QUESTION: Insurance: how to act in a traffic accident and submit a claim?
Getting into a traffic accident always causes stress, but a clear understanding of the action algorithm helps minimize legal and financial risks. The first thing that needs to be done immediately after stopping the car is to ensure your own safety and the safety of your passengers. Be sure to turn on the hazard lights and place a warning triangle at the required distance to warn other road users.
If there are victims as a result of the incident, immediately call an ambulance and traffic police officers, and try to provide first pre-medical aid if possible and you have the necessary skills. Under no circumstances move the vehicles and debris from the scene of the accident, as this is critically important for the subsequent establishment of all circumstances and the culprit of the accident.
If the accident resulted in no injuries and there are no disagreements between drivers regarding the circumstances and the culprit, you can process the incident using the simplified accident report (europrotocol) without calling police officers. To do this, both participants must have valid compulsory motor third party liability insurance policies, and the damage must not exceed the statutory payout limits.
For the successful processing of the europrotocol and receiving an insurance payout, it is convenient to use official mobile applications such as MTPL Assistant (Помощник ОСАГО) or Gosuslugi Auto (Госуслуги Авто). They allow you to record all necessary data, take photos of damage, and transfer information to the insurance company in electronic form, which significantly saves time.
If there are disagreements or the limits of the europrotocol are exceeded, call traffic police officers and record all details in photos and videos. Gather contacts of potential witnesses to the incident, as their testimony may be useful during the investigation. Write down the data of the second participant, including their policy number and the name of the insurance company.
Submitting a claim to the insurance company must be carried out within the timeframes established by the contract, which usually takes from five to fifteen working days from the moment of the accident. It is necessary to attach a package of documents to the claim, including the traffic accident notice, passport, vehicle registration certificate, driver's license, and a certificate from the traffic police or the executed europrotocol.
After submitting the documents, the insurance company will schedule an independent expert examination to assess the damage caused to your car. Do not repair the vehicle until the inspection is carried out by the insurance company's expert so as not to lose the right to payout. Carefully monitor all stages of the case review and, if necessary, involve independent lawyers to protect your interests.