two men fill out a form after a car accident

What to do in a car accident?

If you are involved in a car accident, it is important to know what to do. Whether you are personally responsible for an accident, or not, there are a number of steps you should take when you are in an accident.

Fortunately, you can fall back on your car insurance to handle the claim. Here we explain what to do in a car accident.

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Been in a car accident: now what?

Here are some important tips for what to do in a car accident

Remain calm and get yourself and any others involved to safety.
Do not just move injured persons. Call 112 for ambulance or police. (In the case of minor eye damage, this is not necessary in the Netherlands)
Fill out the claim form immediately with those involved. Do not leave the scene of the accident without leaving data. This is punishable!
Take the vehicles to a safe place, if possible. If the road is not blocked, it is better to leave the vehicles.
Car do move? Be sure to take as many good photos of the situation and damage as possible.
Use the warning triangle to alert other road users.
Are there any witnesses? Record their details.
Contact us or the insurer immediately

What to do in a car accident abroad?

What should you do if you get into a car accident abroad ? You then have to deal with the laws and traffic regulations of that country. This can mean that a claim for damages has to be filed in a different way than in the Netherlands. Perhaps the other party is liable for the collision under Dutch law, but not abroad due to different priority rules. In addition, the settlement may also be different in each country.

Representative insurer how does it act?

To quickly settle damages after a car accident, there is a legal regulation within the EU. Each insurance company must have a representative abroad with whom you can further settle the claim once you are home. This regulation applies in the countries in the EU, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland. At the Dutch Motor Insurers Bureau you can see who the Dutch representative of the EU insurance company is. You can contact this representative for claim settlement in case of damage.

Car accident with cyclist or pedestrian: who is liable?

In an accident, it is normally necessary to first prove who is liable. However, the law states that a driver of a motor vehicle is always liable unless he can prove force majeure. If you, as the driver of a car, motorcycle or moped, hit a pedestrian or cyclist, you are liable. This does not always imply that you are at fault, but cyclists and pedestrians are much more vulnerable in traffic. They are more likely to suffer more severe injuries and are therefore protected.

Fill out claim form after a car accident

The claim form should be in the glove box of your car. If it's not, it's best to make sure it is. Not having the claim form handy in an accident can be problematic. If you no longer have a claim form, request a new one from your insurer or your agent. You can also download a claim form from our site.

In addition, filling out a claim form correctly is very important. This will ensure that the claim settlement can proceed smoothly. Therefore, always make sure that you send the front and back complete and signed to your insurance company or insurance intermediary. We have made a video that explains step by step how to fill out a claim form.