In case of car collisions

Nabasa ko ang post ni Marhgil titled “Bangaan Lessons”, mga things to do kapag nabangga ang sasakyan mo. Naisip ko na okay din gumawa ng NZ version nito. From experience (dahil dalawang beses na akong na-involve sa banggaan dito), eto ang mga dapat gawin in most non-major collisions. Ibig sabihin hindi life threatening. If it's life threatening call emergecy, dial 111 from a land line or 211 from a mobile phone.

1. Safety First. Itabi mo ang sasakyan. This may be contrary to common practice in the Philippines dahil doon hindi natin inaalis sa eksena ang mga sasakyan. Over here, you are expected to move your vehicle to safety and not obstruct the normal flow of traffic.

2. Be Cool. Katulad din ng sinabi ni Marhgil, dapat cool ka alang. First thing is to make sure everyone is okay, ikaw at ang iyong mga pasahero. Tapos lapitan mo yung driver ng kabilang sasakyan at tanungin mo “Are you okay?”. Ipakita mong concerned ka rin sa safety and well-being ng kabilang driver. This helps relieve any possible tension.

3. Get details. Kunin mo ang pangalan at contact details nung driver, ang plate number, model, color ng sasakyan at ang insurance details nila. Note down details about the incident – what your speed was, as well as that of the other car, the location (make a sketch of the street and the cars), time of day, visibility, driving conditions. Note down the demeanor of the other driver, like if he/she appears sober or not.

4. WOF. Tingnan mo kung hindi pa expired yung registration at Warrant of Fitness (WOF) nung kabilang sasakyan. Makikita mo ito sa sticker sa windshield. Kasi kung expired na ang WOF or registration niya kahit ikaw ang may kasalanan pwedeng ipaglaban ng insurance mo ang kaso.

5. Witness. Try to find a third party who witnessed the incident. Kung meron willing mag-witness, kunin mo ang contact details nila. Kung wala naman, okay lang.

6. Negotiate. You can try to negotiate with the other driver kung okay lang sa kanya na hindi na padaanin sa insurance. However, in my case, dahil di naman ako me kasalanan, I left everything with the insurance.

7. Split na. Pagkatapos ng insidente at nakuha mo na lahat ng kailangan detalye, pwede na kayong mag-split. Hindi na kailangan maghintay ng pulis.

8. Insurance report. Tumawag kaagad sa insurance company at i-report and insidente. Usually, they’ll ask you to fill up a claim form. After that they’ll give you instructions of how to get your car fixed. Follow their instructions very carfully para walang hassle sa pag-claim.

9. Fixing your car. Panelbeaters and tawag sa mga shops na nag-aayos ng mga bangga sa sasakyan. Pumili ka ng panelbeater na may Courtesy Car na tinatawag. Sasakyan ito na ipahihiram sa yo ng panelbeater habang inaayos ang nabangga mong sasakyan. Walang bayad ito.

Yon lang. Next time mag-ingat na para malayo sa aksidente.