"Check to make sure that no one was injured. If so, call an ambulance and the police.

"If possible, leave the vehicles where they came to a stop, if this does not disrupt traffic or cause any inconvenience or dangerous condition. Otherwise, move your vehicle off the road. Accidents sometimes trigger other collisions. Take steps to protect yourself and other road users.

"Do not argue with the other persons involved, admit fault or discuss the matter with anyone except the police or the accident-response unit.

"Exchange information with the other party in relation to your identity, insurer, policy number, driver's licence, registration number and other particulars.

"Gather as much information about the accident as possible - the names, addresses, phone numbers of the persons involved. Record the year of make, model, registration number and extent of the damage to all vehicles.

"Write down the names, addresses and telephone numbers of all the witnesses.

"Make a note of the location of the accident - street names, landmarks, etc. For each vehicle, note the direction of travel, road signs, traffic signals and the number of lanes.

"Note the time of day, weather conditions and road conditions.

"Photograph the scene from four different directions and each vehicle. It is very important that you also photograph any brake marks on the road surface, potholes and the like.

"Visit the police station to file a report. Record the name and badge number of the police officer.

"Call the police as soon as the theft has been discovered. Stay on the scene until they arrive. If you are at a location covered by a private security force, notify them as well.

"Give the police a description of your vehicle, registration number, colour, markings, damaged areas, contents of the passenger compartment or trunk and vehicle identification number (VIN).

Reply to Question No. 1

Claims from motor vehicle accidents fall under two headings. They are: (a) special damages and (b) general damages. Special damages are claimed or awarded directly as a result of negligence.

Items of special damages include out-of-pocket costs like medical bills, expenses for the repair and replacement of property and lost wages.

The insurer of the vehicle that caused the collision typically pays the vehicle repair bills, loss-of-use expenses, the policy excess (or deductible), assessor's and police reports as special damages.

Personal injury claims are paid under general damages. These are more complex than claims for special damages.

PAYABLE AMOUNT

The amount payable depends on many things. These include: the extent of the injuries, the prospects for recovery, and the age, income and economic status of the person.

General damages are intended to pay for the pain, suffering and inabilityof the injured to perform certain functions as a result of the injuries he/she suffered. These types of claims, which sometimes run into millions of dollars, are best handled by lawyers.

If you want to learn more about this subject, I suggest that you visit the website of your local insurer or, if that fails, point your browser in the areas that I listed.