Accidents involving only damage to bodywork
An accident involving only bodywork damage has the following scenarios.
Your vehicle still drives
- Switch on your warning lights to warn the traffic
- Pull on a safety bib before leaving your vehicle. This applies to all occupants
- After an accident or during a breakdown on the road/highway no-one should remain in the vehicle. Only in the event of (suspected) injury should you leave that person in the vehicle
- Never remain in the carriageway
- Never push a car to the roadside
- Always be aware of the traffic, also any traffic on the hard shoulder
- Stand behind the crash barrier (middle or verge) or in the verge, but do not cross carriageways
- Note / photograph (e.g., using a phone) the number plate of the vehicle with which you were involved in a collision
- Drive your vehicle to the closest exit lane, parking area, filling station and complete the European claim form
- Avoid stopping on the hard shoulder
Your vehicle can get to the hard shoulder but no further
- Switch on your warning lights to warn the traffic
- Pull on a safety bib before leaving your vehicle. This applies to all occupants
- After an accident or during a breakdown on the road/highway no-one should remain in the vehicle. Only in the event of (suspected) injury should you leave that person in the vehicle
- Never remain in the carriageway
- Never push a car to the roadside
- Always be aware of the traffic, also any traffic on the hard shoulder
- Stand behind the crash barrier (middle or verge) or in the verge, but do not cross carriageways
- Note / photograph (e.g., using a phone) the number plate of the vehicle with which you were involved in a collision
- Drive your vehicle to the hard shoulder
- As soon as the car is stationary on the hard shoulder, consult your own breakdown service or your Insurance company (see phone number on your ‘Green Card’). They will help you
- The complete the European claim form
Your vehicle can no longer drive
- Switch on your warning lights to warn the traffic
- Pull on a safety bib before leaving your vehicle. This applies to all occupants
- After an accident or during a breakdown on the road/highway no-one should remain in the vehicle. Only in the event of (suspected) injury should you leave that person in the vehicle
- Never remain in the carriageway
- Never push a car to the roadside
- Always be aware of the traffic, also any traffic on the hard shoulder
- Stand behind the crash barrier (middle or verge) or in the verge, but do not cross carriageways
- Explain where you are; are you on a road or a highway?
- When reporting the accident or breakdown provide all the information about the closest marker post:
- the road number, like A4
- the marker post, like 50.8
- Li (left) of Re (right) and (if stated) the black letter on the yellow background, like ‘t’
- Explain what you see
- Any injured people: how many, how serious, trapped?
- How many trucks, cars or motorbikes are there?
- Are there hazardous substances (orange board with numbers or warning boards)? In that case keep a distance of 100 metres and the wind in your back NB On the basis of your information, the emergency centre will call in the requisite emergency services
- A highways inspector takes care of safety measures on the spot
- A salvage company transports your car (free of charge) to the first available safe location
- A salvage company transports your truck to the first available safe location. The costs will be reclaimed from the owner
- The police will almost never come to the spot if there is only damage to the bodywork
- Note / photograph (e.g., using a phone) the number plate of the vehicle with which you were involved in a collision
- Then complete the European claim form