Barbados New Road Traffic Accident Policy: What You Need to Know
If you have ever been in a fender-bender in Barbados, you have spent time waiting for the police to arrive. However, this all changed on September 15th, 2024, when the Barbados Police Service’s revised policy for minor accidents came into effect.
The legal team at Hamel-Smith Caribbean and the insurance team at Tomlin Insurance Brokers have compiled this brief article, which outlines what you need to know about this new policy.
Key changes to the policy
Under the new policy, the police will no longer attend minor accidents and will now only attend traffic accidents under the following circumstances:
- Involving fatalities or serious injuries
- Involving pedestrians
- Resulting in mass casualties
- Likely to cause a breach of the peace
- Suspected to involve criminal activities
- Leading to significant traffic disruptions
Insurance companies will now be primarily responsible for responding to accidents that do not meet these criteria.
What should you do in case of an accident?
If you are involved in a traffic accident, follow these steps:
- Check for Injuries: Ensure everyone’s safety. If there are any injuries, seek medical assistance immediately.
- Police Involvement: Call the police at 211. If the accident meets the criteria for police involvement (serious injury, fatality, etc.), a police officer will be deployed to the scene. You should ask if a police officer will or will not be deployed to the scene. If your car is causing an obstruction to traffic or is in a location where it might become a hazard, we suggest you indicate this to the police and ask if the police have any objection to you moving your vehicle to a safer position.
- Insurance: Call your Insurance Broker or Provider. They will guide you through the process of documenting the accident and filing a claim. Let them know what the police have told you, including whether a policeman will be deployed to the scene and whether the police have indicated any objection to moving your vehicle. We also suggest you ask them if they have any objection to moving your vehicle.
- Exchange Information: Exchange contact and insurance information with the other party involved. We suggest that you take photographs of the other driver’s permit and insurance certificate, as well as the other vehicle’s registration number.
- Document the Scene: Take photographs and videos (the more, the better) of the accident scene, vehicle damage, and any relevant details. Please be aware that you should not assume liability, as the evaluation of such matters is the responsibility of the insurance provider.
- Move Vehicles if Safe: Once neither the police nor your insurance broker or provider have objected to you doing so, and if conditions permit, move your vehicle to a safe location at the side of the road to prevent further incidents and facilitate traffic flow.
- Wait at the scene for a representative of your insurance provider to arrive, gather further information from you, and guide you through the rest of the process.
Working Together for a Safer Barbados
This policy shift signifies a collaborative effort between the police and insurance sectors to streamline accident management in Barbados.
Hamel-Smith Caribbean and Tomlin Insurance Brokers are committed to ensuring our clients are well informed and equipped to handle traffic accidents appropriately.
This article contains general information on the new minor accident policy and does not constitute legal or insurance advice. Should you need specific legal or insurance advice, please contact us at:
TOMLIN INSURANCE BROKERS
One Haggatt Hall, Haggatt Hall
St. Michael
www.tomlinbrokers.com
HAMEL-SMITH CARIBBEAN
Neils Road, Haggatt Hall
St. Michael
www.caribbeanlaw.com
