What to do after a road accident

1. Stop and secure the scene

Switch on the hazard lights, put on your high-visibility vest before you get out, and place the warning triangle at the required distance. If it can be done safely, move off the carriageway.

2. Check whether anyone is injured

If anyone is injured or killed, calling 112 is compulsory. This is the one item on this list that is not a matter of judgement — in that case you must notify the police, regardless of what those involved agree between themselves.

3. When it is wise to call the police anyway

Where nobody is injured, those involved may settle it between themselves. Calling the police is still advisable:

• when you cannot agree with the other party about who caused the accident,
• when you suspect the other driver is under the influence of alcohol or other substances,
• when the other party leaves the scene or refuses to give their details,
• when the material damage is substantial or third-party or public property has been damaged.

4. Fill in the European accident statement

The European accident statement is meant precisely for cases where nobody is injured, the damage is material and both parties agree on what happened. Both drivers fill in and sign the form, and each keeps a copy.

You get the form free of charge when you take out compulsory vehicle insurance, at roadworthiness test centres and at AMZS branches. It is worth keeping one in the car before you ever need it.

5. Take photographs before moving the vehicles

Photograph the position of the vehicles on the road, the damage from several angles, the number plates, the road signs and the state of the road surface. Photographs are later the quickest way to establish what happened.

6. If the vehicle cannot be driven

Call a recovery service. Ours is available 24 hours a day, every day of the week, including nights and holidays. As a rule we bring the vehicle to our workshop at Kolodvorska cesta 16 in Kočevje, where we can carry out the repair as well.

If you are left without a vehicle, we arrange a courtesy one for the duration of the repair if needed.

7. Filing the claim and the repair

We file the claim and handle all the paperwork for you, whichever insurer you are with. You bring the vehicle in; we coordinate the rest.

Where body and paint work is needed, it is carried out by the external contractor we work with — but the repair is still coordinated by us.

The above is a summary of the usual procedure and not legal advice. Whether the police must be notified in your case depends on the circumstances at the scene; if in doubt, call 113 or 112.

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