Motor Insurance

Your legal responsibility is as follows:

If you were the driver and the damage was minor, there was no injury to anyone, no offences committed, no animal involved and no roadside signage or devices damaged; just stop, exchange name and address to comply with s.170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. Then contact your car insurance company for the claim to be processed.

In all other cases, you must:

Give your name and address, the vehicle owner's name and address if different and the registration number to anyone with reasonable grounds for requiring them.
Call an ambulance if someone has been injured.
Call the police to attend immediately or report the matter in person to any police station as soon as possible and within 24 hours of the accident/incident.
Produce your car insurance certificate to the police within 7 days where injury is caused.

What do I do if I see an accident ahead?

If you see or hear emergency vehicles ahead, there could be an accident.

DON'T slow down unnecessarily - for instance on a motorway or dual carriageway - as this can cause another accident and/or congestion that impedes emergency vehicles.

What if I reach the scene of an accident before the emergency services?

DO turn your hazard lights on and stay calm.
DO check any engines are switched off and ensure nobody is smoking.
DO call the emergency services and give location and casualty details.
Use the emergency roadside phone on a motorway.
If using a mobile on a motorway, check your location using the hard shoulder markers.
DO move walking wounded to safety away from the scene.
DO think about becoming a trained first aider - check the Highway Code for more details.
DO stay at the scene until the emergency services arrive.
DO stay well away from accidents involving dangerous goods or chemicals.
DON'T use a mobile phone close to flammable cargo.
DON'T move injured people from their vehicles unless there is danger of fire or explosion.
DON'T remove a motorcyclist's helmet unless absolutely essential.

Driving can be dangerous - but need not be. Keep a copy of The Highway Code handy and make sure you are familiar with the contents. It could help save your life - or someone else's!