Latest research from Aviva reveals that nearly 20% of drivers are unsure what to do after a vehicle collision.1
According to this new data, almost half of drivers (45%) are unsure what to do when dealing with a collision where damage to another vehicle or property is involved, despite this accounting for 85% of claims according to our data.2 This rises to 66% of drivers in collisions where someone gets hurt and to 80% when the incidents involve a wild or domestic animal.3
Any vehicle accident can escalate into a stressful situation minutes after a collision. This stress can stop even the most level-headed person from thinking clearly. So, here are our tips on what you or your employees should do after a vehicle collision.
Tips on what to do following a vehicle collision or accident
Here’s a quick checklist of what to do following a vehicle accident. We’ll cover each point in more detail below.
- Stop safely/pull over
- Check for injuries
- Call emergency services
- Don’t admit guilt or make accusations.
- Exchange details
- Document the scene and what happened including pictures
- Contact your insurer or insurance broker
1. Stop safely / pull over
The Highway Code requires stopping at the scene of an accident. If you don’t stop following an accident you were involved in, you can be charged by the police with leaving the scene of an accident. If it’s safe, pull over to the side of the road so you are not blocking other traffic. Ensure your car is visible by turning on your hazard warning lights, and for safety, turn off the engine.
2. Check for injuries and hazards
Before checking any damage to vehicles, check yourself and any passengers in your vehicle for any injuries.
Also, check the scene for potential hazards such as fuel leaking or unstable structures.
3. Call emergency services
Call 999 immediately for an ambulance if there are any injuries. If the vehicles involved are blocking the road, are in a dangerous position or you are on a motorway, dial 999 and ask for police assistance. Also, contact the police if the other people are acting suspiciously or aggressively towards you. Cash for crash scams are increasing, so understand what behaviour is associated with these types of incidents and how to deal with cash for crash scams here. You should contact the police if you also suspect any of the following:
- That the other driver may not be insured (or they refuse to give their details)
- You think the other driver may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- There is damage to the third-party property, road signs, or road safety measures such as bollards or central reservations.
Emergencies must be reported to the police immediately on 999, but all other incidents should be reported on 101, within 24 hours.
If the accident was minor, caused minimal vehicle damage, and nobody was injured, you do not need to contact the police. Just ensure you exchange details with other parties involved (see below).
4. Don’t admit guilt or make accusations
Do not accept blame or be pressured into accepting blame for an incident in the immediate aftermath. Stay calm, assess the situation, and don’t admit any liability or make accusations against the other people involved in the incident. Engaging in a heated discussion will not help the situation. Deal with the practicalities of what happened, begin to exchange details, and record what happened. The police and insurers are there to look at the evidence and determine who is liable for the incident.
5. Exchange details
You must exchange details with the other driver and other people involved in the accident (passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, witnesses, etc.).
Share and request the following information:
- Name, address and full contactdetails of all others involved.
- Vehicle registration number ofall vehicles.
- Driving licence numbers whereavailable.
- Vehicle owner’s/registeredkeeper’s name.
- Insurance information.
6. Document the scene and what happened
Make an accurate record of what happened. Write notes onyour phone or a piece of paper, take photographs or video evidence where you can of the following:
- Damage caused to vehicles, property, etc.
- The whole accident scene (from various angles) to ensure it’s clear where the incident occurred.
- Evidence of what happened, for example, skid marks, etc.
If you can, try to sketch the scene and write as much detail down as possible before you leave the scene, including:
- The road/ junction layout.
- Where vehicles were and whichdirection they were travelling.
- Road names.
- The speed at which you believeyou were travelling.
- Weather and driving conditions
- Details of injuries.
- Where witnesses were at the timeof the accident.
- Location of any CCTV cameras inthe area.
- Dashcam footage.
7. Contact your insurance broker/provider
If you use an insurance broker, such as Harborough Portas, contact your insurance broker to report the incident. They are there to help you and advise you. Where possible, report the incident within 24 hours of it occurring. Gather all your policy details, evidence, and report notes on the incident.
Even if you were not to blame, the other people involved could attempt to make a claim against you, so you must speak to your insurance provider or broker first.
If you are contacted directly by anyone involved in the incident or their insurer, do not speak to them and ask them to call your insurer or broker instead.
Collision with animals
If you collide with an animal, all the above steps should still be followed. If you’ve hit a dog, horse or sheep, you must report the collision to the police as required by the Road Traffic Act (1988).
Search and contact the appropriate animal welfare service, such as the RSPCA. For wild animals such as deer, foxes, and badgers, you may search and contact an appropriate animal welfare charity, but this is not a legal requirement.
Collision with a building
Vehicles are capable of causing damage to homes or businesses. Some incidents can pose a risk to both people and contents inside the building as well as the building itself. Your liability as a driver is not only to pedestrians and other road users but also to building owners as well.
As with other incidents, your immediate priority should be to assess injuries, safety and then contact emergency services if necessary. Documenting the scene and the incident is also the same as other incidents. If the property owner is present, then obtain all their details and give them your details also.
If the collision caused damage to a building or private property take photos of this and clearly document the damage caused.
Collision with a stationary, unattended vehicle
If you hit a stationary unattended vehicle, leave your details on their windscreen and call 101 to report the incident.
Contact Harborough Portas for all your commercial insurance needs
Harborough Portas offers professional, impartial advice on all types of business insurance.
When something happens in your business, employees or property and you need to make a claim, we’ll be there to offer guidance and work through the claims process. A broker will act as an intermediary between you and the insurance company.
When making a claim, you can often be under stress. Having expertise and a good level of support at this time can be invaluable.
Larger claims can often be complex, and a broker will handle the process, including completing the necessary paperwork, negotiating settlements, providing technical advice, dealing with insurers' claims departments, and ensuring a smooth and faster claims process.
If you want help and advice on commercial insurance, contact Harborough Portas today.
1 Source: Aviva - The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,000 nationally representative UK consumers (aged 17+) between 28.02.2025 - 03.03.2025. Of these, 1,369 were drivers
2 Aviva claims data involving a third party from January 2024 – February 2025.
3 The reverse of those who selected the relevant answer option when asked “What, if anything, should you do after a car accident, according to the highway code?”
