Motor Accident: What to do and How to make a claim

Lately, there has been an alarming increase in the number of motor accidents on the roads of our very sunny island. Here at DirectAsia, we feel it is best to be equipped with the knowledge of what you can and need to do if you are ever unfortunately involved in one.

Getting into a motor accident is a stressful experience, but knowing the right steps to take can help you manage the situation calmly and effectively. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the actions you need to take immediately after an accident, how to report the incident, and the process for filing a claim.
 

Being Involved in a Road Accident

Of course, nobody wants to experience a car accident in their lifetime. However, even if you are a careful driver, someone else might not have been, resulting in an accident.

These are the steps you should take when you (unfortunately) find yourself involved in a motor accident and are able enough to do the following:
 

1. Stay calm and check for injuries.

Staying calm after an accident might be tough but it is helpful for you to do what is necessary to report the accident. Your safety and the safety of others are of course the utmost priority. Check yourself and others for injuries. If anyone is hurt, call 995 for an ambulance and 999 for the police immediately.
 

2. On Your Hazard Lights

Switch on your hazard lights to alert other drivers of the situation. Do not move your vehicle before taking photos of the accident scene. Moving your vehicle might also allow the chance for insurance companies to dispute your claim. Do not attempt to move the injured person involved in the accident as well.
 

3. Document the Accident and determine the Type of Claim

Take photos of the accident scene and the damages to all vehicles involved. Exchange particulars with all parties involved, this includes witnesses who are willing to give their statements on the accident. These are the particulars you will need to make a claim later:

• Vehicle number of the involved parties
• Name
• NRIC/FIN
• Driver Licence Number of the involved parties
• Contact Number of the involved parties
• Address of the involved parties
• Insurance details of the involved parties

After collecting all of the necessary details, you will need to determine what kind of claim to make based on the circumstances of the accident:

• Third-Party Claim: When the other party is at fault for the accident, you will be making a claim against the other driver’s insurance to cover the repair costs of your vehicle or for any other damages such as medical expenses.
   
• Own Damage Claim: This is when you are at fault for the accident, and you will make a claim for the repair costs or for any other damages under your own vehicle insurance policy.
   
• Claim with Disputed Liability: This occurs when you and other parties involved in the accident are in disagreement with who is at fault/responsible for the accident. This would require investigation by the insurance companies through evidence such as dashcam footage, witness statements, etc. You can settle it either by negotiations or share the liability. However, if an agreement cannot be reached, the matter might proceed to court.

If the road accident involves a foreign-registered vehicle, be it in Singapore or Malaysia, it is advisable for you to claim against your own policy as it saves you the hassle of claiming against motorists from another country. However, you would need to make a police report first if you want to pursue recovery against Malaysia Insurance as they require a police result.
However, if you still wish to make a third-party claim against an insurer in Malaysia, you can refer to the General Insurance Association (GIA) website for the list of documents to submit.

• A photocopy of your Vehicle Registration Card
• A photocopy of your NRIC
• A photocopy of the Certificate of Insurance, cover note or policy schedule
• Police report
• Proof of repair bill/ losses that were incurred
• A police sketch plan (if available)
• Police investigations results (if available)

4. Call Your Insurer’s Hotline 

Call for a Tow-Truck to get your vehicle fixed at any of your insurer’s authorised workshop only if your car cannot be safely driven or if you need further advice on the accident.

5. Make police report (depending on the situation)

Not all car accidents require you to lodge a police report. You will only need to lodge a police report if the accident involves:

• Hit-and-Run 
• Injuries cases where:
  
  a. At least 1 person involved in the accident was taken to the hospital from the accident scene by an ambulance or
  b. Any involved party of the accident was injured and obtained an outpatient medical leave for minimum 3 days or more
   
• Accidents involving a pedestrian or cyclist
• Damage by a Foreign Vehicle
• Disputes or disagreements
• Damage to government property
• Vandalism and Vehicle caught on fire
   

You can lodge a police report via the SPF e-service website via Singpass. Alternatively, you can also head down to the police station. In addition to what we have mentioned in point 3 on what information you need to make a claim, you will also need the following information below when lodging a police report:

• Date, time and location of the accident
• Particulars of witnesses (if any)
• Brief Description of how the accident happened
   

For police reports that are lodged online, you will also need to upload scanned documents, for example a sketch plan.
 

In the event where you are involved in an accident with a foreign-registered vehicle in Singapore, you would need to also get the following information:

• Driver’s Foreign Address
• Local residential and company address (if available)
• Local or Foreign contact number and email address of the driver
•  Driving Licence Information; including the driving licence classes the driver is qualified to drive
   

If you are involved in an accident outside Singapore, you will need to lodge a report to the local police station.
However, making a police report is not equivalent to making a report to your insurer. Therefore, if you have already made a police report, you would still need to make a report to your insurer.
 

6. Report to an Accident Reporting Centre (ARC) 

Report the accident within 24 hours or the next working day if the accident falls on a weekend.If you are insured with us, here is the list of DirectAsia’s ARC.

Failure to report the accident to your insurer might cause you the following:
•    Your insurer might reject your claim 
•    Your NCD might decrease upon renewal of policy which might also mean a higher premium.

Even if you and the parties involved in the accident agree to a private settlement, you are still required to make a report to your insurer for record purposes.

GIA has made the process easier for vehicle owners and drivers to lodge an accident report. As of 31 July 2024, vehicle owners and drivers can now initiate a report online via the GEARS Myinfo Reporting website using their Singpass before heading down to an ARC for a faster and shorter process at the ARC. The Accident Report Number will be sent to you via email upon the submission of your partial report.

After initiating a report, you will just need to provide your Accident Report Number and your Vehicle Registration Number at the ARC and they will assist with the completion and submission of your Accident Report. A copy will be sent to your email. Once you have made a report to the ARC, your insurer will get notified of you report.

7. Submit your documents for claims

Now comes to the most important step of your claim, which is to submit the necessary documents for the claim. Here is the list of documents you need to prepare for your claim submission:

•    Police Report or incident number – can be found in the GIA report
•    Medical reports if you have suffered from injuries from the accident
•    Windscreen Claim Form (if applicable)

As for repair costs, it varies depending on the type of claim you have:

• Own Damage Claim: have your insurer’s authorised workshop assist to put up the estimate for repairs to your insurer.
   
• Third-Party Claim: your insurer’s authorised workshop will coordinate with the Third-party insurers 
   
• Claims with disputed liability: you can choose to appoint a lawyer to claim for the repairs as well as for injury, if any suffered.

However, In the event where you are a victim of a hit-and-run accident, where you do not know the particulars of the other party who caused the accident, you may make a claim over at the Motor Insurers’ Bureau site where you will need to submit your application form and a list of supporting documents. The Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Singapore compensates the victims or their dependants if the victim was killed in the road accident due to negligent drivers who are untraceable or uninsured.

Accidents always happen when we least expect them, practicing safe and defensive driving is the best way to reduce risk when you are on the road. Therefore, having proper coverage for your car insurance and knowing the right steps to take is crucial in protecting yourself both legally and financially. It is also important to work with your insurer to ensure you get the necessary support.

This guide serves as general advice, and you should always refer to your insurance policy and seek professional advice whenever you are unsure of what is required of you. Alternatively, you can refer to this GIA website for more details.