The most important thing is first making sure everyone is ok and seeking emergency help if needed. Don’t stress about getting details of the other driver if you’re being loaded into the back of an ambulance – your health and safety matter more than that!

If everyone is ok, here are some tips you should keep handy that will make claiming a breeze;

Record third party details

Your insurance company is going to want to identify and contact any third parties, so you need to obtain the following at minimum;

• Name

• Address

• Phone Number

The more info you can get, the better when it comes to making a claim. If you can obtain a drivers licence number, rego number, and vehicle make and model, this will greatly assist and if the third party is at fault, your insurer should waive the excess when all this information is provided.

The easiest way of getting all of this is to take a photo of the other parties drivers licence. You can then snap a quick photo of the rego plate and vehicle front and back for quick reference also.

Exchange insurance and contact details

If you know your insurance details – company and policy number – pass this on to the third party, and note down their insurance details also.

Even easier, if you’re a MeyerInsure client, just provide the other party with my contact details and I can be your personal go-between.

Did anyone see what happened?

If there were independent witnesses to the accident, it can help later if there is a dispute over the details. If the opportunity presents, take the names and phone numbers of anyone who saw the incident as the insurer can later contact them to ask their version of events.

Contact your broker ASAP

As soon as you’re safe and able, give me a call and let me know what’s happened. I’ll take the details needed to get a claim lodged, and get it underway immediately. I will also be able to confirm if you’ve got any useful additional benefits in your policy that we can make use of, and what repairer and towing options are available.

And lastly – don’t stress, I’ll be in regular contact and keep you updated frequently as the claim progresses.