It is often negligence that contributes to car accidents in Dubai; however, many other contributing factors exist. Statistics show six car accidents occur for every 100,000 people in the UAE. According to the Federal Traffic Law that took effect on 1 July 2017 (the “Traffic Law”), fines are usually imposed for traffic violations.

The Following Steps Should Be Followed

It is common for all emirates to update and regularly publish fine lists for traffic violations. Traffic regulations are imposed as part of the UAE’s plan to reduce traffic fatalities from 6 per 100,000 people to 3. The UAE reported more than 1250 traffic accidents by mid-2018. Many of them were caused by sudden swerving, failure to keep a safe distance, and misjudgment on the part of drivers. In 2018, 76 people died in accidents, according to Dubai Traffic Police statistics.

Fortunately, most accidents don’t result in fatalities and are minor. Our prayers are with you and your loved ones that you and they will always be safe. In case of an accident, however, you must be aware of the legal requirements. Accidents can be classified according to their severity. In this blog, we will discuss accidents where there are no serious injuries. You must call 998 for an ambulance if you witness severe damage. When involved in a car accident, the following steps should be followed:

Report The Accident

Contact the police on emergency 999 and request an ambulance in cases of severe injury or damage. It doesn’t matter whether the accident was done by you or someone else, like someone near you driving your car on your behalf or your hired driver; always contact the police. That’s why a Safe Driver, we recommend you hire our Dubai driver service to decrease the chance of an accident.

Additionally, if it is a minor car accident, the non-emergency police helpline can be reached at 901. With the Dubai police mobile application, you can easily report any minor accident in Dubai, file your accident report online and obtain your police report simultaneously. You can also share pictures of the accident through the application.

Obtain Police Report

When an accident is reported to the police, they will access the scene, take photographs, and use other digital tools to identify the defaulting party. After the police checks have been completed, a police report will be issued, a crucial document for establishing the accident and submitting insurance claims.

Insurance Claim

You should also immediately report the accident and probable damages to your vehicle insurance company, if you don’t mind. At SafeDryver, all our services are also insured, so you don’t have to worry if a mistake is made by our daily driver in case of damage to your vehicle. Upon obtaining the police report, the insurance company must receive it to process the claim.

Type of Traffic Laws Violation in UAE

Traffic laws are strictly enforced in the UAE to further its goal of making roads safer. If you commit a serious traffic violation, such as endangering the safety of others, you can face harsher penalties, like jail terms, even if you commit a minor offense.

If you drive recklessly, you may receive fine, black points, and have your vehicle impounded. You are taking risks with the driver’s life or others’ safety or security or driving in a manner that may damage public or private property. Light vehicles would be impounded for 60 days, fined AED 2000, and given 23 black points.

In the case of more serious traffic violations, the Court decides the penalty. Penalties may include imprisonment and fines. The following are more serious offenses:

Collision with Another Vehicle

Step 1. Secure The Area

• It is always necessary to stop in the safest place immediately after hitting someone or being hit by someone. Traffic should not be obstructed.
• Turn on your car’s hazardous light when it is safe to exit.
• Check if anyone else has been injured and needs medical attention if you are fit. An ambulance should be called immediately in case of an emergency.
• Take down the license plate numbers of the other driver if they flee.

Step 2.  Alert Authorities

• When you have been involved in an accident, call 999 and ask for the police.
• You should have the necessary documents, such as a driving license, a car registration card, an Emirati ID, or a passport.
• You should take a few pictures of the damaged car (avoid taking pictures of people).

Step 3. When Police Arrives

• You must never engage in a conflict or argument with another party. To deal with legal formalities later on, you should try to maintain calm as much as possible.
• Avoid interfering with the procedures by letting the police do their job.
• The police will issue a copy of the report. Make sure you follow all police instructions.

Step 4: After You Receive Your Police Report

• If you rented the car, contact the car or insurance company.
• Drive away from the scene if there is no significant damage to the vehicle.
• The insurers will send a recovery truck if there are significant damages, such as broken lights or glasses.

Collision with Other Objects

You must notify the operator of any stationary objects you have hit, such as parking pillars or walls. No matter if the collision is done by you or hired safe driver, you will receive a police report from the police. In the absence of a police report, you cannot get the damages repaired.

Someone Hits Your Parked Car

You have little chance of claiming damages if someone who hit your vehicle does not report it to the police. The accident might be caught on a CCTV camera if any are nearby. When you register with the police, you will obtain the report, which the police will then use to punish the offenders (if they are identified).

Never Flee

In any circumstances, please don’t go back from the location. Driving away from the scene of a collision is illegal. Hit-and-run charges may be filed if someone leaves the scene of an accident. If injuries are sustained, it is treated as a felony under the law.