Checklist: What to Do If You’re Involved in a Car Accident

On average, there are around 7,000 car accidents every day in Germany. Fortunately, most are minor collisions. If you get into an accident watch our video to see what you need to do or download our free accident checklist.

Safety first

Firstly make sure no one is injured, switch on your hazard lights on, put on a high-visibility jacket and carefully leave the vehicle. Place your hazard triangle 50 to 100 metres from the scene of the accident to warn other drivers and if someone is injured dial 112.

Speak to the police

If . . .

• Someone is injured
• There is considerable damage
• You cannot agree on who is to blame for the accident
• More than two cars were involved
• The other driver flees from the scene
• You suspect the other driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• If you have a collision with a parked car and cannot find the owner

If the scenarios above don’t apply, gather as many details as possible to share with your insurer after the accident.

Gathering evidence to support your claim

Take photos of the scene of the accident including license plates, damage to vehicles or skid marks. If you have a witness that can support your claim, ask for their contact details.

But what if I  crash into a parked vehicle?

You should wait at least 30 minutes for the driver to return to the vehicle. If the owner of the car does not show up, phone the police.

Making a claim

Make sure your claim is processed as quickly as possible by contacting your insurer on the same day. Unfortunately many insurers require you to call them which means waiting on hold or calling the next day if their offices are closed. Thankfully with Getsafe you can file claims at any time in the app. Our chatbot guides you through the process – step by step.