Accidents involving only damage to bodywork

An accident involving only bodywork damage has the following scenarios.

Your vehicle still drives

• Ensure your own safety

1. Switch on your warning lights to warn the traffic
2. Pull on a safety bib before leaving your vehicle. This applies to all occupants
3. 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
4. Never remain in the carriageway
5. Never push a car to the roadside
6. Always be aware of the traffic, also any traffic on the hard shoulder
7. 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

• Ensure your own safety

1. Switch on your warning lights to warn the traffic
2. Pull on a safety bib before leaving your vehicle. This applies to all occupants
3. 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
4. Never remain in the carriageway
5. Never push a car to the roadside
6. Always be aware of the traffic, also any traffic on the hard shoulder
7. 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

• Ensure your own safety

1. Switch on your warning lights to warn the traffic
2. Pull on a safety bib before leaving your vehicle. This applies to all occupants
3. 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
4. Never remain in the carriageway
5. Never push a car to the roadside
6. Always be aware of the traffic, also any traffic on the hard shoulder
7. Stand behind the crash barrier (middle or verge) or in the verge, but do not cross carriageways

• Call 112 for assistance

1. Explain where you are; are you on a road or a highway?
2. 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’
3. Explain what you see
4. Any injured people: how many, how serious, trapped?
5. How many trucks, cars or motorbikes are there?
6. 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

• Assistance on the spot:

1. A highways inspector takes care of safety measures on the spot
2. A salvage company transports your car (free of charge) to the first available safe location
3. A salvage company transports your truck to the first available safe location. The costs will be reclaimed from the owner
4. 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