In 2024, just over 128,000 people were injured in road traffic collisions in the UK. The figure is unfortunately unsurprisingly high as, in today’s world, our overreliance on cars to take us to work, to visit friends and family, or even to go on holiday, means there are more of us clogging up Britain’s roads than ever before.
It’s normal to be shaken up in the aftermath of a car accident; you’ve been through a disruptive event that came out of nowhere and has left you with both physical and mental scars, not to mention a gruelling to-do list that could leave you pulling your hair out. It might feel like you’ve got a long slog ahead of you, and that you will only be able to move on from the whole ordeal once each complicated step is behind you. So just in case you’re finding yourself at your wits’ end, we’ve simplified each step into a straightforward list below.
Report the Accident to Your Insurer
Although it may vary, most insurance policies require that any accident, regardless of fault, be reported within 24 hours. Even if you don’t intend to claim, you should do this. If you are claiming, pass over all of the details of the accident that you’ve recorded to your insurance provider so that they can take care of most of the work.
Details should include:
- The date and time of the accident.
- A description of the accident.
- Photographs or videos evidencing your description.
- A description of the driving conditions (weather, visibility, road conditions).
- Information regarding the vehicles involved (manufacturer, model, colour, license plate).
- Witness accounts and contact details.
- What damage was done to your vehicle, and the parts which were most affected.
If you are contacted by another party that was involved in the accident (or their insurer), tell them that they need to speak to your insurance provider instead.
Know Who is at Fault
During the claims process following the accident, your insurance provider will decide who was responsible for the accident. The outcome of this decision will determine which party will pay for the repair costs and compensation for injuries.
To arrive at a decision, they will look at:
- Dashcam footage
- Photos and/or videos taken using your smartphone
- Footage from speed cameras and nearby CCTV
- Eyewitness statements
- Police reports
If You Were at Fault
If the accident was your fault, your insurer will pay for the other party’s vehicle repairs or injury compensation. While you will not personally be out of pocket, you can expect your insurance quote to rise.
If Another Party was at Fault
File a non-fault claim with your insurance provider, so they can approach the insurer of the party at fault to demand the vehicle repair/replacement costs and compensation.
What if a Decision Cannot Be Reached?
When no at-fault party can be identified, there will be nobody to make a claim against, so your insurer will consider you liable. This can occur if the other driver involved is at fault, but drives away, or if an animal causes the accident.
Seek Medical Advice
Injuries from car accidents can vary widely depending on the speed and conditions of the crash. But if you’re injured, you must either contact your GP or go to hospital, depending on the severity of your injuries and the urgency of the situation. Even if your injuries feel minor and only present after a day or two, you’ll wind up thanking yourself for erring on the side of caution in the end; there are all sorts of injuries, like internal bleeding, that you might not be aware of but can only be picked up by a medical professional.
Medical evidence is also a requirement for injury claims, such as fractures, sprains, or whiplash, so the positives of going for a check-up far outweigh the negatives (of which there are few, aside from waiting in A&E).
Common injuries to look out for:
- Whiplash: the most common injury caused by the sudden stop during a crash. Look out for pain and stiffness in the back of the neck.
- Bruising: often an indicator of deeper, more serious damage beneath the surface.
- Back Injuries: muscle strains, ligament tears, or disc damage.
- Bone breaks: most often are broken arms, ribs, collarbone, and legs.
- Traumatic brain injuries: from mild concussions to severe brain damage, TBI’s are caused by impact to the head.
Reporting to the Police
Reporting your accident to the authorities isn’t always essential. But if you either haven’t exchanged details with the other parties involved, if somebody was injured, or if you believe that a driving offence was committed, you must notify the police immediately, even if you believe that you were at fault. To do so, you can either call the police on 101 or fill out an online form (if your local constabulary offers this).
Once you’ve notified the police, they will assess your report and only get in touch with you if something further is needed, like a witness statement. If you made any form of allegation, the following steps may vary:
- Your allegation will not be pursued, and you will not be contacted further.
- Action will be taken and a Notice of Intended Prosecution will be issued to the alleged offender (note: the police will still not contact you with an update if this happens)
- You will be contacted by the police, informing you that you will be needed in court. This is the only circumstance in which you will be contacted.
Follow Up with Legal Support
Whether you have engaged a solicitor to help with the claim or you have been injured and want to pursue an injury claim, getting the right legal support can take a weight off your mind. If you’re struggling to find the right support and need help finding the most prestigious claims lawyers in Cornwall or the best personal injury solicitors Liverpool has to offer, once you’ve landed on the right firm, they’ll reassure you with their high-quality service and ensure you get the best outcome, allowing you to sleep better at night.
In Conclusion
After a car accident, many motorists find themselves left feeling shell-shocked and anxious about the road ahead, but no matter the circumstance, if you can bear these five steps in mind, you will feel a bit more at ease moving forward. Personal injury, vehicle repairs or even a complete replacement are enough for most people to bear, let alone navigate the legal landmine field . But ideally, the claims process will be streamlined and taken care of within a few weeks, and a courtesy car is provided to ensure that you can live your life in the meantime.