Empire Fleet Solutions

Although minor car accidents are a daily occurrence on our roads, in parking lots and driveways, it always leads to some kind of drama.  Your car may not be totaled, but some damage is usually done, and repairs are subsequently necessary.  If you do not know what to do then you might end up paying for more than you actually should or for something that is not even your responsibility.  If you have not previously been involved in a minor car accident or cannot remember how the procedure works, then please read through the points set out below.

• Make sure that nobody is badly injured.  Check yourself as well as your passengers for any injuries sustained.

• Gather information such as the other driver’s license plate number, the make of the car and its model.  Because some drivers have the tendency to drive away (especially if the accident was their fault), you should immediately look at the back of their car.

• Contact the police as soon as possible.  Most drivers are under the misconception that the police should only be called if it was a major car accident or when someone was seriously hurt.  The police should be called no matter the size of the accident, especially if repairs are going to be done.  Insurance companies rely on the police report to help them determine who was responsible for the accident.

• Exchange information and details with the other driver.  Information that should be exchanged includes names, addresses, contact numbers, driver’s license numbers, as well as each driver’s insurance company details.

• Tell the police your version of events.  Be specific and do not exaggerate.

• Ask if anyone witnessed the accident.  If there was witnesses (pedestrians, other drivers), try to convince them to stay on the scene in order for the police to take their statements.  Also take their names and contact numbers.

File a claim with your insurance company.

The issue surrounding whether or not one should get car hire insurance is being raised more and more.  However, it does have a clear and simple answer, which is yes; you do in fact need car hire insurance.  Anyone who owns a car is aware of the risk that is not having insurance; the same risk applies to not having car hire insurance.  Car accidents take place each and every day, especially during extreme weather conditions such as snow, heavy rain, fog, and frost.  There is also the risk of potentially being the victim of theft, burglary, or vandalism.  The risk that comes with driving a hired car is the same as driving your own car; it might even be bigger, seeing as you do not know the ins and outs of the hired car so well.  That is why having some car hire insurance is so vital.  When hiring a car, the last thing you want to deal with is having it damaged or even stolen.  Taking out some form of car hire insurance is a necessity, no matter where you hire a car. 

By taking out car hire insurance, you are basically protecting yourself from financial liability.  This means in essence that you do not have to pay for thousands of rand worth of damage.  For example, if the hired car is stolen while in your possession and the car hire insurance covers this, you are safe from any potential legal action.

Some people are of the opinion that car hire insurance is too expensive, whether you only hire for a day or over a longer period of time.  While this might be a valid argument when it comes to certain car hire insurance companies, it most certainly is not the case with the majority.  Most car hire insurance companies are quite reasonable with their car hire insurance packages.  Besides, would you not rather pay a bit extra for good car hire insurance than end up having to pay ten times more when legal costs are involved if your hired car is indeed stolen or damaged heavily?

Certain car hire companies even specialize in car hire insurance.  When you need to hire a car next time, it is good idea to try and come into contact with such a car hire insurance company, seeing as they might offer you amazing deals on any type of car hire insurance for various lengths of time.