What to do if you're involved in a car accident?

If you are involved in an accident, the first thing you need to do is call the police. Do not attempt to move your car as this is evidence. Moving your car may result in a void claim, as supporting evidence will be lost if you are not at fault.

While waiting for the police to arrive, exchange details with the other driver. Always have a notebook and a pen in the glove box of your car, you never know when you might need a piece of paper to scribble something important down!

Information you will need from the other driver is - vehicle registration number, drivers name and address, insurance provider with policy number and their driving license number.

When the police arrive they will try to assess the damage and get full statements from both drivers. They will determine whose fault it was and you will be issued a police case number. They may also want to speak to any witnesses present at the time but bear in mind that many witnesses may be reluctant to back you up as they may not want to get involved.

When you get home, call the claims line for your insurance company and immediately report the car accident. In most cases they will take down only a few details and someone will call within the next 24 hours. You will get a reference number and another phone number to call relating to the claim. This is when they will ask you for more details about the accident and the other driver involved. When explaining what happened, keep it brief but emphasise on the faults made by the other driver. For example if another driver overtook you from the left hand side and hit your passenger side while you were stationary, be sure to emphasise on that part. The accident claims advisor will check the type of policy you have with them first, that is, whether it 3rd party only, 3rd party, fire and theft or fully comprehensive. You will probably have to pay an excess that was agreed at the beginning of your policy if they later decide the accident was your fault though.

If your vehicle needs to be repaired, your insurance provider will arrange this through their approved garages which are allowed to repair vehicles that are insured with them. If you choose to repair it through another garage, do not report the accident in the first place as you may lose your no claims bonus. If you are entitled to a courtesy car, a 3rd party through your insurance provider will arrange this as well.

Always make sure the details provided by you are correct as this can have serious implications. It is good to call them up after a few days to double check the details they have relating to your car accident. In some cases when they take down your details they put everything under the main policy holder’s name when it should be on the additional driver’s name. If this is not corrected and both drivers are entitled to no claims discounts (some insurance providers allow all named drivers to build their own no claims bonus separately), then the policy holder will lose his/her no claims bonus and this result in the latter’s insurance quote going up rather than down when it’s time to renew next.

Your insurance provider may ask you to draw a diagram of the accident before and after collision. Within 3 weeks the case should be settled and if the other party is to blame, then all expenses will be claimed through their insurance provider and you will not lose your no claims bonus and any money you've spent will be reimbursed.