Taking care of what counts
Collision
What should you do if you get into a car accident? See the tips below for dealing with the most common situations.
- You or your passengers are injured
- Your vehicle is inoperable
- Your vehicle is operable
- You are the victim of a hit-and-run
- You are outside the province of Quebec
- Your vehicle has caused damage to someone else's property
You or your passengers are injured
- Contact the appropriate emergency services immediately, and mark down the police report number.
- Notify the Société d'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) at 1 888 810-2525. If the accident occurs outside the province of Quebec, Canada or the United States, please call 1 800 463-6898 (toll-free). The SAAQ will send you a claim form to fill out.
Individuals insured by the SAAQ
All Quebec residents who sustain injuries or lose their life in an automobile accident in the province of Quebec or anywhere else in the world, whether deemed at-fault or not for such accident, are insured under the public automobile insurance plan administered by the SAAQ. For information on the exclusions under to the plan, please contact the SAAQ.
Damage to property you are wearing is covered by the SAAQ
Any damage sustained to property the victim is wearing at the time of an accident is covered by the SAAQ. This includes clothing, eyeglasses, contact lenses, prostheses and other devices, as well as motorcycle helmets.
The SAAQ applies limits to this coverage. In the event that the amount reimbursed by the SAAQ is insufficient, an additional benefit may be payable by your insurer in certain situations. For more information, please contact us.
Your vehicle is inoperable
- Contact the police or complete a Joint Report of Automobile Accident. Be sure to mark down the police report number. You will need to provide this information to your claims adjuster.
- Call CAP Roadside Assistance if you have this service. Your vehicle will be moved to a safe location. Otherwise, you can contact Fix Auto at 1 800 INFO-FIX.
- Record the names and contact information of all witnesses. Their versions of the events will help clarify the circumstances of the accident.
- Please keep all invoices and receipts related to additional transportation costs incurred because your vehicle is inoperable.
- Contact our Claims Department to report the loss as soon as possible.
No deductible in the event of a total loss
Under the Quebec automobile insurance policy, you are responsible for paying the deductible set out in the Declarations of your policy.
However, at La Capitale, we handle things differently! If your vehicle is deemed a total loss, the deductible does not apply.
Your vehicle is operable
- Move your vehicle as quickly as you can to clear the road for traffic.
- Complete a Joint Report of Automobile Accident or call the police. Be sure to mark down the police report number. You will need to provide this information to your claims adjuster.
- Record the names and contact information of all independent witnesses. Their versions of the events will help clarify the circumstances of the accident.
- Proceed with the emergency repairs that are necessary for your safety and keep the invoices. See our list of approved auto repair and body shops, if you don't already have one in mind.
- Contact our Claims Department to report the loss as soon as possible.
The choice of auto repair shop is yours to make!
If you don't have any in mind, we can recommend one of La Capitale's approved auto repair and body shops They will provide you with:
- A replacement vehicle at no cost while yours is being repaired
- Additional warranties on repairs which, in certain situations, are valid for as long as you own the vehicle
You are the victim of a hit-and-run
- Contact the police immediately and record the police report number.
- Proceed with the emergency repairs that are necessary for your safety and keep the invoices. You can refer to our list of approved auto repair and body shops, if you don't already have one in mind.
- Contact our Claims Department to report the loss as soon as possible.
No deductible in the event of a hit-and-run
Under the Quebec automobile insurance policy, if your vehicle is damaged by an unidentified automobile, you are responsible for paying the deductible.
However, at La Capitale, we handle things differently! If your insurance policy includes collision coverage and a police report has been filed, the deductible does not apply.
If you don't have collision coverage
If your automobile policy doesn't include collision coverage, please contact the SAAQ at 1 800 361-7620. The Fonds d'indemnisation (Compensation fund for property damage) provides reimbursement for property damage to a vehicle caused by an unidentified third party.
You are outside the province of Quebec
If you are involved in a car accident in the United States or in another Canadian province, you could be subject to a lawsuit. The passengers of the other vehicle involved in the accident could sue, looking for a considerable sum as compensation for property damage and bodily injury. We therefore recommend that you take the following steps:
- Contact the police immediately and mark down the police report number.
- Pay careful attention to the nature of any injuries sustained by the driver and passengers.
- Record the names and contact information of all independent witnesses. Their versions of the events will help clarify the circumstances of the accident.
- Take pictures of the scene of the accident, if possible.
- Call CAP Roadside Assistance if you have this service. Your vehicle will be moved to a safe location. Otherwise, have your vehicle towed to the nearest garage.
- Please keep all invoices and receipts related to additional transportation costs incurred because your vehicle is inoperable.
- Proceed with the emergency repairs that are necessary for your safety and keep the invoices. We will assign an adjuster to assess the damages. If your vehicle can be driven, repairs can be done when you come back.
- Avoid agreeing to reimbursements with, or admitting responsibility to, anyone involved in the accident.
- Contact our Claims Department to report the loss as soon as possible. Report the loss, even if you do not plan on claiming the damage to your own vehicle.
Your vehicle caused damage to someone else's property
- Provide your personal information to the owner of the damaged property. According to the Highway Safety Code, leaving the scene of an accident without leaving your contact information can constitute a driving offence.
- Contact the police immediately and mark down the police report number.
- Avoid agreeing to reimbursements with the owner of the damaged property.
- Contact our Claims Department to report the loss as soon as possible. The damage assessment must be done immediately.
Damage to the third party property is covered under the "Civil Liability" section of your insurance policy.
1 800 461-0770
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weekdays
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday
