A vehicle accident is a shocking and stressful experience, especially if you have been injured, or have injured someone else. It is not always easy to think clearly under these circumstances. A few helpful tips:

• –  Stop your car immediately.
• –  Make sure the scene is safe: switch your car off and turn on your hazard lights to alert oncoming traffic about the accident.
• –  Stay calm: try to remain calm and not to panic, while you wait for help to arrive.
• –  Call the police: if someone is injured, the collision has caused a dangerous situation or if someone leaves the scene without exchanging details: Call the police
      immediately. If the accident was minor and there were no injuries, but you have damage to your vehicle, it must be reported to the police within 24 hours. You will
      not be able to claim from your insurer unless you have a police case number.
• –  Exchange information: by law, all parties involved in an accident must exchange details. Ask the other driver for their name, ID number, address, telephone numbers
      (try to get a home number as well as a cellphone number) and their insurance details. You must also provide this information to them. In addition, record any other
      details you think may be relevant e.g. if you think the driver of the other vehicle was using a mobile phone, or appeared to have been drinking, etc.
• –  Take note of the following details: date, time and place the accident occurred. The other vehicles’ make, model, colour and registration number/s. Name, address and
      telephone numbers (home/work/cell) of any witnesses. Name of police or traffic officer, if present, and their police station. Name/telephone number of the towing
      operator. If your mobile phone has a camera, take pictures of the road layout, the position of the vehicles, skid marks, collision points and the damage caused.
• –  Notify your broker or insurance company: you must notify your insurance company immediately of any accident you have been involved in, regardless of whether or not a
      claim is to be made or whose fault it was. Provide all the details, notes, photographs etc.
• –  If your car is not drivable: call your broker or insurer who will arrange for your vehicle to be towed to an approved repair centre. If your car is drivable, call your broker or
      insurer and we will guide you through the claim process.

Other important information:

• –  If a third party is involved and/or passengers are injured: third party insurance covers you against claims made by others against you. For example, if it is proven that you
      were the cause of an accident involving another vehicle (third party) your Third Party insurance will cover any costs you may be liable for. These include costs relating
      to death, injury and damage, as well as any legal costs that could be claimed from you. If you do receive any claim from a third party, please pass the correspondence
      on to us immediately, so that we can deal with it on your behalf (in accordance with your policy contract and provided that the terms of your policy have been met).
• –  If your vehicle is a total loss/write-off: once it is established that your vehicle cannot be repaired, a Claims Consultant will contact you with the details of what to do
      next and what documentation is required to settle your claim.
• –  If your vehicle is stolen or hijacked: if your vehicle is not recovered, a Claims Consultant will let you know what to do next and what documents we need in order to settle
      your claim as quickly as possible.

Burglaries, accidents, fire and other damage can happen to anyone, with devastating and often costly results.

• –   If you enter your property and notice anything out of place: leave immediately as the intruders may still be inside. Rather leave the premises and call the police from your
       mobile, or from a neighbour’s home.
• –   Don’t clean up or move anything: the police require an opportunity to inspect the scene, touching anything could damage vital evidence. The police will want to take a
       statement from you, as well as photographs and fingerprints. The police will also give you a case number. Keep this safe as you’ll need it for your insurance claim.
       If any important documents are missing, such as your id or passport, report that to the police too.
• –   Check your home for damages: make a list of all the items that were stolen before you contact your broker or insurer. If possible include items’ model and serial numbers,
       how much you paid for them, as well as any purchase receipts, instruction manuals or photographs you may have. The more detail you provide, the more helpful the
      information will be to assist us in dealing with your claim quickly and efficiently.
• –   Report your claim within 30 days of the incident: a Claims Consultant, Loss Adjuster or an investigator will be appointed and will contact you to guide you through the
       process.

• –   Switch off the geyser: the isolator switches on your main electrical distribution board and if in doubt, switch off your main electricity supply.
• –   Turn off the water: at the geyser inlet valve to minimise further water damage to ceilings, walls, carpeting and furniture. If your geyser is inaccessible, or you are
       not sure where the valve is located, (or if you have a burst pipe) turn off your water at the mains.
• –   Empty pipes: if you have switched off the main water supply to the whole house, you can also open up all the cold taps, as this will sometimes drain all the hot water from the geyser, but its
       main purpose is to release the pressure in the geyser cylinder thereby making it leak less.
       from the geyser, but its main purpose is to release the pressure in the geyser cylinder thereby making it leak less.
• –   If you have switched off the main water supply to the whole house: you can also open up all the cold taps, as this will sometimes drain all the hot water from the
       geyser instead of it leaking onto your ceiling.
• –   Call your broker or insurer: a Claims Consultant will assist you and guide you through the process.

Bad weather can result in serious damage to property. If your home is damaged by storm, hail or flood, make sure you do the following:

• –   In the event of a flood: dry up as much water as possible to minimise further damage (items like carpets and curtains can be saved if drying takes place promptly).
       Remove furniture and household contents from wet areas.
• –   If the flood is due to a burst water pipe: turn off the main water supply.
• –   If your home has been damaged during a storm: for example if a tree has fallen on the roof, or you have damage caused by hail, evaluate the damage so that you
       can describe it clearly to your broker or Insurer.

• –   Contact the emergency services: in your area immediately.
• –   Do not re-enter the house or any other building: that has been affected by a fire until you have been told it is safe to do so.