What to do in event of collision with another vehicle

mrcheez

I've never been in a collision with another vehicle in 25 years of driving, but it's probably only a matter of time before it happens.

But it occurred to me that I wouldn't be 100% on what you need to do.

I assume you need to call the gardai for every incident, or if it's only a small rear-ending this isn't required?

If the cars are blocking traffic, you need to move them, but also need to "mark" the area according to citizensinformation.ie … what do they mean by marking the area? Assume a photo is sufficient?

And then obviously exchange insurance details. What do you do if the other driver has no insurance?

BlakeS94

Guards only need to be called if somebody is injured, suspected of drink/drug driving or no insurance, those kind of things,but you're entitled to call them in any case.

Always good to cover yourself and take photos of cars position/damage before anything is moved.

Exchange insurance details then and be on your way. Unless guards have been called then you have to wait. I'd just take a photo of the insurance disc on the window, ask the person is it their own car and take note of if tax/NCT is in date.

If the other person has no insurance there's organisations like MIBI that will look after you.

I was T-boned at a small painted on roundabout around 11 years ago and my car was dragged across the road and planted in the middle of the roundabout, guards were called and they said ah we'll be there in an hour or 2.

Told them car is on top of a small painted on roundabout in rush hour traffic at 5 30pm and I'm not moving it. They were at the scene in about 15 minutes after that 😂

Also don't ever admit liability at the scene, even if it was blatantly your fault. Let the people in suits sort that.

Padre_Pio

First thing is take a few deep breaths and make sure you and your passengers are ok.

Second is get out and check the other driver. Then call gardai and ambulance if necessary and take pictures and exchange information,

Better safe than sorry with all this.

Esel

Your insurance policy document may state that you should not admit liability at the scene. This used to be the case anyway.

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122281297#Comment_122281297

Told them car is on top of a small painted on roundabout in rush hour traffic at 5 30pm and I'm not moving it. They were at the scene in about 15 minutes after that 😂

If there are no injuries and the cars are mobile there is no need to be a dick and leave the cars in place. Take pictures and videos of the crash scene then move the cars.

If there are no injuries and insurance details have been exchanged as there is no legal requirement to call the Gardaí there is no requirement to wait if the other party calls them, once you've done the legally required bits you are free to leave.

BlakeS94

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122281435#Comment_122281435

There was an injury don't be jumping the gun and calling people names without having all the information.

Hungry Burger

It’s good practice to always call the Gardai no matter how small the tip is. Some insurance companies will ask for a Pulse Incident number for you to make a claim.

Whocare

Call garda that why you pay your taxes for let them do something useful instead beating up Peaceful protesters. Take picture and video as picture are very easy to photoshop video not so easy and if have dashcam it Take lot of Worry stress out of it.

one more thing don't believe anything the at fault Party say went it come to money most people are not trustworthy

mikeecho

You just need to exchange what's deemed 'Appropriate Information'

Name, contact details, reg of car, insurance details.

Also agree on the point of impact, and take a few pics.

Now if there's injury, or doubt over any information, call the Po Po.

mrcheez

Cheers, I assume it's prob best to call the Gardai regardless and they could tell me if they need to attend.

And then move the cars if they don't.

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122281591#Comment_122281591

You have to report an RTC to the Gardaí, but you can drop down to your local station and report the RTC to get a Pulse incident number. No need to call them if there's no injuries and the vehicles are mobile.

coylemj

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122282921#Comment_122282921

If nobody was injured, you do not have to report an RTC to the Gardai.

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122282977#Comment_122282977

Yes you do.

Report the accident: If there is no Garda present, you must report the accident as soon as possible to a Garda nearby or at a Garda station. The person (if any) you gave the information can do this. If they cannot do so, you must report the accident.

