How to stay safe when involved in an accident during Covid-19
Here's what to do to keep safe if you find yourself in a car accident during this pandemic
If you are involved in an accident, law determines you stop your vehicle immediately.
ER24 has offered these tips on how to stay safe when involved in an accident during Covid-19.
Check for injuries, call for help, practise social distancing, wear your mask, avoid a secondary collision, obtain details of all parties, take photos of damages and then report to the police station.
• Do not leave the collision site until the situation has been resolved – unless it is unsafe for you or the other affected parties.
• Try to maintain your social distance (at least 1.5m) as far as possible when you approach the driver(s) of the other vehicle(s).
Also read: ‘Better safe than sorry’ to avoid accidental poisoning in the home
• Don’t forget your mask, and where possible use hand sanitiser before and after exiting your vehicle.
• Determine if anyone was injured or deceased. If there are injured people on the scene, call for help. Take extra care when you assist injured people.
• Wear your mask when conversing or interacting with the other involved parties, and encourage them to wear their masks too.
• Use your hazard lights to warn other vehicles that danger is ahead. Only move the vehicles if there is no serious injury or death.
• If more than one vehicle was involved in the collision, choose to exchange contact information verbally with the other driver, witnesses and other involved parties.
• Take as many pictures as possible of the incident and the other driver’s information. When you take photos of the documents, ensure the details are clear and readable. Take pictures of the damage to all the vehicles involved in the collision, the road conditions and any other relevant information.
Obtain the following information
Also read: Safety tips to prevent electrocution accidents
Try to get the following information from all the parties involved in the collision as well as witnesses on the scene:
• Full names and ID numbers
• Addresses and contact details
• Vehicle registration numbers and licence discs
• Descriptions of the vehicles
• Details of the emergency personnel (police, traffic and ambulance personnel) on the scene, if possible
• Details of tow truck company and staff on the scene
• Insurance details
You can call the police on 10111, ER24 ambulance on 084 124 and the fire brigade and ambulance on 112/10177.
Follow us on social media:
