Being involved in a car accident can be scary and stressful.
Knowing what to do next can help keep everyone safe. Plus, it can make reporting the accident and making a claim a little easier.
What to do straight after a car accident
If you've been involved in an accident, here are the steps you should take:
Pull over safely
If it's safe to, stop your car as soon as you can. If your vehicle is blocking the road and it's safe to move it, pull over somewhere safe and away from traffic.
If you can't move your car, put your hazard lights on. Then move yourself and any passengers to a safe place, away from moving traffic.
Switch the engine off
Turn your engine off and put the handbrake on. This can help stop any more damage and reduce the risk of fire.
Turn on your hazard lights
Switch on your hazard lights to warn other road users you're blocking the road and to help keep everyone safe.
Check for injuries
Check yourself, your passengers and anyone else involved for injuries.
If someone is hurt, don't move them unless they're in immediate danger. Try to stay calm and wait for the emergency services to arrive.
Call emergency services
Call 999 if:
- anyone is injured
- the road is blocked and causing danger
- there has been serious damage
- you feel unsafe or need urgent help
Try not to apologise
It's completely natural to want to say sorry after an accident. But try to avoid talking about who was at fault.
Instead, focus on making sure everyone is safe and exchanging details. Your insurer and the police (if they need to) will help investigate what happened.
What information should I collect?
Gather as much information as you can before leaving the scene, as long as it’s safe to. Here's the type of helpful details to collect.
Driver and vehicle details
Exchange details with the other driver, including:
- full name
- address
- phone number
- vehicle number plate
- insurer
If anyone else was involved in the accident, it's also helpful to take their names and contact details.
Evidence from the scene
Make sure you take photos and videos to support your claim.
Try to capture:
- damage to the vehicles involved
- the position of the vehicles
- any damage to surrounding properties or objects
- road signs and markings
- weather conditions
- skid marks or debris on the road
This can help your insurer understand what happened and deal with your claim more quickly.
[H3] Witnesses and third parties
If anyone saw the accident, ask for their:
- name
- phone number
- email address
Witnesses can help if there's a disagreement about what happened.
Who do I tell about the road accident?
Once everyone is safe, let your loved ones know you're ok. Then contact your insurer, and the police if you need to.
It's important to let your insurer know about the accident as soon as possible, even if:
- the damage seems small
- you don't plan to make a claim
- you think the accident wasn't your fault
This means they'll already have the details if you choose to make a claim later.
What should I do if I hit an animal?
Hitting an animal by accident can be really upsetting. Try and stay calm and follow these steps:
Keep your distance
Stop somewhere safe and turn on your hazard lights.
If the animal is hurt, it might be frightened and react in ways you don't expect. If it’s a wild animal, keep a safe distance and don't approach them if you're not sure how they're going to react.
Check their name tag
If it's a dog or a cat and it’s safe, look to see if they're wearing a collar with their name tag and the owner's contact details.
This means if the animal is someone’s pet, you can get in touch with them to let them know.
Report the incident
If you've hit a dog or a farm animal like a horse, cow, pig, sheep, goat or mule, you should report it to the police.
If the animal is injured, you can also contact a local vet, animal welfare organisation or the RSPCA for advice on what to do.
How to make an insurance claim after a car accident
If you decide to make a claim, your insurer will ask for details about the accident, including any photos, videos and witness information you've collected.
They might contact the other driver, witnesses or other insurers to understand exactly what happened. Sometimes it can take time to understand what happened, especially if it's not clear who was at fault. But your insurer should keep you updated throughout the process.
We hope you're never involved in a car accident. But if you are and you're insured with us, we'll be with you every step of the way.
After you've followed the above steps, we'll help you make a claim.
The other person might make a claim against you if they think you're at fault. If they do, this is what happens when someone claims against your car insurance.
What if the other driver isn't insured?
Finding out the other driver isn't insured can be frustrating. But there are still options available.
If you find out the other driver wasn't insured, let your insurer know if you haven't already reported the accident.
It's helpful to keep any information you collected at the scene, such as:
- the vehicle's number plate
- photos of the vehicle and any damage
- the driver's details
- witness details
Your insurer will explain what happens next and whether they need any more information from you. They'll also let you know about the options available based on your circumstances.
Staying safe on the roads
To find out more about staying safe on the roads, read our guide on road safety tips and advice. And remember, driving at night can be more challenging than driving during the day. For tips on staying safe, take a look at our guide on how to stay safe on the roads at night.
