WHAT TO DO IMMEDIATELY AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT
1. STOP SAFELY AND TURN ON YOUR HAZARD LIGHTS
If you have an accident, and there’s damage to a vehicle or property, or a person is injured, you must stop somewhere safe, switch off your car engine and turn on your hazard lights.
2. CHECK EVERYONE FOR INJURIES
Once you’ve stopped, the first thing to do is check whether you or anyone else is injured and get them the medical attention they need.
Call for an ambulance immediately on 911 if anyone is hurt.
3. CALL THE POLICE
The police should be informed of incidents where:
- Someone is injured, or property gets damaged
- You kill or injure certain animals including farm animals and dogs
- Damage is caused to a vehicle, other than the one that caused the incident
- You cause damage to street signs or bollards
In emergencies, you must report the incident to the police immediately on 999, but all others should be reported on 101, within 24 hours.
Failing to stop or to report an incident is an offence and can result in a fine, penalty points on your licence and even imprisonment.
You should also call the police if you’re blocking the road.
4. DON’T ADMIT GUILT AND DO REMAIN CALM
Avoid accepting blame for the incident in the immediate aftermath until you’re completely sure of what happened and what caused the accident. Even saying ‘sorry’ could end up leaving you liable. Although it isn’t a legal admission of guilt, it could be used against you if you were to make a claim.
Try to stay calm and don’t allow the other party to put pressure on you to accept the blame, either.
Similarly, don’t point the finger. Even if you know they were in the wrong, stay calm. Engaging in an argument at the side of the road will only make matters worse.
Instead ask if anyone is injured and offer to exchange details. It puts the attention on the other party and focuses conversation on the practicalities, rather than playing the blame game.
Leave it to the police and the insurance companies to go through the evidence to determine who is liable.
5. EXCHANGE DETAILS WITH THE OTHER DRIVER
Share details with the other driver, including:
- Name, address and contact details
- Driving licence number
- Insurance details
- Registration details
- Vehicle owner’s/registered keeper’s name
If you hit a stationary unattended vehicle, you should leave your details on their windscreen and call 101 to report the incident.
6. RECORD DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT
Gather as much information as you can.
It’ll make it easier to provide evidence to your insurer if you need to make a claim.
Make sure you note down:
- The time and date of the accident
- Details of the vehicles involved, including the make, model, colour and number plates
- The driving conditions, including the weather, lighting and road quality
- How much damage was done to the vehicles and which parts of the vehicles are affected
- Contact details from any witnesses
- A description of what happened – take plenty of photos and videos to back this up
7. REPORT THE ACCIDENT TO YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY
You need to let your insurer know about an accident, usually within 24 hours, regardless of who was to blame and even if you don’t want to make a claim.
The other driver could make a claim against you so it’s best to let your insurer know your side of the story first.
Your insurer should now handle the claim for you. If you’re contacted directly by anyone else involved in the accident or by their insurer, you must ask them to speak to your insurer instead.
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