A car accident is stressful, even a small one. Knowing what to do in the first hour makes everything that follows (the police report, the insurance claim and the repair) much easier. Here is a simple checklist you can save on your phone.
What should I do first at the scene of an accident?
- Stop and stay calm. Leaving the scene of an accident is an offence in South Africa, even if the damage looks minor.
- Make the scene safe. Switch on your hazard lights. If the cars can be moved and nobody is hurt, move them out of the traffic. Put out your warning triangle if you have one.
- Check for injuries. If anyone is hurt, call for help straight away: 10177 for an ambulance, 10111 for the police, or 112 from any cellphone.
- Do not argue about who is to blame. Stick to the facts. Your insurer and the assessor will work out liability later.
What details do I need from the other driver?
Get these from every driver involved, and give them yours:
- Full name, ID number, cellphone number and address
- Vehicle registration number, make, model and colour
- Their insurer’s name and policy number, if they have insurance
- If the driver is not the owner, the owner’s name and contact details too
Also note the names and numbers of any witnesses. A quick photo of the other driver’s licence disc and number plate saves a lot of trouble later.
What photos should I take?
Take more photos than you think you need:
- All the cars from a distance, showing where they ended up on the road
- Close-ups of the damage on every car
- Number plates
- Road markings, traffic lights, stop signs, skid marks and the weather or light conditions
Write down the date, time and exact location (street names or the nearest intersection) while it is fresh in your mind.
Do I have to report the accident to the police?
In most cases, yes. South African law generally requires an accident to be reported at a police station within 24 hours, particularly where someone is injured or where details could not be exchanged. Most insurers also ask for the police accident report (AR) or case number before they will process a claim, so it is wise to report every accident.
Take your driver’s licence and ID with you. Ask for the AR number and keep it with your notes, because your insurer will ask for it.
Who should tow my car?
Be careful of tow trucks that arrive at the scene without being called. Before you sign anything or let anyone hook up your car:
- Phone your insurer’s roadside or claims line first. Most comprehensive policies include towing and will send an approved tow operator. A tow your insurer did not arrange may not be covered. Check your policy.
- Never sign a blank form or any document that gives a tow company permission to choose your repairer.
- You choose where your car is taken. Tell the operator the name and address of the repairer you want.
- Take your valuables and remote controls out of the car before it leaves.
If the car can be driven safely and legally, you can bring it in yourself.
What if the other driver has no insurance?
This happens often on our roads, so it is worth knowing your options:
- If you have comprehensive cover, you can usually claim on your own policy. You will normally pay your excess, and your insurer may try to recover the costs (and possibly your excess) from the other driver. Ask your insurer how it works on your policy.
- If you only have third-party cover or no insurance, you may need to claim the repair costs directly from the other driver. This is where the details, photos, witnesses and police AR number you collected become very important.
- The Road Accident Fund deals with injury claims, not damage to vehicles.
What happens next with my insurance claim?
Report the claim to your insurer as soon as you can, ideally the same day. After that, the process moves to quoting, the assessor’s approval and the repair. We explain each step in our earlier post, Car Insurance Claims in Bloemfontein: How Your Accident Repair Works, Step by Step. You can also find quick answers on our FAQ page.
Why bring your car to Technicolour after an accident?
Technicolour has been repairing cars in Bloemfontein since 1994. We work with the major South African insurers and handle the insurance claim with you, liaising with your insurer and assessor so you are not stuck in the middle.
- Approved by 27 vehicle manufacturers, with full aluminium structural repair certification for Audi, Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz
- Electric-vehicle ready
- Member of SAMBRA, part of the RMI
- Telesure Regional Repairer of the Year 2026 and Isuzu National Audit & Compliance Winner 2026
- Courtesy cars, pick-up and drop-off, and mobile quotations
Read more about our accident repair service and our repair warranty.
Get a quote
Had an accident? Send us photos of the damage on WhatsApp: 066 121 8489 or call 051 435 5375. You can also email info@technicolour.co.za.
Visit us at 13 Mill Street, Hamilton, Bloemfontein, 9301. We are open Monday to Friday, 07:30 to 17:00.
