WATCH: What to do when you get in a car accident in Czechia?

Traffic accidents can happen to any of us. It’s good to know what to do when you are involved in a fender-bender or even something more serious.     

This video by the driving experts at Autoškola King explains the proper protocol to follow when you get into a scuttle on the motorway. (The video is in Czech with English subtitles.)

The first thing to remember, says Pavel Greiner, owner of Autoškola King, is to never jump out of your car and immediately say it was your fault. 

Safely brake your car, turn off the engine, and switch on the hazard lights. Get out of the car and put on a reflective vest, which Greiner recommends storing in a place easily accessible to the driver.

Install a warning triangle at 50 meters in an urban area and 100 meters on a highway. Check for injured people and try to determine the extent of the damage. 

If it’s a minor accident, secure evidence and take photos. Mark the accident traces or the outlines of the involved vehicles, and provide the other driver with your identity card and driver’s license. Fill out a traffic accident report. 

After filing the report, both parties should call the insurance company of the one at fault and provide information about the accident.   

If a person is injured or killed in a traffic accident you are involved in, call the police immediately. 

Keep in mind that everyone is obliged to provide first aid if their life isn’t endangered. Failing to provide first aid or leaving the scene of an accident without doing so is a criminal offense. You should always call the police if one party leaves the scene of the accident or if you suspect driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 

Another contentious point where police involvement will likely be needed is damages. If damages exceed CZK 100,000, or if you cannot determine the amount or agree on who is at fault, call the cops, says Greiner. If damage was done to third-party property, like a parked vehicle, a fence, or the roadway, or if you cannot restore traffic flow on your own, call the police. 

Greiner’s ultimate pro tip? Never give in to pressure from the other side. In such cases, always call the police.