What to do if you have been involved in a road traffic accident
13 October 2017
Car accidents happen and it is important to know what you should do if you’re involved in one. Here are a few tips to help you take the right steps after a car accident:
1. Stop as soon as you can. No matter how minor an accident, you must stop as soon as it is practicable and safe to do so. It is an offence under the Road Traffic Act if you fail to stop. Turn your engine off, put your hazard lights on and remain calm. Stop at a safe place and exit your vehicle.
2. Call the Police and Ambulance if necessary If anyone has been injured or you are blocking the road call the Police or Ambulance for assistance.
3. Exchange details You are obliged to exchange your name, address, telephone numbers, vehicle registrations and insurance details to all of the other people involved. Avoid saying sorry or accepting blame until you know precisely what happened as it could count against you later on.
4. Collate as much information as possible
• Date, time and location of the accident
• Witness details including their name, address, contact number and vehicle registration if necessary
• Take pictures of the scene, pictures of the vehicles involved showing the registration number and damage to their vehicles and pictures of the drivers
• Take down details of any passengers involved in the accident
5. Inform your insurers- you should contact your insurers as soon as possible. If you fail to report it within a specific time period it may invalidate your cover.
6. Making a claim If the accident was not your fault and you have been injured or your vehicle was damaged or suffered from uninsured losses contact such as car hire, storage, recovery or loss of earnings, you are entitled to claim from the at fault party’s insurers. Contact Curtis Law Solicitors on 01254297130 and let our team of experts take away the stress of claiming.
The Road Traffic Team is led by Andrew Bell, Partner and Mel Potts, Senior Associate Solicitor. We are committed to promoting road safety and reducing the occurrence of preventable accidents. However when incidents to occur we will always ensure that rehabilitation is achieved and damages are maximised.