Five Things To Do After A Car Accident

ICBC's List of Top Five Things To Do
After A Car Accident

On a typical day in B.C., 200 people are injured in 750 motor vehicle collisions (2008 ICBC data). That means there’s one crash approximately every two minutes. Experiencing a crash can be frightening and stressful to say the very least, so ICBC wants to ensure drivers are well prepared and know what to do if they’re in a crash.

Earlier this year, ICBC and its Autoplan brokers teamed up to launch a claims card - titled At the scene of a crash - to help customers remember all the vital information they need to gather in order to make a claim. The response from our customers has been very positive.

Here are ICBC's top five things to do after a crash:

1. Stop at the scene: If it's safe to do so and you aren't injured, pull over to the side of the road so you don’t block traffic and can safely exchange information with the other parties. If you can't get to a safe area to get out of your vehicle, then stay in it until assistance arrives.
2. Call 911: Your personal safety and well-being is most important. If you or others are seriously injured call 911.
3. Summarize the scenario: ICBC’s new claims cards, available at any Autoplan broker or ICBC Claim Centre, will remind you of the important information you’ll need to record at the scene, such as the date, time and location of the crash, the contact information of others involved, their vehicle’s make, model and licence plate number and insurance policy information. The card also allows you to sketch the crash scenario including the directions of travel and any nearby road signs or traffic lights. Click here to download a copy of this new claims card.
4. Gather additional information: Make sure you get contact information for any witnesses. Pictures can be more powerful than words. If you have a cell phone camera or a disposable camera in your glove box, take photos of the crash scene and the damage done to vehicle(s) or property.
5. Call Dial-A-Claim: ICBC’s Dial-A-Claim Centre is open 24/7 to provide you with hassle-free claims service. In the Lower Mainland call 604-520-8222; elsewhere in B.C. or outside call 1-800-910-4222. Try to report the crash as soon as you can. The claims representative will capture the details of the crash and tell you if you need to visit a claim centre or an autobody repair shop. If you've been injured, your wellbeing is the most important thing - you can ask a friend or family member to report the incident on your behalf. Once the claim has been reported, you can contact us later, when you’ve recovered.