You hope to not end up in an accident, and you may be in complete denial that it could ever possibly happen to you.
Your initial reaction is shock, panic, and sometimes you’ll have a complete mind-blank and the whole situation will flash by. You may think you know what to do up until it happens, and your adrenaline starts kicking in. Bookmark this page so if the worst was to happen, you’ll know what steps to follow.
Step 1 – Stop
The first thing you must do is stop and turn off your engine. If you fail to do this you’ll be committing an offence.
You then should switch your hazard lights on, and use your hazard triangle if necessary to let other road users know that there has been a car incident.
Step 2 – Check for injuries
Check for any injuries to yourself or your passengers and the other parties. If it’s just a minor collision and there aren’t any injuries, take a note of it just in case anyone tries to claim for an injury. Call the police and an ambulance immediately if anyone has been hurt or if the road is blocked.
Step 3 – STAY calm
Immediately after an accident, especially if it wasn’t your fault, your temper may be running high but you need to remain calm, take your time to take deep breaths to keep your cool. Do not immediately admit responsibility for the accident and don’t apologise unless you’re absolutely certain it was your fault. The other party may use your words against you!
Step 4 – Exchange Your Details
You must then exchange your details with the other party and witnesses (if there are any) the details you’ll need are:
- Name
- Address
- Contact details
- Insurance details
Following this, you need to note down any important information from the accident this includes: - The make, model, colour and registration number of the other vehicle
- The date and time that the accident occurred
- The driving condition, includes: the weather, lighting and road conditions
- Any damage caused to either vehicle and where it’s located on the vehicle
- Any injuries that resulted
- The road or street on which the accident happened
- Take pictures of the scene the damage and position of the cars
Step 5 – Call your insurance company
Phone your insurance company as quickly as possible, they’ll ask for:
- Your policy number, postcode and car registration number.
- The registration number of the cars involved.
- The driver’s name, address and phone number.
- The driver’s insurance details if you have them.
We hope this guide will be of use in the event of an accident and help to ensure the process is as smooth as it can be.
