What To Do After A Car Accident In The UK?

You hope that being involved in a car accident will never happen to you. You take all possible precautions, but sometimes, no matter what you do, it just isn’t enough. A careless driver could crash into you, or an unexpected pothole in the road could cause you to lose control of your car.

Regardless of what caused the car accident, being involved in one can be terrifying. More often than not, people involved in a car accident struggle to think rationally about what to do next. Most people have knee-jerk reactions. Unfortunately, the wrong actions can make a bad situation worse.

We’ve put together a list of things to do after a car accident to protect your legal rights and make sure your insurance claim gets paid without too much delay.

What To Do Immediately After A Car Accident

1. Stop The Car

• Stop the car immediately and as safely as possible, no matter how minor you think the accident is.
• Switch the engine off.
• Turn on the hazard lights to alert other road users to your stationary presence.

2. Check For Injuries

• Check for any injuries to yourself or your passengers in the car accident. If anybody is injured, the top priority is to call an ambulance. Even if the injuries don’t seem severe, whiplash and other injuries can take hours or days to develop symptoms.

3. Call The Police
   

Call 999:

• For major collisions or if the accident is blocking the road.
• If anybody is injured and requires immediate medical attention.
• If another driver involved leaves the scene without exchanging details.
• If you think the other driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• If you suspect another driver intentionally caused the accident (e.g., ‘crash for cash’ scams).
• If the offending driver doesn’t have insurance.

Call 101:

• If the car accident does not require an emergency police response.
• If there are no injuries or immediate dangers but you need to report the incident.

For whatever reason, if the police are not called to the scene of a serious car accident, you should go to the police station within 24 hours and report the accident. Failing to do this may result in a fine or penalty points. In a worst-case scenario, your driving licence could be revoked.

4. Assess The Situation

• If none of the occupants in your car are seriously injured, get out of the car when safe to do so and take stock of the situation.

5. Document The Scene

• Note the date and time of the crash.
• Record the driving conditions, including weather, lighting, and road conditions. If you notice anything unusual, make a note of that too.
• Take photographs of the scene of the accident and the damage to your vehicle and any other personal property, such as clothing.
• Also, take photographs of the damage to any other vehicles involved to prevent any potential false claims about the extent of the damage.

6. Record Vehicle & Driver Details

• Write down the make, model, colour, and registration number of each vehicle involved.
• Describe the damage to each vehicle in detail.
• Note any injuries sustained by the drivers and passengers of all vehicles and take photos of the injuries as well.
• Collect the names and contact details of any witnesses to the accident.

7. Exchange Information

• Share insurance details with the other drivers.
• If the driver of another vehicle is not the registered owner, check any available documents to determine the owner’s details and make a note of this information.

8. Inform Your Car Insurer

• Report the car accident to your insurance company within 24 hours. They can assist you with the claims process and advise you on how to proceed. Your insurance company will also contact the insurance companies of other people involved in the accident.

9. Contact A Car Accident Claims Solicitor

• If you are involved in a serious car accident or if there are complications such as personal injuries, disputes about fault, or significant damages, we’d advise contacting a car crash solicitor. Our solicitors can provide free advice on your eligibility to claim compensation and what the process involves. If a car accident claim is viable, they may offer to take your claim on using a No Win No Fee agreement.

What If The Other Driver Leaves The Scene Of The Car Accident?

If the other driver leaves the scene of the accident, it’s also important to:

• Note down any details you can remember about the other vehicle, such as the registration number, make, model, colour, and the direction in which they were travelling.
• Call the police and report the hit-and-run accident as soon as possible. Provide them with as much information as you can about the incident.

Importantly, under section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, if a driver leaves the scene of a car accident without leaving their details or reporting the accident after causing a personal injury to another person or damage, it is a criminal offence. If the other driver is caught, they may face serious penalties, including fines, points on their license, and even imprisonment.

What NOT To Do Immediately After A Car Accident

It’s equally important to avoid doing certain things after a car accident, including:

• Losing your temper and arguing with the other driver. Stay calm and think about what you need to do.
• Admitting responsibility for the accident even if you think you were partially at fault. This could complicate your ability to claim for damages even if you were not at fault.
• Apologising for the accident, as it could be seen as an admission of guilt and affect your right to claim car accident compensation.
• Lying about the circumstances of the accident.

What You Should Know About Withholding Information

All drivers involved in a car accident are legally required to stop and share their name, address, and vehicle registration number with anybody who has reasonable grounds for requesting them. Therefore, it’s illegal to withhold this information if a person or animal is injured, or if there is any vehicle or property damage. If the driver does not exchange details at the scene, they must report the accident to the police within 24 hours.