A collision can be a frightening experience. We’re here to help.
Let’s begin by addressing the main question of this article. Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) asks that you handle collisions in three steps: Ensuring everyone’s safety, exchanging information, and reporting the accident. The guidance is simple: Once you’ve completed the first two steps, report the collision to MPI as promptly as you can.
Some websites report that you must report an accident to MPI within 7 days—this is not true. You must report certain accidents to the police within 7 days—we’ll cover that later in this article.
Let’s explore what to do when you’re in an accident in greater detail:
There are three steps to follow when you’ve been in a car accident: Ensure everyone’s safety, exchange information, and file a report.
Check if everyone involved in the crash is okay; if necessary, and if you have appropriate training, provide first aid to anyone who is injured. Call 911 for any serious injuries. Once any injuries are taken care of, move your vehicle to the right side of the road so traffic can safely pass.
Get contact information from all the drivers involved in the collision; this information should include their name, address, phone number, and driver’s licence number; you should also collect their insurance information, including the name of their insurance company and their insurance policy number if they’re not insured through MPI.
You’ll also want to note down the make and model of their vehicle. When given the opportunity, it’s a good idea to take pictures of any damage to their vehicle or yours.
Once you’ve exchanged information with the other driver, park your vehicle in a safe place, then file a report with MPI. You’ll need to call the MPI Collision Reporting Centre which can be reached at one of two phone numbers:
MPI will request information about the collision and may ask you for:
You do not need to make a damage claim to MPI when reporting an accident, but MPI does request that you report every accident, even if you do not make an insurance claim.
In some circumstances, you may also need to make a police report. These reports will go to the local police in the jurisdiction where your vehicle was involved in an accident—here in Winnipeg, this means the Winnipeg Police Service. The Manitoba Police Commission website offers contact information for all local police in Manitoba.
You must contact the local police service when:
Reports to local police must be made within 7 days. While some reports in Winnipeg can be made online, hit-and-run reports must be made in person.
Reporting collisions accurately and promptly to MPI anytime your vehicle is involved in a collision helps keep everyone safer, even if you don’t make a damage claim.
Need help filing a report or making a claim? An MPI broker in Winnipeg can help; contact R.A. Hughes Agencies today. Our brokers will help you understand your responsibilities, report your accident, and decide whether or not to make a damage claim.
