Car accidents are scary, nobody wants to be in one and nobody ever thinks they’ll be in one. But in Malaysia, motor vehicle accidents are much more common than you think, so it’s a good idea to stay alert to which SOPs to take.
Just to give you an idea – In 2019 alone, Malaysia had 567,516 reported motor vehicle crashes and 6,167 fatalities (Malaysian Ministry of Transport).
With how distressing and traumatic a road accident can be, it’s going to be difficult to deal with in the moment. So here are 6 steps you can easily follow after a car accident, along with advice for mental recovery aftercare.
What to do after a Car Accident in Malaysia
It’s especially common for a driver to be in shock right after a crash. These events can be incredibly stressful even after days, weeks, or years. Not knowing what to do can lead to a lack of medical care, loss of proper insurance claims, or loss of potential lawsuit action.
So if you are involved in a car accident or even if it’s just a punctured tire, follow these 6 steps to handle your business:
1. Check if anyone in your car sustained a personal injury.
Whether it’s rear-ended collisions, car crashes, or just your car skirting into a ditch on the side, the first thing you should do is remain calm and check for the safety of you & your passengers.
That way you’ll know if anyone needs medical attention. If they need it, immediately contact a hospital nearby to get assistance.
2. If able, park your car at a safe location. If not, leave your car immediately and move to a safe location.
If you’re in the middle road, it’s quite dangerous to leave the car immediately on the road with moving traffic. Drive to a safe location and turn on your emergency blinkers.
If you have emergency triangles or cones in your car kit, set those up against the oncoming traffic. Ideally, have a lookout to warn oncoming drivers that your car is just parked ahead, so you can avoid further collisions.
3. Take a quick photo of the accident.
For claiming and legal dispute purposes, take a quick photo that clearly shows the accident and involved parties. You may not recall details properly later on, so taking a photo helps protect your interests.
4. Exchange contact information with involved third parties.
If there are third parties involved, gather their contact information, a photo of their driver’s license, and license plate.
From here, you can discuss whether you’d like to settle the repair costs privately or involve a police report. This is where you’ll need to weigh the Pros and Cons of claiming insurance for your particular accident. Sometimes, it’s actually less costly to settle the repair costs privately.
If it’s a minor accident, it’s probably better to settle repair costs at a civilian level (no legal authorities involved – you or the third party pays for the damages). This is because many car insurances offer No-Claim Discount bonuses that go up to 25%, sometimes even 55% in consecutive years. Depending on your NCD, you might save more by not issuing a claim.
However, if the accident is major, meaning your car is totaled or experiencing major engine and/or exterior damages, you definitely should file a police report to improve the chances you can claim insurance.
5. Call the Police if you wish to file a report.
If the accident is severe and involves property damage, personal damage, or worse yet – death. In this case, it is mandatory that you file a police report within 24 hours of the event; doing so will protect your interests and validate your insurance claims, but also give you the leeway to file a lawsuit if desired.
6. Call the Assistance Hotline of whoever you have car coverage with.
The next step is to inform your provider of what has happened and get their assistance on the matter. You’ll get towing assistance to the nearest authorised panel workshop and be able to receive repairs, as well as claims that apply to your specific policy.
Coverage Hotlines
- RHB Car Assistance: 1300 880 881
- eTiQa Car Assistance: 1800 886 491
- Lonpac Car Assistance: 1300 881 138
- Takaful Ihklas Car Assistance: 1800 881 186
- Tune Protect Car Assistance: 1800 885 753
MediSavers eMotoroSavers, powered by Metafinยฎ is underwritten by Takaful Ikhlas, Lonpac, eTiQa, RHB, and Tune Protect. This product is exclusively ๐ฅ๐ช๐ด๐ต๐ณ๐ช๐ฃ๐ถ๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ฃ๐บ ๐๐ถ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ช๐ด๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐๐ฏ๐ด๐ถ๐ณ๐ข๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ค๐ช๐ฆ๐ด, ๐๐ข๐ต๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐ฃ ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ต๐ฉ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐จ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต ๐๐ฅ๐ฏ ๐๐ฉ๐ฅ, ๐๐ฆ๐ฅ๐ช๐๐ข๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ต๐ฉ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐จ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต ๐๐ฅ๐ฏ ๐๐ฉ๐ฅ, ๐๐ฆ๐ฅ๐ช๐๐ข๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐จ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต ๐๐ฅ๐ฏ ๐๐ฉ๐ฅ.
Can I claim insurance if I hit a car in Malaysia?
If you collide with another car in Malaysia, you can still claim insurance to repair the other car and your own car only if you have Comprehensive Coverage.
On the other hand, if you only have Third Party coverage, then your insurance provider will only cover damages to the third party’s bodily injury, car, or property. You won’t receive any coverage for your injuries or vehicle.
If I suffered injuries from a road accident I caused, can I receive financial aid?
While this is a major exclusion with most services in Malaysia, you can actually request for financial aid in the scenario that you caused an accident, with our eMotorSavers membership program. This applies for bodily injury, total permanent disablement, or even death with the Tune Protect underwritten eMotorSavers membership program.
Simply purchase the Personal Accident Add-on as you join our eMotorSavers (Tune Protect underwritten) membership. Learn more about eMotorSavers here.
How do you feel better after a car accident?
Just as important as the physical and financial care you need after a car accident, is also care for your mental well-being. After all, these incidents can cause shock and mental distress for many people, stretching as long as days, weeks, or even years.
If you’re feeling distressed and overwhelmed after a motor vehicle accident, just know that it’s an absolutely normal response. The best thing you can do is give yourself time to recover.
Here are 5 tips to help you recover mentally from a car accident:
- Take a few days off work and rest. You can also organise a work-from-home arrangement at your workplace if it’s allowed.
- Speak with a counselor or therapist if feelings of anxiety persist, especially if you feel jittery behind the wheel.
- Stay up to date with your insurance providers about your claims process, so you can have peace of mind.
- Don’t neglect the power of physical activity, as it can help relieve stress and keep your body & mind healthy.
- Enjoy hobbies and spend time with friends and family.
Final Word
All and all, it’s crucial to know the procedures to take if you ever get in a road accident- whether it is minor or major. With the bustling traffic of vibrant Malaysian cities or even township areas, it’s always good to stay prepared.
Besides good aftercare of your vehicle and yourself after an accident, it’s also important to understand the traffic laws of Malaysia. Read all about the Do’s and Don’ts of driving in Malaysia.
