You should only drive your car, motorcycle or scooter if it's in a condition that's safe for you and any passengers. Don't drive your vehicle if: The lights or brakes aren't working. It's difficult to get in or out.
Laws About Damaged Vehicles
Even if your car can move after a collision, it may not be drivable in the eyes of the law. Although laws may differ based on your location, most states have laws that prevent driving damaged cars if the damage represents a danger to passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians.
While you can file a personal injury benefits claim for three months after a motor vehicle accident has occurred, the real deadline you should keep in mind is 28 days. First of all, 28 days is the time limit to report the incident to the police if they were not at the scene.
Stop after a crash
If you're involved in a crash, you must always stop and give as much help as possible. You must provide your details to the other people involved or to police. If you're involved in a crash that causes death or injury and you do not stop and help, you can get a fine and be sent to prison.
You SHOULDN'T Say “Sorry” or Admit Fault
And many people assume that they must have done something wrong when another vehicle collides with theirs. But saying “sorry” or claiming fault immediately after a crash can be extremely harmful to your claim.
Whether you can catch the culprit or not, you should call the police. Hit and runs are against the law, so you need to record the crime. The police might also be able to help you reach the other motorist, so they could help you get the compensation you need.
You need to let your insurer know about an accident, usually within 24 hours, regardless of who was to blame and even if you don't want to make a claim. The other driver could make a claim against you so it's best to let your insurer know your side of the story first.
Typically, your personal injury limitation period will start from the date of the accident. This is the date on which you first became injured. You will then have three years to make your claim from that date.
Vic – 12 months
You have 12 months to lodge a claim from the date of your accident, or the date an injury from the accident first becomes evident. Some exceptions apply.
(1) If the wheels will not turn or steer (2) if the headlights, signal lights, taillights are broken (3) If fluids are leaking (4) If the trunk will not seal tightly, allowing harmful exhaust gases to enter (5) if for any other reason that you do not feel safe do not drive it.
Yes, but you'll need to make sure that the damage isn't too extensive first. Measure the dent and check that it's no bigger than three inches in diameter and that it's shallow, too.
So how long can you go without driving your car? If you have not prepped your vehicle for a long time of not driving it you should not let it sit for more than one month, and even then, you should try to start it up and drive it for 15-30 minutes a few times within the month.
While you must notify the insurance company of the accident, you should not explain the details of the accident, your injuries, or other potential damages at this time. Your lawyer can do that for you.
What happens if I fail to report an accident to my insurers? Failure to report an accident can lead to your policy being declared void by your insurers which could result in you being uninsured in respect of vehicle damage in the event of a later accident.
You must tell your insurer about previous accidents and claims, and if you have a medical condition such as epilepsy that can affect your driving. If you don't, when it comes to claim time your insurer can reject your claim on the grounds of non-disclosure.
Even if the accident may seem minor, you should either swap details with the other parties involved at the scene or report the accident to the police. If you don't, it could be seen that you've failed to stop or failed to report an accident, both of which can affect your driving record, or even carry a prison sentence.
tell your insurer about the accident straightaway, even if you don't want to make a claim. if someone is injured, show your insurance certificate or cover note to the police.
In a nutshell, small dents/scratches on your car's surface does not require a car insurance claim. In fact, it is best to refrain from raising a claim in such a scenario, as you may otherwise lose a lot of money.
Your apology will be seen as admission of fault: Apologizing at the scene of the accident creates a record of that apology, which the insurance company will see. Their job is to keep you from obtaining the compensation you deserve, so you can expect them to use your apology against you as evidence of your culpability.
After an accident, even one that's clearly not your fault, saying “I'm sorry” may feel natural. However, you should avoid saying “sorry” or any other word of apology in this situation. This is because doing so may result in the other party taking it as an admission of guilt.