Motor vehicle collisions: what to do if you have an accident
Let’s face it, despite our best efforts, accidents do happen. If you are involved in a motor collision, the law requires you to do certain things. This applies whether the collision was with another motor vehicle, another user of the road or an object along the road.
“Apart from the legal aspect, there are also things it is advisable to do for safety reasons and to help reduce your possible financial loss,” cautions Ciara O’Gorman, Development Manager with South Munster Citizens Information Service. “Forewarned is forearmed, so it’s worth being informed about what to do in the event of an accident.”
WHAT ARE MY LEGAL OBLIGATIONS?
Your legal obligations, if you are involved in a motor collision, are set out in Section 106 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 as amended. Firstly, you must stop your car and remain at the scene of the accident for a reasonable time.
Provide information: If a Garda is present at the scene of the collision, you must give them, when requested:
• Your name and address
• The address where your car is kept
• The name and address of the car owner
• The car’s registration number
• Motor insurance details (including the expiry date of the policy)
If there is no Garda present, you must give this information on request to:
• The injured person (where someone has been hurt) – or a person asking on their behalf
• The owner whose property has been damaged, or someone asking on their behalf or
• Give the information to an independent person who was present when the collision occurred.
Report the accident: If there is no Garda present, you must report the accident as soon as possible to a Garda who is nearby or at a Garda station. The person (if any) you gave the information to, can do this. If they are not in a position to do so, you must report the accident.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I AM INVOLVED IN A MOTOR COLLISION?
“There are a number of steps you should take if you are unlucky enough to be involved in a collision with another vehicle,” says Ciara.
Decide whether to move the cars: If the collision is serious, do not move the cars. If the collision is minor and the cars are blocking the road or are a danger to other road users, mark their position on the road then move them. Take care when moving damaged cars and be alert to the danger from leaking fuel.
Warn other drivers: Try to warn oncoming traffic of the accident. You can warn them by using your hazard lights. If you have a reflective advance-warning triangle, place it on the road far enough from the scene of the collision to give enough warning to approaching traffic. If the collision happens near a bend in the road, make sure you give warning to traffic on both sides of the bend. If you need to ask for another road user’s help to warn traffic, do so right away.
Call for help: If someone is injured, call the Gardaí (telephone 999 or 112) and, if necessary, ambulance services.
Get information: You should get the information listed above (under ‘Provide information’) from the other drivers involved in the collision. If the collision involves damage to property, get the owner’s name, address and telephone number.
Get the names, addresses and telephone numbers of any witnesses, as these may be required if a question of liability arises.
Photos: Take photos of the scene of the collision if you have a camera. These should include photos of the vehicles before they are moved.
Garda details: You should get the name or number of the Garda to whom the collision is reported. You may need to ensure that a Garda report has been filed for insurance purposes.
“You should write down an account of all relevant facts connected to the collision as soon as possible afterwards,” advises Ciara. “Be sure to sign and date your account (including the time) when it is completed. This could be a very useful document to have going forward.”
UNINSURED OR UNIDENTIFIED CARS
If you wish to claim compensation where you are involved in an accident with an uninsured or unidentified car, contact the Motor Insurer’s Bureau of Ireland (MIBI). MIBI also deals with claims arising from foreign drivers in Ireland or Irish drivers abroad.
SERIOUS ROAD TRAFFIC COLLISIONS
When a serious road traffic collision occurs, causing a serious or fatal injury, there will be an investigation by the Gardaí and possibly the coroner. It may involve an inquest and even a criminal prosecution.
For anyone needing information, advice or who has an advocacy issue they can call a member of the local Citizens Information team in North Cork. Phone Fermoy 0818 07 7970 Monday and Tuesday from 9-5pm, Wednesday and Thursday from 9-1pm. Phone Mallow on 0818 07 8000 - Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9-5pm and Tuesday from 9-12.30pm. Phone Mitchelstown on 0818 07 8030 – calls being answered by Mallow.
