Natural Healing After Collision

• No one is hurt in the accident
• Damage to the vehicle is less than $2000

• As difficult as it may seem, it is important that you remain calm.
• Do not argue with other drivers and passengers. Save your story for the police.
• Do not voluntarily assume liability or take responsibility, sign statements regarding fault, or promise to pay for damage at the scene of the accident.
• Be watchful for unauthorized tow truck operators. To learn more about tow truck scams, visit FSCO’s Tips For Avoiding Tow Truck and Storage Scams.

Road accidents are always unexpected. Be prepared by keeping the following inside your vehicle at all times:

• Pen and paper
• FSRA’s accident worksheet [PDF]. (Print and keep a copy in your glove compartment. It will help you record valuable information on-scene.)
• Emergency road flares, warning triangles or cones
• Fire extinguisher (A-B-C Type)
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Bottled water
• Booster cables
• Tire repair kit and pump
• Small tool kit
• Towel
• Pair of work gloves
• Non-perishable food
• Hand wipes
• Thermal blanket

• Some large municipalities (such as Brampton, Hamilton, Mississauga, Toronto and Windsor) licence tow trucks and require drivers to post a municipal licence number on their trucks. If you’re in such a community, check if the tow truck has a municipal licence number on its side before you use its services.
• Look to see if the tow truck is affiliated with a reputable company such as an automotive roadside assistance group or automobile association.
• Listen for obvious clues. Does the driver recommend a particular repair facility without being asked? If so, this might be an indication that a referral fee arrangement exists. In some municipalities, making such a recommendation may be illegal.
• Carefully read everything the tow truck driver asks you to sign.
• Ask that your vehicle be taken to a secure location where an adjuster or appraiser from your insurance company can have access to it. Some municipalities require that your vehicle be taken to a Collision Reporting Centre or police station before it goes anywhere else.
• You have the option to choose where to have your vehicle towed to for repairs. Some insurance companies use preferred repair shops where they have an agreement that guarantees your vehicle will be repaired to the highest possible standards. For more information, contact your insurance company.