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel-and-recreation/motoring/motor-accidents/

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122286019#Comment_122286019

And whats going to happen if you don’t report it? Is it against the law? Are you going to be prosecuted? Complete waste of time and effort waiting around for Garda to show up to a minor incident, making a minor ordeal into a bigger headache than it needs to be. But people will do it anyway because Citizens Advice says so🙄

coylemj

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122286019#Comment_122286019

Another reason why you should never take advice from the Citizens Information website

If nobody was injured and you exchange details with the other driver at the scene, neither of you is obliged to report the RTC to the Gardai. They do not want to know about every fender bender and, having established that there are no injuries, will often refuse to come out when you phone them from the scene.

This is the relevant legislation, S.106 of the RTA 1961 as inserted by the schedule to the RTA 1968…

“(d) if—

(i) injury is caused to property other than that of the driver of
the vehicle and for any reason he or, if he is killed or incapacitated,
the person then in charge of the vehicle does not at the place of the
occurrence give the appropriate information to a person entitled under
this section to demand it, or

(ii) injury is caused to a person other than the driver of the vehicle,
the driver of the vehicle or, if he is killed or incapacitated,
the person then in charge of the vehicle shall, unless he had already
given the appropriate information to a member of the Garda Síochána,
report the occurrence as soon as possible to such a member and, if
necessary, shall go for that purpose to the nearest convenient Garda
station and also give on demand the appropriate information to the
member.”

https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1968/act/25/schedule/enacted/en/html#sched

macrubicon

Some advice will depend on your insurer so be sure to read up their policy. Usually insurers have a FAQ on their site of what to do in an accident.

As a few people have said - Check you and all your occupants are OK, Check on the others. Never admit liability and record it if the other party does. Never apologise for it happening as that can be seen as admission of liability.

If it's Minor, exchange details (Name, Address, Phone number, policy number of the car etc.), and take photos of everything including the insurance details of the other car. It's worth asking if it's their car as if it's not they need to provide you with their insurance details if it's not - this could save you weeks on a claim for someone driving on "open drive". You can call into a local Garda station to report the accident on your way home although this is not mandatory unless there is an injury to someone or damage to someone's property (aside from the cars). This is also sometimes a requirement of the insurance company too as a pulse number will aid an insurance investigation if problems occur later. It's no harm either way to have a record of it occurring as no one in the future of the claim can say you didn't.

If it's major or someone is hurt call 999 and get the ambulance first. The guards will usually follow but you should ask for them as well as their powers may be required to move / remove vehicles etc. Any Garda attendance should facilitate the exchange of details as well (usually!) - but possibly not on the day depending on the circumstances. Obviously if someone is seriously injured that takes priority over the admin.

Most Importantly - especially for minor accidents - get the details of any witnesses! Someone external to the 2 parties has to corroborate one of the 2 versions of events. It's not unheard of for someone to admit liability at the scene and claim later they were just in shock and change their story. Then it's all He Said / She Said and you will end up 50/50 without external verification. Take a look about for CCTV and submit a Subject Access Request for your part of it. It may be redacted but will show you on the video. This is why the Pulse number is good - the unredacted version can be made available to the Guards and passed on to the insurance company.

When you get home record everything… Make a sketch of the scene and the movements of the cars, write down and/or record your version of events and call your insurance company to let them know - even if you are not at fault.

mrcheez

Video is probably sufficient rather than a sketch?

kaahooters

call teh guards, take pictures of the cars and positioning, get insurance details form the other driver.

so, take a breath, make sure no ones hurt in your car, makesure its safe to get out, then get out, check to see if anyones hurt in the other car. Presuming all's ok and its a tip do the following next,

take pictures of everything, the damage, road positioning, tyres, lights of the cars, insurance tax and nct certs, and most importantly, EVERYONE IN BOTH CARS. if its safe to move the cars out of the road, do so, if not, stand somwhere safe and wait for a truck.

then make a voice note of your version of the events for insurance. then, hand it all to insurance and let them deal with it, dont offer cash to fix the car, use your insurance.

Water John

One extra point is that, one of the first things to do, even possibly before checking the people in the other car is, to make the collision scene safe. That no other vehicle is at risk of becoming involved.