Fender bender on Malaysian roads: Lawyer shares tips to stay safe and stay calm

 

WHEN a fender bender happens on Malaysian roads, chaos can quickly follow: vehicles stop in dangerous spots, drivers argue and sometimes, tempers flare.

Taking to Facebook, legal practitioner Mohd Arizan shared a step-by-step guide for motorists involved in minor collisions, offering practical advice to prevent the situation from escalating.

Key tips include:

Stay calm and move your vehicle to a safe spot that isn’t a nuisance to other road users. You do not want to be the cause of a traffic jam simply because you could not move your car to the side.

Exit the vehicle cautiously, holding only your mobile phone and leaving potentially dangerous objects inside.

Document the incident with photos of the other vehicle’s license plate and road tax—not videos of arguments or scuffles.

Agree on repairs if liability is accepted, either personally or through insurance. If no agreement is reached, do not lose your cool.

Make a police report and use the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to identify the other driver’s insurance company. Use the insurer’s approved workshop to file a third-party claim.

At all times, motorists are reminded not to threaten or harm others, nor damage their vehicles in frustration.

The post has garnered 10,000 Likes, 615 comments, and 1,100 shares at the time of writing, indicating that many found the advice helpful.

One commenter shared her experience as a first-time accident victim, describing the stress of being without her car.

It was also pointed out that in such instances, the aggrieved party could actually submit claims for other expenses arising from the accident from the insurance company.

According to the commenter, she did submit such a claim, although it was only approved four months later.

Others asked about claims if the other driver lacked a license, road tax, or insurance. The advice: victims may face challenges, including impacts on their no-claims discount (NCD).

Motorists also do not have the right to demand or photograph another driver’s ID; only the police may do so. The JPJ app can help track down necessary information if the other driver flees the scene.

As one commenter summed it up: “Just claim insurance—if not, why buy it?”

With Malaysian roads expected to be busy during the Raya exodus, the post is a timely reminder: stay alert, stay safe, and above all, stay calm. ‒  Focus Malaysia