Alternatively you can email us on fermoy@citinfo.ie and mallow@citinfo.ie or log on to www. citizensinformation. ie for further information
The front page of TheAvondhu on 20th September, 2001 featured coverage of how the region showed its ‘solidarity with the American people’ following the attacks on the Twin Towers on September 11th. Friday, September 14th saw businesses close and three minutes of silence was held. In Ballyporeen, flags flew at half mast outside the Ronald Reagan Centre, where a busload of American tourists visited, and churches throughout the locality reported record crowds at services. The Avondhu’s editorial
asked ‘Where stands Ireland?’ as Bush and the United States poised themselves for reprisals against Afghanistan, pointing out that as ‘two mighty ideologies square up to one another, the all important middle ground is fast disappearing’.
One photograph in the paper showed a special prayer service in the Town Park in Fermoy, as representatives from the three main churches gathered together. One newlywed couple from Cappoquin, Eddie and Emily Hickey, found themselves caught up in the aftermath as their plane was diverted to Canada, and they had spent the first four days of their honeymoon sleeping in a church in Newfoundland. Ballyhooly man Donal Ahern was in the Pentagon as a tourist picking up souvenirs when the plane hit. He didn’t feel any impact, but spent an extra week in America as a result before returning home, saying he was glad to be back in Ireland. Elsewhere, the Castletownroche Tidy Towns committee collected their £800 cheque for topping the Inter-village Litter Challenge league table for North Cork, while Kilworth secured first place in the Fermoy electoral area.
A thank you was extended from Albert and Brigid McGonagle to their customers for the presentations made to them during their last few days at ‘The Cross’, and they looked forward to seeing everyone from the other side of the counter.
Elsewhere in The Avondhu, an advert announced that Centra in Kildorrery was now open for business.
Mitchelstown GAA announced plans for its ‘ Who Wants to be a Thousandaire?’ competition in The Firgrove Hotel, and new technology meant that contestants could ‘ phone a friend’ via video link.
The Co-Op’s annual sale had some offers that likely wouldn’t be seen anywhere today, like cans of Carling for 99p, cabbages and turnips ‘buy one, get one free’, and a free bag of Polish coal with every four bags bought. An advert from Cork County Council offered discounts on Home Composters, where the public could pick one up for just £10 (rrp £70) while stocks lasted.
In Fermoy Rowing Club a celebration event was held in honour of Gearoid Towey after his achievements in the World Rowing Championships. In recognition, the Kilworth man received a ‘ magnificent piece of crystal’ and a framed scroll. Meanwhile, Ballindangan man and Glanworth Macra member Tadhg Dunne scooped the FBD Young Farmer of the Year title.
In Currabeha, on the Fermoy to Tallow Road, a commemoration event was held to remember the death of Arthur Mulcahy, a young Irish patriot killed in 1921. An oration was given by the man’s nephew, the then-Councillor Art Supple who called his death “an outrageous crime of murder”.
Bartlemy Horse Fair celebrated a successful 2001 event, and one picture featured committee members putting down disinfectant onto mats as the country continued to feel the effects of the Foot and Mouth scare.
A letter to The Avondhu voiced the dismay of one resident who found the Irish flag hanging at half-mast throughout the night in Fermoy, when it should only be flown between dawn and dusk. Another letter queried the sheer number of lottos held locally, and queried why the GAA aren’t capable of insuring their own players.
Events at Fermoy UDC continued to be a source of news as independent councillor Arthur Dowling exited the council chambers directing cries of ‘rats’, ‘bloody communists’ and ‘hyena’ at his colleagues as Fine Gael’s Pat O’Brien was co-opted to a vacant seat.
The Entertainment pages of TheAvondhu were packed 21 years ago, with 34 separate pubs, clubs and hotels advertising bands, dances, discos and cards on the twopage spread alone, with an entire separate page devoted to theatre, concerts and the Ladyboys of Bangkok show. An article covered the visit of Jimmy White and Ken Doherty to Mac’s Bar in Fermoy, before they took part in an exhibition match in the ‘Talk of the South’ ballroom.
Fermoy’s Gerard Donegan was at the World Skills Championships in Seoul along with Donal Caples from Curraglass and 13 other of the country’s top apprentices and students.
In sport, the U14 Ballyduff ladies football team, under captain Vanessa Hannon, were crowned the Waterford County champions for the second year running. In Glenroe, the juvenile hurlers captured their first U16 county title.