It might be unpleasant to think about, but car accidents happen and if you ever found yourself in one, it’s best to be prepared. We’ve put together a guide that covers what to do after a minor car accident compared to a more severe accident, what details you should take in a car accident and how to report a car accident.
If the accident was minor, bring yourself to a stop somewhere safe that doesn’t impede traffic and switch off the engine. Turn on your hazards so that other drivers can see your vehicle. If you don’t stop after an accident, you will be charged with a ‘hit and run’ for leaving the scene of an accident. If the crash was more severe, do not try to drive your car to a safer location.
It’s normal to be shaken up or even angry after an accident but try to regain your composure, control your breathing and think logically. Before you move or get out of the car, check for any injuries on yourself or anyone else in your car.
If someone is badly hurt and in need of urgent medical attention, call an ambulance. If no injuries have been sustained take note of it in case other people claim for injury.
By law reporting a road traffic accident to the authorities is legally required if somebody has been injured, someone’s property has been damaged or if a driver involved in the accident did not stop and exchange details. You should also call the police if cars are stuck in a dangerous position on the road or if they’re obstructing traffic.
For more minor bumps and scrapes, these can be dealt with privately by swapping details with the other driver. You may also be able to fix some cosmetic issues afterwards at home with our guide.
After an accident, make sure to try and get the details of the other driver involved as well as any witnesses to the crash.
Ask for their:
- Name
- Address
- Number
- Car Registration Number
- Insurance Details
Again, don’t admit fault or lay blame on anyone, it is up to the insurance providers and police to decide who is liable.
Keep a record of the damage sustained to both cars and of any injuries. You can use the camera on your smartphone and record a video showing your cars and the scene from all angles, this will give the police and insurance providers a clearer picture of the situation later down the line. It is also a good idea to make a record of the surroundings and the driving conditions, as well as the time and date of the incident.
Make sure to contact your insurance providers as soon as you are able. Even for a minor accident, if you don’t notify your provider of the accident straight away this may invalidate your policy.
After an accident your insurance will unfortunately go up. If you are wondering how much insurance goes up after an accident, it is typically 20% - 50% more, however this varies depending on if you’ve made a claim before, who is liable for the accident, the severity of the accident and your driving history. Insurance can be expensive - if this is a worry, we have another article on how to keep your insurance costs down.
So, how long after an accident can you file a claim? Generally, car accidents have a three-year time limit from the date of the accident.
Of course, the best-case scenario is avoiding a crash altogether. The best way to do that is to adhere to the driving laws and to brush up on your driving skills. We have an article intended to help new drivers stay safe on the road, but we very much believe the practices mentioned in our 10 essential tips for new drivers are applicable to anyone that drives.
This can feel scary and dangerous, so it’s good to be aware of the steps you need to take if you do end up in this situation.
Try to get near to an emergency telephone. There is usually one every mile, and it will help the police or highways authority to locate where you are. Make sure to turn on your hazard lights. Leave the vehicle from the left-hand doors only and move as far as possible away from the road.
You cannot immediately drive away from an accident. However, if you’ve done everything that you need to do at the scene and your car is in a state to drive away, then you can do so. However, it would still be a good idea to get your car checked, so that you don’t risk invalidating your insurance.
And that is our safety advice for what to do if you get in a car accident.
Nobody expects to have an accident when they head out on the road, but these things can sometimes happen and if it does, you can now be prepared. If you think your car needs to be looked over for any reason, you can book into your nearest Eurorepar car centre.
