What you should do when you get into an accident in Qatar

There's a chance that you may be in an auto accident at least one time in your life,regardless of whether you are a safe and careful driver, and chances are that the accident may not be your fault.

Whatever the reason, an auto accident can be very stressful and time consuming. Not only may you sustain injuries, you will have to call the authorities, check car damage, issues of liability, insurance, and possible injuries.

With winter at our doorsteps, the chances of being in an accident may increase, especially when there are extreme windy conditions, a sandstorm, or rain and the roads become sandy, slipperyor wet.

Be prepared

If you are involved in an auto accident in Qatar and take the following steps, you can safeguard yourself and others involved, ensure the accident is documented and report an insurance claim without wasting valuable time.

· Always keep emergency flares, cones or warning triangles in the car.
· Use them to warn the police and other drivers that there is an accident.
· Switch on the car's hazard lights.
· Call the police and your insurance company immediately.
· Exchange information for insurance purposes.
· Try to stay calm.
· Move the cars out of traffic's way if it is not a serious accident.
· Try to take pictures of the damage and record other relevant information. This would include names, addresses, car and insurance details of those involved, the date and time the accident occurred and weather conditions
· Check for injuries and call 999 if needed.
· Wait for the police to arrive and/or ambulance to arrive.

If the police do not arrive at the accident scene in Qatarbecause it is a minor one and there are no injuries, they will inform you to visit the local police station or go straight to the insurance compay where you can report the auto accident, fill a report and have the auto damage photographed.

What Not to Do in an Auto Accident

1.    Whether or not the accident is serious, do not leave the accident scene or you may be liable for prosecution.

2.    Do not get stressed or lose your calm.

3.    If someone is injured, whether yourself or someone else, do not forget to call 999.

4.    Do not get into arguments with other drivers who may be involved in the accident.

5.    Do not try to solve the matter yourself without involving the police.

6.    A police report is important, especially for an insurance claim; do not forget to document all the necessary information in it.

7.    For purposes of insurance claims, do not forget to get the insurance information of the other driver/s, if any involved.

8.    Under any circumstances, do not assume responsibility for the accident or offer pay damages to the other driver/s involved.

9.    Do not forget to contact the insurance company as soon as possible. If you fail to do this, and the time period for claims lapses, you may have to pay the damages yourself.

Keep an Emergency Kit in the Car

Be equipped for an emergency situation by keeping the following in your car at all times;

• ·       Fire extinguisher
• ·       Emergency cones, road flares or warning triangles
• ·       First aid kit
• ·       Flashlight
• ·       Tool kit
• ·       Booster cables
• ·       Rope
• ·       Tyre change and repair kit
• ·       Water
• ·       Non-perishable food
• ·       Work gloves
• ·       Blanket
• ·       Wipes
• ·       Pen and paper

In case you are involved in an auto accident, whatever the situation, try to stay calm, and if you follow the steps above, rest assured, everything will be just fine.