What to Do After a Car Accident

Staying Calm and Ensuring Safety

A car accident — no matter how minor — triggers an adrenaline response. Your heart races, your hands shake, and clear thinking becomes difficult. The single most important thing you can do in the first few seconds is take a breath and stay calm.

Panicking leads to poor decisions. Staying composed allows you to assess the situation, check on others, and follow the correct steps. Everything else flows from this.

Before getting out of the car, take a moment to check yourself for injuries. If you are in pain, feel dizzy, or cannot move easily, stay in the vehicle and call 999 immediately.

Step 1: Check for Injuries

Your first priority is people, not property.

• Check yourself — are you in pain? Can you move your head, neck, arms, and legs?
• Check your passengers — ask if everyone is okay. Do not move anyone who is complaining of neck or back pain unless they are in immediate danger (e.g., the vehicle is on fire).
• Check the other vehicle — once it is safe to do so, check on the occupants of any other vehicles involved.

If anyone is injured — even if the injury appears minor — call 999 and request an ambulance. Some injuries (whiplash, internal bleeding, concussion) may not be immediately obvious.

Do not attempt to move an injured person unless they are in immediate danger. Wait for emergency services.

Step 2: Move to a Safe Location (If Possible)

If the vehicles are driveable and it is safe to do so, move them to the side of the road or a nearby car park. This reduces the risk of a secondary collision, especially on fast-moving roads.

If the vehicles cannot be moved (e.g., significant damage, airbags deployed, or the car will not start):

• Turn off the engine
• Turn on your hazard lights
• If you have a warning triangle, place it at least 45 metres behind your vehicle on a single carriageway (do not use a warning triangle on a motorway)
• If on a motorway, get out of the vehicle from the side away from traffic and move behind the crash barrier or as far from the carriageway as possible
• Call 999 if the road is blocked or there is a risk to other traffic

Motorway Accidents

Motorway collisions are particularly dangerous because of the high speeds involved. If you are involved in a motorway accident:

• Move to the hard shoulder if possible
• Exit the vehicle from the left-hand side (away from live lanes)
• Walk to the nearest emergency refuge area or stand behind the crash barrier
• Call 999 or use the motorway emergency telephone
• Do not attempt to cross live lanes on foot
• Do not stand between your vehicle and oncoming traffic

Step 3: Turn On Hazard Lights

If the vehicle is stationary — whether you have moved it or not — turn on your hazard lights immediately. This alerts other road users that there is an obstruction.

At night, keep your sidelights on as well so the vehicle remains visible. If you have a high-visibility vest, put it on before exiting the vehicle.

Step 4: Exchange Details With Other Drivers

By law, if you are involved in a road traffic accident that causes damage or injury, you must stop and exchange details with the other driver(s). Failure to do so is a criminal offence under Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

You are required to provide:

• Your name and address
• The registration number of your vehicle
• The name and address of the vehicle owner (if different from the driver)

In practice, you should also exchange the following additional details, as your insurer will need them:

What Details to Collect

From Other Drivers

• Full name and home address
• Phone number and email address
• Vehicle registration number
• Make, model, and colour of their vehicle
• Insurance company name and policy number
• Driving licence number (if they are willing to share)

From the Scene

• Date, time, and exact location of the accident (road name, junction, landmarks)
• Weather conditions (rain, fog, ice, bright sun, etc.)
• Road conditions (wet, dry, potholes, road works, etc.)
• Speed limit on the road
• Direction of travel for each vehicle
• Traffic signals or signs at the location

Write everything down or type it into your phone. Memory is unreliable after a stressful event.

Taking Photos and Evidence

Photographic evidence is invaluable for insurance claims and any legal proceedings. Take as many photos as possible, as soon as it is safe to do so.

What to Photograph

• All vehicle damage — from multiple angles, including close-ups and wider shots
• The overall scene — showing the positions of the vehicles, road markings, traffic signs, and any skid marks
• Registration plates of all vehicles involved
• Road and weather conditions — wet roads, ice, potholes, fallen debris
• Any visible injuries — bruises, cuts, or swelling (with the person's permission)
• Traffic signals, signs, and road markings near the scene
• Any damage to other property — lampposts, fences, walls, bollards
• Dashcam footage — if you have a dashcam, do not turn it off. Save the footage as soon as you can.

If possible, use your phone's location and timestamp feature so the photos are automatically geotagged.

Sketching the Scene

While photos are best, a quick sketch of the accident scene can be helpful for your insurer. Note:

• The layout of the road (lanes, junctions, roundabouts)
• The position and direction of each vehicle before, during, and after the collision
• The point of impact
• The location of any traffic signs, signals, or road markings
• The position of any witnesses

Speaking to Witnesses

If there are any independent witnesses — pedestrians, other drivers who stopped, shopkeepers, or passers-by — ask for their:

• Name and contact number (or email)
• A brief account of what they saw

Witness statements can be crucial if there is a dispute about what happened. Independent witnesses (who have no connection to either driver) carry the most weight.

Do not pressure anyone to give a statement, but politely ask. Many people are willing to help.

