HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1988-05-18, Page 20PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 1988.
Horsepower *88
You must report accidents
When a person is involved in a
car accident, there are certain laws
that must be observed.
Assuming that you are not
injured, the first question to ask
yourself is, “How much is the
accident worth?’’ In other words,
“Has there been personal injuries
or damage to property apparently
exceeding $700?’’
You might wonder what a “$700
accident’ ’ will buy you with respect
to repairs. A complete front
bumper would be in this price
range. Replacing a fender and *
fixing a very small dent would also
cost this amount. A third example
is a basic enamel paint job.
Essentially, a “$700 accident”
is going to be a very small one
considering the cost of repairs
today. Under $700 it’s not manda
tory to report the accident to police.
If the accident causes more than
$700 in personal injuries or
damage, you must make a report of
the accident “forthwith to the
nearest provincial or municipal
police officer.”
How soon is “forthwith”? This
depends on the circumstances.
If the accident happens on a
Sunday and the only damage from
the accident is to your own vehicle,
then a delay of six hours would
probably be considered reason
able.
On the other hand, if your car
rolls over in a ditch and you leave
the scene of the accident without
reporting it, and don’t bother to
check the damage or contact the
police until the next day, you would
not be fulfilling your legal obliga
tion.
What happens if you are physi
cally incapable of reporting the
accident? If you have someone in
the car who is able to make the
report, that person is required to do
it.
Section 173(3) of the Highway
Traffic Act tells you what type of
information you must give to the
police officer. This includes details
of the accident, the persons involv
ed, the extent of the personal
injuries or property damage and
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The police officer to whom you
provide this information is requir
ed to complete a written report
about the accident and submit it to
the Registrar of Motor Vehicles
within 10 days of the accident. If
you fail to report the accident, you
could, upon conviction, be assess
ed three demerit points on your
driver’s licence record.
Remaining at or immediately
returning to the scene of the
accident is required for every
person who is directly or indirectly
involved in the accident. You are
also obligated to give any possible
assistance.
If requested by anyone who has
suffered lossor injury or by a police
officer or a witness, you are
required to provide your name and
address, the name and address of
the registered vehicle owner of the
vehicle as well as the number of the
vehicle permit.
Under the provisions of the
Compulsory Automobile Insur
ance Act, you are also required to
give the name of the insured
person, the make, model and serial
number ofthecar, as well as the
effective date of the insurance
contract and when it expires. The
name of the insurer, the insurer’s
agent, if any and the police number
of the contract must also be
provided.
What happens if you don’t
remain at the scene of the accident
or provide the appropriate assist
ance and information? Upon con
viction, you could acquire seven
demerit points.
You are also guilty of an offence,
under Section 174(2) of the High
way Traffic Act and if convicted,
“liable to a fine of not less than
$100 and not more than $500 or
to imprisonment for a term of not
more than six months, or to both,
and in addition your licence or
permit may be suspended for
a period of not more than two
years.”
Being in an automobile accident
is certainly not a situation any of us
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wants to be part of. Knowing what
is expected of you should the
unfortunate event happen, how
ever, helps prevent you from
unknowingly breaking the law.
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