The right steps in the first hour protect your safety, your claim and your wallet. Here's exactly what to do at the scene and afterwards.
A car accident is stressful, and what you do in the first hour can make a real difference to your safety and to any claim that follows. This is the order we recommend to Swift Assist customers.
1. Stop and make the scene safe
Stopping after a collision is a legal requirement. Switch on your hazard lights, and if it's safe, move to the side of the road. Check yourself and your passengers for injuries before anything else.
2. Call 999 if anyone is hurt or the road is blocked
If there are injuries, or the vehicles are causing a danger to other traffic, call the emergency services. Don't move a seriously injured person unless they are in immediate danger.
3. Exchange details — and collect evidence
By law you must give your name, address and vehicle details to anyone with reasonable grounds to ask. Collect the same from the other driver, plus as much of the following as you safely can:
- The other vehicle's registration, make, model and colour
- The other driver's name, phone number and insurer (if they'll share it)
- Photos of both vehicles, the damage, the road layout and any skid marks
- Names and numbers of any independent witnesses
- The time, date, weather and exact location
4. Don't admit fault
It's natural to apologise, but try not to accept blame at the scene — fault is decided on the evidence, not on what's said in the moment. Stick to exchanging facts.
5. Report it
Tell the police within 24 hours if details weren't exchanged at the scene. You'll also need to notify your own insurer that an incident happened, even if you don't intend to claim on your own policy.
6. Start your claim
This is where an accident management company earns its keep. Rather than dealing with the at-fault insurer yourself, you can hand the practical side to Swift Assist — a replacement vehicle, vehicle recovery and storage, repairs and the recovery of your uninsured losses. We'll also connect you with an independent specialist solicitor for any injury claim, on a no win, no fee basis. One phone call gets it moving.
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About this guide. Written and reviewed by Swift Assist's claims specialists, who handle non-fault motor accident claims for UK drivers every day. Figures are taken from official UK sources and checked on publication. It is general information, not legal or financial advice. See our sourced UK statistics.