What to Do After a Car Accident: Your Complete Guide

Nobody plans for a car accident. You’re just driving, and then suddenly you’re not. Everything after that is a blur, and the mistakes people make in that blur end up costing them. A rushed settlement, a botched insurance claim, or losing out on compensation for a damaged car.

This guide covers every stage, from the seconds after impact to sorting repairs, claims and compensation. Follow it to stay safe and protected on the road.

Quick Checklist: What to Do After a Car Accident in the UK

• Always stop after an accident. It’s a mandatory requirement under the Road Traffic Act 1988.
• Secure the scene. Hazards on, engine off. No triangles on motorways.
• Call 999 for injuries or danger. Call 101 for minor incidents.
• Gather evidence. Photos, dashcam footage and driver details protect your position.
• See a doctor, even if you feel fine. Insurers need medical proof.
• Report to the police within 24 hours if details were not exchanged.
• Tell your insurer as a notification-only call, even without a claim.
• In a non-fault case, the other insurer covers your losses.
• You are entitled to a like-for-like replacement car through credit hire.
• Whiplash claims under £5,000 go through the OIC portal.

Phase 1: Immediate Obligations at the Scene

Your body dumps adrenaline the instant metal hits metal. Here is what to do next:

Stop the Vehicle Immediately

No matter how small the collision looks, stop the car immediately. The Road Traffic Act 1988 makes driving off a criminal offence, a “fail to stop” charge that can land you points, a fine or prison time.

Find a safe spot and pull over. Hazards on. Step out of the car; let the adrenaline settle for a second. You’ll handle the next ten minutes far better with a clear head.

Check for Injuries

After stopping in a safe position, check for injuries. Check yourself first, then your passengers, then anyone else at the scene. Talk to them. Are they conscious, responsive, in pain?

Adrenaline masks injuries. Something that feels like a stiff neck at the roadside could be far worse an hour later. Keep checking on everyone, yourself included.

Secure the Scene

Engine off. Hazards on. Other drivers need to see you before they reach you. Smoke? Get everyone well clear of the vehicle immediately.

Drop warning triangles behind the car, unless you’re on a motorway. After dark, you’re basically invisible at the roadside. Grab a reflective jacket or use your phone torch so approaching traffic can actually spot you.

Call the Right Number (999 vs. 101)

Most shunts don’t need 999. But some absolutely do. Ring 999 if:

• Anyone is injured.
• The road is blocked.
• There is suspicion of drink or drug driving.

For anything less serious, 101 is the right number. A minor collision with no injuries and no road blockage falls into this category.

Phase 2: Gathering Evidence After a Car Accident

As a victim of a car accident, evidence is your ballast against a false claim. Gathering it properly helps prove you were not at fault.

What Not to Say After an Accident

Check the other driver is alright, but whatever you do, don’t say “sorry.” Even a polite apology can be twisted into an admission of fault. Leave the question of blame to the insurers; they work from facts, not manners.

The Details You Must Exchange by Law

Under UK law, drivers involved in an accident must exchange certain details. These include:

• Full name and address.
• Vehicle registration number (photograph the plate).
• The vehicle owner’s name and address if the vehicle is not yours.
• Car insurance details, including policy number and insurer name.

Evidence to Collect at the Scene

A smartphone is enough to gather strong evidence. Collect the following before any vehicle moves:

• Close-up photos of the impact damage.
• Wide shots of the road layout, markings and car positions.
• Photos of skid marks, broken glass or weather conditions such as sun glare or wet roads that left you on the marbles.
• Dashcam footage. Save it now, before the loop overwrites it.

If there are eyewitnesses, ask for their names and contact details on the spot, because witness statements can be valuable proof during an insurance claim.

Phase 3: The Medical Check, Even If You Feel Fine 

Feeling fine after a crash does not mean you are uninjured. Adrenaline acts as a powerful natural painkiller. It numbs pain in the minutes and hours after impact.

People walk away from collisions all the time thinking they’re fine, only for the wallop to hit the next morning. Common delayed injuries include:

• Whiplash
• Soft tissue damage
• Concussion

Seeing a doctor matters for two reasons. First, your health. Second, the insurance process. Without a visit to a GP, walk-in centre or A&E, there is no official record of the injury. The other driver’s insurer could argue you were not genuinely hurt. A medical record removes that argument entirely.

Phase 4: Reporting the Car Accident

Once the immediate actions are done, two important phone calls remain. One to the police. One to your insurer.

Reporting to the Police Within 24 Hours

Reporting to the police is required in certain situations:

• You and the other driver didn’t manage to swap details at the scene.
• The other driver scarpered before you got anything (a hit-and-run).
• You believe a crime took place, drink-driving being the obvious one.

Failing to report within 24 hours has consequences. The police can refuse to investigate, or your insurer may also refuse to pay out.

Why the Insurer Must Be Told, Even Without a Claim

There is a common myth that staying quiet protects your premium. In reality, most UK car insurance policies include a clause requiring you to report any incident. Failing to do so can lead to policy cancellation for “non-disclosure”.

When calling the insurer, make two things clear: the report is for information only, and the accident was non-fault. This protects your position without triggering a claim.

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Phase 5: Arranging Recovery or Repairs

With the immediate aftermath sorted, the car itself needs attention. Got roadside assistance on your policy? Your breakdown provider or insurer can sort recovery from there. If the car still drives, take it straight to a garage you trust, or one your insurer recommends.

If the damage is too severe, the insurer will write the car off and usually a settlement offer will follow. The DVLA must then be notified of the write-off.

