What to Do After a Road Accident in India: A Step-by-Step Guide
4 min read
The first ten minutes matter most. Here is what to do, in order, whether you are hurt or helping someone who is.
1. Get to safety and switch on your hazard lights
If you can move and it is safe, get out of the traffic. Switch on hazard lights and, if you have one, place a reflective triangle behind the vehicle. Do not stand in the road to flag down help.
2. Call for help
Call 112 for police, fire and ambulance, or 108 for an ambulance. On national highways you can also call 1033. Say where you are — a landmark, kilometre marker or your live location is more useful than an address.
- 112 — one emergency number for police, fire and ambulance
- 108 — emergency ambulance
- 1033 — national highway helpline
- 1073 — road accident helpline
3. Help the injured without making things worse
Do not move a seriously injured person unless there is an immediate danger such as fire. Do not remove a helmet from an injured rider unless they cannot breathe. Press firmly on a bleeding wound with a clean cloth. Keep the person warm and talking until help arrives.
4. Alert the people who matter
Tell a family member or friend where you are. If the injured person is unconscious, a SANRAKSH emergency QR on their vehicle lets you alert their emergency contacts without needing their phone.
5. Note down details
Once everyone is safe, photograph the scene, the vehicles and their number plates. Note the time and place, and the names and numbers of witnesses. This helps with police reports and insurance claims.
6. If you are only a bystander
India's Good Samaritan rules are designed to protect people who help accident victims, so do not hesitate to call for help or take someone to hospital. You are not required to pay medical bills or to be questioned against your will.
Related: Emergency QR sticker · Emergency numbers in India