Checklist: What to do if you get into a car accident

Have you been in a collision or involved in a traffic accident? The most important thing is to make sure no one is injured, warn other road users and document what happened. In this checklist, we go through the steps to take at the scene of the accident and afterwards, from the warning triangle and the claim form to contacting your insurance company.

1. Make sure everyone is safe

First things first! Stop immediately and turn on your hazard lights. Check that neither you nor anyone else involved is injured. If possible, move the vehicle to a safe place so that it doesn’t cause further accidents.

2. Warn other road users and get off the road

According to the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket), you should place a warning triangle at least 100 metres (preferably further) behind the vehicle so that other road users can see it. You must always put out a warning triangle if the speed limit on the road is higher than 50 km/h. Be careful when you walk out to place it: walk along the side of the road, and outside the crash barrier if there is one.

It is not safe to stay in the car or on the road after a car accident. Get off the road and stand behind the crash barrier, or at a safe distance, while you wait for help.

Take the opportunity today to check how to turn on the hazard lights in your car and where the warning triangle is kept.

3. If necessary, call 112

If the accident is serious and someone is injured, call 112 for an ambulance and the police. Help as best you can until medical personnel arrive.

4. Document the scene of the accident

Photos and notes from the scene make it much easier to establish what happened and can help you receive the right compensation from your insurance. Take thorough photos of the vehicles, both close up and from a distance, and from different angles. Also photograph the registration plates, the damage and the road conditions. You can also note the time and place and make a simple sketch of how the accident happened while it is still fresh in your mind.

Read also: What counts as winter road conditions? Drive safely in winter!

5. Take notes and document everything

Exchange contact details with the other people involved and any witnesses. Write down names, phone numbers, insurance details and the vehicles’ registration numbers. There are special claim forms to make sure all relevant information is recorded. A good idea to keep one in the glove compartment!

If the other party is not available, for example in the case of damage to a parked car or a door ding, you are obliged to contact the owner or the police as soon as possible. Try to find the owner’s contact details through the car’s registration number. Also leave a note under the damaged car’s windscreen wiper with your name, phone number and a description of what happened. If you can’t reach the owner, contact the police on 114 14, who will in turn try to reach the owner. If you drive away without making sure the owner or the police receive your details, it may be considered a hit-and-run, even if the damage is minor.

6. Report the accident to your insurance company

Report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible to start the claims process. This applies whether or not you caused the accident.

7. Contact the police in certain circumstances

If someone is injured or the other party leaves the scene, you must contact the police. In an emergency, call 112. If you disagree about who is at fault, it can be a good idea to contact the police on 114 14.

Hit a wild animal? Here’s what to do!

Special rules apply if you have hit a wild animal in Sweden. According to the police, you are obliged to clearly mark the location and call 112 if you have hit a bear, wolverine, lynx, wolf, moose, red deer, roe deer, otter, wild boar, mouflon or eagle. This applies whether the animal leaves the scene or remains there injured. Never follow an injured animal yourself. The police will decide whether a tracking hunter needs to be called to the scene. Failing to report a wildlife accident is a criminal offence in Sweden.