Keep Your Head: What to Do If You Crash Your Mercedes
Muamer Hodzic January 21, 2015
Crashing a Mercedes is a nightmare scenario that we’d all pay good money to avoid.
Aside from the pain of witnessing this pinnacle of German engineering lying in a crumpled heap, there’s also the danger that you, a passenger or another driver could be seriously injured.
Despite the UK boasting one of the best road safety records in the world, estimates suggest 730,000 people are injured in road accidents every year, with five people a day killed on Britain’s roads.
Although you probably imagine yourself as an overly cautious driver, there may come a time when you write off your E-Class or veer off a verge in your Viano – and you must know what to do next.
Rather than dusting yourself down, flagging a taxi and attempting to flee the scene, the accident should be reported to the authorities, lest you’re banged up and fined for breaking the law.
Consequently, to avoid having the police knock on your door in the aftermath of smashing your beloved Merc into a lamppost, take the following advice on board before your next journey …
Stop at the Scene
If you’re involved in an accident as a driver and there are injuries or damage to property, you must stop and remain at the scene for a reasonable period of time. Additionally, according to the AA, you should be prepared to give your particulars to anyone with “reasonable grounds” to ask for them.
Assess the Situation
If another person is injured at the scene, you must show your insurance certificate or report the accident at a police station within 24 hours. If you don’t have it when reporting the crash, you can present it within seven days. You cannot do this over the phone or ask someone else to do it for you.
Use Your Car’s Quick Response (QR) Sticker
After a car crash, it’s important the emergency services are on the scene quickly if there are people trapped or injured. As a result, the QR code in your Mercedes is designed to provide important info to first responders by scanning the embedded codes of the car using your smartphone.
Claim Compensation
Finally, if you’ve been involved in a car crash and suffered a painful injury such as whiplash caused by another driver, you could be entitled to compensation. Even if the other driver doesn’t have insurance, the Motor Insurers’ Bureau will typically pay out if the defendant is incapable.
Now it’s over to you …
Have you been involved in an accident in your Mercedes? How did you deal with the situation? Please leave a comment below outlining your experience – we’d love to hear from you.
