For any road user in the UK, knowing what to do after a car accident is essential. From exchanging details to pass on to your insurer, to calling the emergency services. Making sure you know exactly how to handle this situation will help you stay calm.
In this section:
- What happens after the incident?
- Who to call after a car accident?
- What details do I need to exchange after a car accident?
- How to submit a car accident report?
- Keeping your no claims discount
- What happens to a car after an accident?
What happens after the incident?
- Firstly, come to a safe stop if you haven't already. Turn off your engine. Remember, fleeing an accident is a crime that you could be charged with.
- Next, turn on your hazard lights to warn other drivers.
- If anyone in your vehicle is hurt, you'll need to call an ambulance. If you're in a car accident with injuries, remember to stay calm. Rushing out of your vehicle into traffic could cause more danger.
Who to call after a car accident?
Once you’ve dealt with the immediate risks of a car accident, you should call your insurance provider. Failing to stop after or inform your insurer about an accident can affect your ability to claim at a later stage. With AXA, the quickest way to make a car insurance claim is in our online claim portal. Please report your claim as soon as you can so we can take care of everything for you.
For traffic incidents that don’t require immediate help, you can call the police on 101 to report the accident. You should also call 101 if the other driver didn't stop after the accident. This will make things easier for yourself when you need to make a claim.
With AXA Breakdown cover, we offer a 24/7 emergency helpline to help you get back on the road as quickly as possible. It's available as an optional add-on to your AXA Car Insurance policy, or as a stand-alone product.
What details do I need to exchange after a car accident?
This is the information you’ll need to exchange with the other driver involved in your accident:
- Name
- Contact details (including address and phone number)
- Car registration number
- Name of the vehicle owner or registered keeper
- Make and model of the vehicle
If you’ve been in a car accident with no details exchanged, you must inform the police and your insurer within 24 hours of your accident.
How to submit a car accident report?
The more details you can gather at the site of your collision, the better. Check if anyone saw the accident and get their details, too. They may need to provide a witness statement in support of your claim.
Photos of your car accident should also be taken before your vehicle is moved. You should have a clear record of any car accident damage.
Having a dashcam is a great way to keep evidence of your safe driving. You should gather any footage before making your report. If you've been in contact with police officers after your accident, taking their details will also be helpful.
You can then submit your report to your insurer, even if you are not planning to make a claim.
Keeping your No Claims Discount
If you’ve been in an accident and weren’t at fault, you might wonder if this will affect your No Claims Discount.
You shouldn’t let this stop you from reporting a car accident. You'll still be entitled to this benefit of your policy as long as your insurer can recover the costs of your claim.
You can also count on AXA’s No Claims Discount protection if you’ve been hit by an uninsured driver, when you’re not at fault.
What happens to a car after an accident?
After your car's recovered from the accident, your insurer will let you know if your car will be ‘written off’. This happens if your car isn't repairable, or if the cost of repairing your car is higher than the car's value.
The DVLA has several car write-off categories based on whether your vehicle’s value can be salvaged. Check the UK Government’s website to find out more about what might happen to your vehicle if you’ve been in an accident.
If your car can be repaired safely for less than your car’s value, your insurer can arrange this with one of their trusted repairers.
Now you know all about what to do after a collision, you can drive safely and be ready to act when unexpected incidents strike.
