What to Do After a Car Accident in the UK

After a collision, deal with immediate danger first. Stop, check for injuries, move to a safe place where possible and contact emergency services when required. Once the situation is safe, exchange the necessary details, record what happened and notify your insurer.

Safety comes first

Stop as soon as it is safe to do so. Switch off the engine, use hazard lights and check whether anyone is injured. Call 999 where there is immediate danger, serious injury, a blocked dangerous road, fire, suspected drink or drug driving, or another urgent threat. Do not move an injured person unless there is an immediate danger. If vehicles can be moved safely and the collision is minor, moving out of live traffic may reduce further risk.

Exchange the required details

Give your name and address and the vehicle registration number to anyone with reasonable grounds to ask. If you are not the vehicle owner, provide the owner's name and address as well. It is also sensible to record the other driver's telephone number, insurer, policy details where available, vehicle make and model, and the names and contact details of witnesses. Avoid arguing about fault or making promises at the roadside.

Record useful evidence

When it is safe, note the date, time, exact location, weather, lighting, road layout and direction of travel. Take wide photographs showing the overall scene, road markings, signs and vehicle positions, followed by closer images of damage. Photograph registration plates and any relevant debris or road defect. Write a short factual account while events are fresh. Keep original files and avoid editing them.

Know when the collision must be reported

Report the collision to the police when details could not be exchanged, anyone was injured, or you suspect a driving offence. Where the legal reporting requirement applies, do not delay. Notify your insurer even when you do not intend to make a claim, because your policy may require this. Follow the insurer's instructions and keep the claim or reference number.

Organise the follow-up

Keep photographs, witness details, police references, repair estimates, medical information, insurer messages and a timeline of calls or emails together. Record new symptoms or vehicle problems promptly and seek appropriate professional advice. Do not rely on memory alone after a stressful event.

Build a clear, factual motoring record

Record events in the order they happened and distinguish what you personally observed from what another person said. Include dates, times, locations, people, vehicles, road conditions and the action taken, but avoid speculation about blame or injury.

Capture both context and detail. Wide photographs can show road layout, positions, signs and conditions; closer images can show damage, registration marks and relevant identifiers. Safety and medical needs always come before recording.

Keep related material together: notes, photographs, witness details, correspondence, reference numbers, repair documents and follow-up actions. Preserve original files and note when information was added later from memory.

Mistakes that weaken a motoring record

Do not argue, admit liability or pressure another person to make a statement at the scene. Do not photograph people unnecessarily or place yourself in traffic to obtain an image.

Avoid vague entries such as “minor damage” or “usual route.” Describe visible facts and record the actual start point, destination, purpose or affected area. Do not alter original images or delete messages that may later provide context.

Do not assume an app record replaces legal reporting duties, insurer notification, police instructions, medical assessment or official documentation. Check the requirements that apply to the specific event.

Review the record while details are fresh

As soon as it is safe, read the timeline from beginning to end and fill genuine gaps without guessing. Mark uncertain details as estimates and note the source of any later correction.

Track outstanding actions such as insurer contact, police references, recovery, repairs, medical follow-up, witness contact and document requests. Add each response to the same record rather than starting disconnected threads.

For routine vehicle or mileage records, review entries weekly and reconcile obvious gaps against diaries, fuel receipts or work schedules. Correct errors transparently rather than silently rewriting old entries.