Whenever we choose to get behind the wheel of a car we do so understanding the risk that we may be involved in a car accident. Being involved in a collision is something that most of us try not to think about, but sadly, our safety on the roads isn’t just down to our own driving, but that of others around us, which means that even if we drive to the best of our ability there will always still be the risk that someone else could be at fault. Being involved in a collision can be very scary and so it’s important to understand what you need to do so that you can act on auto-pilot if one occurs.

Stop at the scene

If you injure a person or hit another car, someone else’s property or an animal such as a horse, cow, pig or dog, you must stop at the scene for a reasonable amount of time. Failing to stop at the scene of a collision, no matter how small, is a serious offense and can result in a fine, a driving ban or even prison. Once stopped you may need to call the emergency services if anyone is injured to ensure that they can receive medical assistance as soon as possible.

Give your details

Give your details including your vehicle registration number, your name and your address to anyone with reasonable grounds to ask for them, this may be the driver of the other vehicle, the owner of the animal you hit or a police officer.

Report the incident to a police officer

If you do not exchange your vehicle and personal details at the scene then you must ensure to report the incident at a police station or to a police officer within 24 hours of the accident. You will likely need to show your certificate of insurance but if you don’t have it with you at the time you will have 7 days to present it. Remember, you must report the accident to an officer or at a police station, it is not enough to ring the police or to have someone report the accident for you.

These three things must be done whether you are directly involved in the accident or whether you or your car were just an involved party.

What should you do at the scene

Whether you want to make an insurance claim or not it’s important to gather as much evidence you can at the scene of the accident, to back up your testimony. The easiest way to do this is by taking photographic evidence on your smartphone and jotting down any other information in the notes section of your phone or with a pen and paper if you have one to hand. Here are some things you may wish to record:

• 1. Information about yours and the other parties vehicle
  This could include things such as the make of the car, the model, the vehicle’s registration number, the color and condition of the car, the direction it came from, whether you noticed it using its indicators or lights and the number of passengers in the car.
• 2. The scene of the accident
  In the moment of an accident, it can be easy to forget the basics such as the date and time of the collision, so jot these down first. You may also want to note what the weather condition was, if the traffic was light or heavy and if there were any road markings or signs that may support your case.

• 3. The people involved
  Try to take down the contact details of people involved and make a note of any of their distinguishing features. Also try to note if they were a passenger, driver or witness.

• 4.The damage that was done
  For insurance, purposes take clear images of any damage done to the vehicle and so long as it’s safe to do so, take images of any injuries which were sustained.

What next?

Depending on the severity of your collision you may be able to sort things out directly with your insurer. However, if you were injured or the other party is trying to not pay for your claim then you may need to involve a car accident lawyer who will be able to help you understand your rights and will fight to ensure that you receive the best compensation available for your claim.

Once you have made a claim you will be able to settle up with your insurer to repair your vehicle and cover any medical costs sustained.

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