What you do in the minutes and days after a collision shapes how smoothly your claim goes. These steps protect you, the other people involved, and your entitlement to be paid.
At the scene
- Check for injuries and call emergency services if needed.
- Exchange names, contact and insurance details with the other driver.
- Photograph the vehicles, positions and damage.
- Note witnesses and the time and location.
Notify your insurer
Report the accident to your insurer promptly, even if you do not intend to claim. Your policy requires it, and late notification can complicate a claim. Our guide to making a claim walks through what follows.
If the other driver is at fault
Your insurer may recover the cost from the at fault party’s insurer. If the other driver is untraceable or uninsured, your own comprehensive cover or the Motor Insurers’ Bureau may step in. Our explainer on settlements covers how payouts are worked out.
If something goes wrong
If a claim is mishandled or wrongly declined, our guide to complaining about an insurer sets out the steps, and the Financial Ombudsman can review the dispute.