Guide

What to Do After a Car Accident

The moments after a crash are stressful. Here's a simple, calm checklist of what to do — to stay safe, and to protect a potential claim.

4 min read

Step by step

Stop and make sure everyone is safe. Stop your vehicle, switch off the engine and put your hazard lights on. Check yourself and any passengers for injuries and call 999 if anyone is hurt or the road is blocked.
Exchange details. Swap names, addresses, phone numbers and insurance details with the other driver. Note the vehicle make, model and registration.
Gather evidence. If it's safe, take photos of the vehicles, the damage, the road layout and any skid marks. Note the time, weather and road conditions, and get details of any witnesses.
Report it if needed. If anyone is injured, or the other driver won't give details, report it to the police. Tell your own insurer what happened, even if you don't intend to claim through them.
Check whether you can claim. If the accident wasn't your fault, you could be owed compensation. A quick, free check tells you where you stand — with no obligation to go ahead.

Do I have to call the police after every accident?

Not always — but you should if anyone is injured, the road is blocked, or the other driver refuses to give their details or drives off.

What if I didn't gather much evidence at the scene?

Don't worry — you may still have a claim. The specialists can work with what you have, so it's still worth checking.