No one enjoys getting into a car crash, but the situation is often more fraught with emotion when you experience a classic car accident. You have poured a lot of money into restoring your classic car to drivable condition, not to mention tons of time. The thought of it sustaining damage might be enough to make you want to cry.

Unfortunately, driving a classic car doesn’t make you immune to accidents. Whether an accident happens while taking a casual drive through the neighbourhood or travelling several provinces away, you need to know what to do in the aftermath.

What to Do After a Car Accident with Your Collector Car

Canadian law requires drivers to remain at the scene of an accident until they have exchanged contact information with the other driver and the police have written a report, if necessary. This is true regardless of who was at fault or the accident’s severity. If your car is not immobilized, move it to the shoulder of the road and turn on your emergency flashers.

Stay in your vehicle and call the police if you have a mobile phone. If you don’t carry a phone, motion for the other driver or witnesses to the accident to call the police for you. The police dispatcher will ask several questions to determine whether to send a patrol officer to the scene. You can call the collision reporting centre in your province for minor accidents with no injuries instead. Below are several other steps you must go through after an accident with a classic car.

Check Yourself and Your Passengers for Injuries

You may need to assist injured people in your car before emergency help gets to the scene, so be sure to carry a first aid kit in your vehicle glove box. Remember never to attempt to move an injured person on your own. If someone needs urgent medical care, let the emergency police dispatcher know during your call.

Exchange Information with the Other Driver without Blaming or Admitting Fault

You may feel anxious or even angry after a car accident damages your classic car, but lashing out at the other driver will only worsen an already stressful situation. Remain as calm as possible without pinning the blame on anyone, including yourself.

Your insurance company needs certain details before it can process your accident claim. Here’s the information you’ll need from the other driver:

  • Full legal name
  • Contact information, including physical address, e-mail address, and telephone number
  • License plate number
  • Type and location of the vehicle
  • Full legal names of all passengers and any witnesses to the accident
  • Name of the insurance company and policy number

Take Pictures if Possible

Memories wane over time, even after something as dramatic as a car accident. If you have access to a camera, we recommend taking as many pictures of the scene as possible. Photos should include the condition of each vehicle after the accident, the road conditions, and the surrounding scenery to help pinpoint the location of the crash.

We also recommend writing down details after the accident while your memory is still fresh. A few examples to include are the date and time of the crash, road and weather conditions, and the estimated speed of both vehicles just before impact. Drawing a diagram of the accident can also help to jog your memory later.

Provide an Accurate Statement to the Responding Police Officer

The patrol officer responding to the accident scene will take an official statement from each driver regarding how the accident happened. As you did when speaking to the other driver, stick to the facts and leave emotion and speculation out of your statement. The words you say after an accident become part of the official record for the police and insurance companies. You don’t want to say something embarrassing that you’ll have to defend later.

Provide an Accurate Statement to the Responding Police Officer

Every insurance company does things a bit differently when it comes to accident reporting. For example, you may have to call, mail a written report, or submit an online claim. Knowing your insurance company’s policy ahead of time gives you one less thing to worry about when you’re already under significant stress.

Consider Specialized Insurance Policies for Your Classic Car Before an Accident Happens

Wayfarer Insurance is in the business of protecting classic cars. Learn more about your policy before you take your restored beauty out on the roads.

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