay for damage to your own vehicle!
Insured persons often forget that motor vehicle liability insurance only pays for damage to the vehicle of the other party involved in the accident . She is not responsible for damage to her own car. However, if the person involved in the accident is found to be partly to blame , their car insurance company is responsible for your damage. Otherwise, comprehensive insurance alone will help you .
As the person who caused the accident, you have to reckon with these consequences
What happens if you cause an accident? The consequences are of course dependent on the course of the accident and can therefore vary. Did the accident just happen due to carelessness and no one was injured ? Then you as the polluter - or your liability - have to compensate the injured party for the damage.
Have you caused an accident with minor damage, for example by exceeding the speed limit, drinking alcohol or fiddling with your mobile phone? Then you can expect a fine or warning as the cause of the accident , and a reduction or rejection of the damage in the comprehensive insurance is also possible. In addition, depending on the amount of the fine, additional points in Flensburg can result.
The following incidents are among the most common causes of accidents
The mobile phone at the wheel quickly creates a distraction that can then cause an accident. The result is a fine of 200 euros for you as the cause of the accident. There is also a month's driving ban and 2 points in Flensburg. There is also a risk that the insurance company may refuse and/or reduce the settlement of the claim.
Drinking and driving can be considered a criminal offense from a blood alcohol level of 0.3 and also limit insurance benefits. For those who cause the accident, the fine is at least 500 euros and there is also a one-month driving ban.
If you have a probationary driver's license , you may receive a warning, fine, withdrawal of your driver's license and points in Flensburg. However, you can also expect an extension of the probationary period or additional training. If you have an accident while driving without a license, you have even committed two crimes. A fine and a liability insurance claim of up to 5000 euros can be expected here, which the owner can take recourse to . But imprisonment and claims for damages are also possible.
If your car no longer has a technical inspection at the time of the accident that you were at fault for , your car insurance will still pay. However, there may be restrictions if an appraiser determines that your car was technically not in order. Here, too, the insurer can claim up to 5,000 euros in recourse.
Accident Perpetrators: What if the worst happens?
If an accident results in negligent bodily harm: This will result in a prison sentence of up to three years or a fine. In the case of negligent homicide, the sentence can be up to five years in prison or there is a large fine. There are also 3 points each in Flensburg.
Never hit and run!
If you leave the scene of an accident without permission and commit a hit-and-run , you not only have to reckon with fines and points. A driving ban of at least 6 months can also be imposed. In addition, there is a risk of loss of comprehensive insurance and recourse to liability of up to 5,000 euros.
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