After an Accident

DON'T PANIC

Firstly, it's NEVER your fault, remember that, and even if you’re driving perfectly correctly, someone else might not be, and quite often an unplanned vehicle-interface situation is the result.

Even if no one is injured, it’s an stressful time, but there are some things that you absolutely must do following such an incident, to keep yourself on the right side of the law and the insurance companies.

Hazard lights on. If you can, move your vehicle off of the carriageway, to the hard shoulder or verge.

Are you or your passengers injured? if so, Call an ambulance immediately. When safe to do so, and assuming you're fit to do so, exit the vehicle and check on the other vehicles occupants, are they injured? If so you know what to do.

If you can, and you've exited the vehicle, then survey the scene using your mobile phone. Pictures, Pictures, Pictures. Your vehicle, their vehicle(s), up the road, down the road, the side of the road, the more you have the better. The pictures establish a clear timeline, and the scene.

Do not apologise or admit any kind of blame until the circumstances of the accident have been fully established. Seriously, don't. You will need to provide the other party with, and obtain from them:

Name, Address, Contact Information, Insurance Policy Details, Driving License Number, who the vehicle is registered to.

If they fail to provide this, or if you are unsure if the information being provided is correct, then you should involve the Police. If there's a crowd gathering, and there usually is, see if any of them witnessed the accident, and if so, take their contact details. Look around, are there any CCTV camera's obviously visible, if so, make a note of the companies to which they are attached, or the addresses of houses.

Must you call the police? Well no, you are not obliged to call the police, except;

* if you suspect the other party is under the influence of drink or drugs * if the other party has fled the scene either in their vehicle or on foot * if you suspect that the accident may have been deliberate * if you are on a motorway and not able to move the vehicle to the hard shoulder * if the accident has left debris and oil on the carriageway that is a hazard to other road users

You are not required to put all claims through your insurer, and if the damage is minimal and either the other party wishes to pay, assuming it was their fault, or you wish to pay assuming it was your fault, then you can do that, but, if you do then you can't later go to your insurance company and complain that the arrangement you had fell through, so choose wisely.

Remember, even if the accident wasn't your fault, your insurance company will raise your rates.

If you do intend to call on your insurance, because that's what you pay every year of your life for, then call them at the scene if possible, or as soon as possible afterwards, they can organise recovery if your vehicle is not drivable, and its important to get your account on record. As soon as you get home, download the pictures, all of them, and the dashcam video (if you have one, and you should by now) and then save them all in a folder. Your insurance company *should* want them and you'll be able to send them on when requested.

Your insurance company is responsible for either repairing your vehicle or writing it off. If they write it off then they must pay you a fair market value so don't let them get away with low-balling you on the value, they will try. If your injury's (your real injury's) required time off from work, and there's a loss, document this and pass it on to your insurer. You do not have a choice as to where its repaired, but you can request this, so if you have a preference do so.