When to Call the Police

You must report the accident to the police if:

• Anyone is injured — no matter how minor the injury appears
• You did not exchange details at the scene — for example, if the other driver left before you could get their information (a hit and run)
• You suspect the other driver is uninsured, disqualified, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Damage was caused to property other than the vehicles — lampposts, fences, walls, buildings, etc.
• The road is blocked and presents a danger to other road users
• You suspect a criminal offence — such as dangerous driving

If you need to report the accident, you must do so within 24 hours at a police station or by calling 101 (the non-emergency police number). In an emergency, call 999.

For minor accidents where no one is injured, the vehicles are driveable, and both parties exchange details, calling the police is usually not necessary. However, having a police reference number can sometimes help with insurance claims.

Hit and Run Accidents

If the other driver leaves the scene without stopping:

1. Try to note their registration number, vehicle description, and direction of travel
2. Call 999 if anyone is injured, or 101 to report the incident
3. Take photos of the scene and your vehicle damage
4. Speak to any witnesses
5. Report the incident to your insurer
6. Contact the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) — they handle claims against uninsured and untraced drivers

Reporting the Accident to Your Insurer

You should notify your insurer as soon as possible after the accident — ideally within 24 hours. This applies even if:

• You do not plan to make a claim
• You believe the accident was the other driver's fault
• The damage appears minor

Most insurance policies require you to report any accident promptly. Failing to do so could invalidate your cover or cause issues if the other driver makes a claim against you later.

What Your Insurer Will Need

• Your policy number
• Date, time, and location of the accident
• Details of all vehicles and drivers involved
• A description of what happened
• Photos and any dashcam footage
• Witness details (if available)
• A police reference number (if applicable)
• Details of any injuries

Be factual and honest. Do not exaggerate, speculate, or guess. If you are unsure about something, say so.

What Not to Say at the Scene

This is critically important: do not admit fault. Even if you think you may have caused the accident, liability is a complex matter that depends on all the circumstances. Your insurer and, if necessary, the courts will determine who was at fault.

At the scene:

• Do not say "I'm sorry" or "It was my fault" — even as a polite reflex, these statements can be used against you
• Do not speculate about what happened — stick to facts you are certain of
• Do not argue with the other driver — exchange details calmly and leave the dispute for the insurers
• Do not sign anything — unless it is a standard accident report form from the police
• Do not agree to settle privately — "cash for damage" deals can backfire badly. Without an insurance record, the other driver could later claim against your policy

Be polite, be factual, and let the professionals sort out the rest.

Next Steps After Leaving the Scene

Once you have left the scene, there are several things to do in the following hours and days.

Seek Medical Attention

Even if you feel fine, see a doctor within 24 to 48 hours. Some injuries — particularly whiplash, soft tissue damage, and concussion — may not show symptoms immediately. A medical record also strengthens any personal injury claim if needed later.

Write Down Everything

As soon as possible, write a detailed account of what happened while it is fresh in your memory. Include:

• What you were doing before the accident
• What you saw and heard
• The sequence of events
• How you felt (pain, shock, etc.)

This written account can be invaluable if the claim takes months to resolve and memories fade.

Keep All Documentation

• Photos and dashcam footage
• Written notes and sketches
• Correspondence with your insurer
• Medical records and receipts
• Receipts for any expenses related to the accident (hire car, travel costs, etc.)

Monitor Your Vehicle

If you drove the car home, check it carefully for damage you may have missed — fluid leaks, unusual noises, warning lights, tyre damage, or alignment issues. Do not drive the car if you suspect it is unsafe.

Dealing With Repairs and Claims

Getting Repair Quotes

Your insurer may direct you to an approved repairer, or you may be able to choose your own garage. Get at least one independent quote to compare. The insurer's approved repairer is often the path of least resistance, but you have the right to choose where your car is repaired.

Courtesy Cars and Hire Vehicles

If the accident was not your fault, you may be entitled to a courtesy car or a credit hire vehicle while yours is being repaired. Your insurer can arrange this, or the other driver's insurer may provide one directly.

If the accident was your fault, check whether your policy includes courtesy car cover — many comprehensive policies do.

Total Loss (Write-Off)

If the repair cost exceeds the car's market value, the insurer may declare it a total loss (write-off). In this case:

• The insurer will offer you the car's market value at the time of the accident (not what you paid for it)
• If you disagree with the valuation, you can negotiate — use listings of similar cars on AutoTrader or similar sites as evidence
• You may be able to buy back the salvage if you want to repair the car yourself (subject to the write-off category)

Personal Injury Claims

If you or your passengers were injured, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of earnings
• Medical expenses
• Travel costs related to treatment

Personal injury claims can be complex. Consider seeking advice from a solicitor who specialises in road traffic accident claims. Many operate on a no win, no fee basis.

Timelines

• Insurer notification — within 24 hours
• Medical check — within 24 to 48 hours
• Repairs — typically 1 to 4 weeks depending on the damage
• Claim settlement — straightforward claims may settle in 4 to 12 weeks; disputed liability claims can take months
• Personal injury claims — can take 6 months to over a year to resolve