Phase 6: Rights as a Non-Fault Victim

When the accident wasn’t your fault, your legal rights stretch well beyond what standard car insurance covers. The goal of the law is simple: put you back where you were before the crash, financially and physically.

Who Pays for What in a Non-Fault Accident?

In a non-fault accident, the other driver’s insurer is responsible for your losses. You should not be left out of pocket.

Your excess: You may need to pay this upfront to your own insurer to start repairs. It can then be claimed back from the other side.

Your no claims discount (NCD): Most insurers will step back your NCD initially. Once the other insurer admits liability, your NCD should be reinstated to its previous level.

Courtesy Car vs Credit Hire: What You Are Entitled To

This is a detail insurers rarely explain clearly.

Standard courtesy car: Go through your own policy, and you’ll probably end up in a Ford Fiesta or Vauxhall Corsa. Doesn’t matter if what you actually drive is far more Clarkson-spec. It simply keeps you mobile. 

Credit hire (for non-fault victims): As a non-fault victim, you may be entitled to a like-for-like replacement vehicle. A specialist credit hire company provides a car that matches yours. Drive an SUV, and you get an SUV. The credit hire company recovers the cost directly from the at-fault driver’s insurer.

Phase 7: Understanding Injury Claims

Injured in the accident? Compensation claims follow a set process, and knowing how it works puts you ahead.

The Whiplash Portal (Official Injury Claim)

For most minor road accident injuries, the process is tightly regulated.

The £5,000 limit: Any whiplash injury valued under £5,000 has to go through the government’s Official Injury Claim (OIC) portal. You can use it without a solicitor; that’s the idea, but many people still get legal help to avoid selling themselves short. 

The May 2025 Tariff Change

Compensation payouts for whiplash increased from 31 May 2025, with the government introducing a punchy 15% rise to the fixed tariffs to account for inflation.

In practical terms, a six-month whiplash injury now receives a higher fixed payout than before. However, this fixed tariff only applies to whiplash. Non-tariff injuries, such as a broken finger, severe anxiety or tinnitus, are valued separately. These are often worth considerably more.

Who is Exempt from the Portal?

Vulnerable road users are exempt from the portal. This includes:

• Pedestrians
• Cyclists
• Motorcyclists
• Horse riders
• Passengers under 18

For these groups, the fixed tariff rules do not apply. Compensation is calculated based on the severity of pain and suffering instead.

Common Mistakes to Avoid After a Car Accident

Knowing what to do is only half of it. What you avoid doing matters just as much, particularly in the hours and days after the crash. 

These are the crumple zones people hit most often:

• Accepting a cash settlement at the roadside. It looks like a quick fix at the time, but roadside cash offers almost always lowball the actual damage. Walk away without a proper assessment, and you’ve got no paper trail and no recourse when hidden costs show up later.
• Posting about the accident on social media. A photo, an offhand comment, even a vague status update. All of it can be used against you. Insurers and solicitors could check social media profiles during claims, and one post could undercut your entire position.
• Giving a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer without advice. The other insurer may contact you directly. Talk to a solicitor before going on record with the other side’s insurer. One wrong sentence can shift where the blame lands.
• Losing track of out-of-pocket receipts. Travel expenses, medication, vehicle hire and any other costs linked to the accident should be documented. Without receipts, claiming these back becomes far more difficult.
• Accepting the first settlement offer without questioning it. Insurers often make an early offer to close the case quickly. That first figure rarely reflects the full cost of repairs, hire charges and any personal injury. Take time to review it before agreeing.

Conclusion: What to Do After a Car Accident

A car accident is stressful enough without a fight over what you’re rightfully owed on top of it. The steps above cover the essentials. Staying safe, locking down evidence and protecting your position from day one is usually the best way to approach any car accident.

One key point to remember: do not face the insurer alone in a non-fault claim. Insurers often try to settle quickly and cheaply. However, you are entitled to proper repairs and a like-for-like replacement vehicle while yours is off the road.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should you do after a minor car accident in the UK?

The steps are the same whether it’s a prang or a pile-up:

• Stop immediately.
• Exchange names, addresses and registration numbers.
• Take photos of the damage and road position before moving the cars.
• Do not apologise, as it can be read as admitting fault.
• Report the incident to your insurer within 24 hours, even without a claim.

Is there a time limit to report a car accident to insurance?

Yes. You’ve usually got between 24 and 48 hours to tell your insurer, though the exact window sits in your policy wording. Leave it too late, and your claim could be thrown out. Some insurers go further and cancel the whole policy for non-disclosure. 

Do you have to report a minor car accident to the police?

Yes, but only in specific situations. If the details are exchanged and nobody’s hurt, you can pass over the police report. However, you must report the incident within 24 hours if:

• You weren’t able to get the driver’s details
• Somebody got injured
• In case of hit-and-run

How does car insurance work if the accident is not your fault?

The other driver’s insurer is generally responsible for your losses. This covers repairs and your excess, which you claim back. Your no claims discount should be reinstated once liability is admitted.

What happens if the other driver does not have insurance?

Gather evidence and report it to the police. Then take the claim to your own insurer or the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB). The MIB exists specifically to handle claims involving uninsured and untraceable drivers.

Can you claim for whiplash after a minor crash?

Whiplash commonly occurs in smaller collisions. Under the current rules, claims valued under £5,000 must go through the Official Injury Claim (OIC) portal.

What happens if you do not stop after an accident?

Driving off is a criminal offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988, even for a minor scratch. Penalties include:

• 5 to 10 penalty points on your licence.
• A fine of up to £5,000.
• Up to six months in prison for serious cases.