11.1 Duties After an Accident
Key Takeaways
If an accident happens because of your vehicle's presence on a road, you must stop immediately (s.90(1)(a)).
Give anyone interested your name and address, the owner's name and address, the registration number, the insurer's name and the names of everyone in the vehicle (s.90(1)(b)).
Report the accident at a police station as soon as reasonably practicable and within 24 hours, unless you reported it to a police officer at the scene (s.90(1)(c) and (2)).
Not stopping after an accident, and not reporting an accident involving injury, are in the most serious demerit-point group.
If you are first at the scene, warn other traffic, call for help, and do not leave as soon as another motorist arrives.
Even careful drivers can be involved in a collision. The law sets out precise duties, and the regulation test asks about them.
Section 90: the three duties
A person riding, driving or in charge of any vehicle of any description must, if an accident occurs "by reason of the presence of such vehicle on a road":
(a) Immediately stop.
(b) Give to any person interested in the accident:
- your name and address;
- the name and address of the owner of the vehicle;
- the registration number of the vehicle;
- the name of the insurance company with which the vehicle is insured; and
- the names of all persons in the vehicle at the time of the accident.
(c) Report the accident at a police station "as soon as reasonably practicable, but before the expiration of a period of 24 hours after its occurrence."
The report at a police station is not needed if the accident was reported, at the time and place of the accident, to a member of the Police Force (s.90(2)).
Failing to comply is an offence. The consolidated Act sets a fine of BBD $250 or 3 months' imprisonment, or both. In the Sixth Schedule demerit points list, "Not reporting an accident involving injury" and "Not stopping after an accident" are in the first and most serious group.
Important
The duty applies whether or not you were at fault, and it applies to "any vehicle", including bicycles and animal-drawn vehicles.
The insurance certificate after an injury accident (s.42)
Where an accident on a public road involves personal injury to another person and you do not produce your certificate of insurance at the time to a police officer or to someone entitled to ask for it, you must, as soon as possible and within 24 hours, report the accident at a police station or to a police officer and produce the certificate. You will not be convicted only for failing to produce it if you produce it in person within 5 days of the accident at the police station you named when reporting.
Police tests after an accident
- Vehicle inspection (s.91). The police may inspect and test a vehicle involved in an accident, or have it tested by an inspector, and may require that it not be driven or moved from the scene until it has been tested.
- Blood or urine (s.85F). After an accident causing serious injury or death, a uniformed police officer shall require each driver involved to give a blood or urine specimen at a medical facility (see 9.1).
If you are first at the scene
Barbados test papers ask which of several actions you should not take when you arrive first at an accident. The wrong answer is to leave as soon as another motorist arrives. Stay until help arrives unless you are sure others are dealing with it. A safe sequence:
- Protect the scene. Park safely with hazard lights on, and warn approaching traffic. Do not create a second collision.
- Call for help. Give the exact location and the number of casualties.
- Switch off engines and stop smoking near damaged vehicles because of the fire risk.
- Do not move injured people unless they are in immediate danger, such as fire. Moving them can worsen spinal injuries.
- Give basic first aid if you are able: check breathing, stop serious bleeding with firm pressure, and keep casualties warm and calm.
- Keep bystanders and traffic back, and help the police when they arrive.
If you are involved
| Do | Do not |
|---|---|
| Stop immediately, safely | Drive away, even after a minor scrape |
| Check for injuries and call for help | Argue about fault at the roadside |
| Exchange the five s.90 particulars | Move vehicles before police arrive if there is injury or a dispute, unless they cause danger |
| Note witnesses, time, place, weather and damage | Sign anything you do not understand |
| Report to police within 24 hours if not reported at the scene | Wait for the other driver to report it for you |
| Tell your insurer promptly | Admit liability to the other party's insurer |
Vehicles left in a dangerous position (s.89)
If your vehicle cannot be moved after a collision, you must take steps to show its presence "by lighting or otherwise" and have it moved as near as possible to the left-hand side of the road as soon as you can. Use hazard lights and, if you have one, a warning triangle placed well back.
You are involved in an accident and no police officer attended the scene. By when must you report it at a police station?
Within 48 hours, at the Licensing Authority office in The Pine
Within 24 hours, as soon as reasonably practicable
Only if your insurance company asks you to
Within 7 days, by telephone or in writing
Which piece of information does s.90 require a driver involved in an accident to give to anyone interested?
The name of the driver's employer
The names of all persons in the vehicle at the time
The vehicle's purchase price and mileage
The driver's date of birth and occupation
You are the first to arrive at the scene of an accident. Which of these should you NOT do?
Leave as soon as another motorist arrives
Call the emergency services
Switch on your hazard warning lights
Make sure that engines are switched off
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.