We all despise bumper bashes – when a driver bumps into the car in front of them because they haven’t stopped in time or failed to maintain a safe following distance.

It’s awful, but accidents happen in the blink of an eye, whether it’s a little bumper bash, fender bender, or something more serious.

Here are 6 tips for when you get involved in such an accident.

1. Come to a complete stop and remain at the scene Stop your vehicle immediately, turn on your hazard lights and, and step out of your car if it’s safe to do so. If someone is injured, provide whatever assistance you can and contact an ambulance. If you feel that any of the drivers involved were under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you should contact the police. I Keep the following emergency numbers on your phone: 10177 for an ambulance, 10111 for a police response, and 112 for any emergency on a cellphone.

2. Exchange Information Keep a record of everyone involved in the bumper bash. This includes personal information of the other driver – these include full name, ID number, car registration, make, model and colour, address, contact details, and insurance company details.

3. Gather evidence Write down or use your cellphone to capture all road names, landmarks, intersections, and robots since you may need to draw a sketch and describe the bumper bash to claim from insurance. Take note of any visible damage to your car or the cars of other motorists involved.

4. Watch what you say Be cautious of what you say at the site of a bumper bash, or any car accident for that matter. Keep your cool and say less rather than more. Be mindful that while it may appear that your car was not damaged during the incident or that you were not injured, but small bumper smacks can be more serious than they appear. You may later discover your car was damaged or that you did sustain injuries that only manifested in the days following.

5. Consider towing costs Often, a minor bumper bash won’t require vehicle towing. However, only use a towing service authorised by your insurance company if it does. If you do not have tow coverage through your insurance carrier, ask the tow truck driver for a price before your vehicle is towed, and make sure you know where it’s going ahead of time.

6. Police reporting obligations The police are not required to respond to such an accident, but it must be reported to a police station within 24 hours by both drivers. It is illegal not to report an accident, even if neither driver plans to pursue legal action.

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