Road Accident Claim: Immediate Practical Steps You Should Take Following A Motor Vehicle Accident
If you’re involved in a road accident, knowing the right first steps can make or break your ability to claim compensation. This article shows what to do immediately — from reporting the crash to gathering evidence, seeking medical attention, and notifying your insurer — to support both injury and vehicle-damage claims.
- Road Accident Claim: Immediate Practical Steps You Should Take Following A Motor Vehicle Accident
- What should you do immediately following a road accident?
- Call the ambulance and the police
- Take the details of the drivers involved in the road accident
- Take photographs of the accident scene and vehicle damage
- Go back to the scene to obtain further evidence to support your claim
- Take the names and contact details of any witnesses to the road accident
- Attend at hospital or your GP to have your injuries treated
- Notify your motor insurer that you have been involved in a road traffic accident
- Keep a diary of all your physical and psychological symptoms
- Keep a record, as well as any receipts, for all your expenses
- SUMMARY And Road Accident Claim Next Steps
- FREE – Specialist Solicitor Help Options
- What should you do immediately following a road accident?
What should you do immediately following a road accident?
As soon as you are aware that you have been involved in a road traffic accident (before you make a claim) you should:
Call the ambulance and the police
If you, or anyone else, involved in the road traffic accident has suffered a personal injury – it is important both the police and the ambulance attend at the accident scene.
Take the details of the drivers involved in the road accident
The details exchanges at the scene of a road accident should include:
The names of the drivers, addresses, telephone numbers, motor insurance details along with vehicle registration and car make.
Take photographs of the accident scene and vehicle damage
If you can, take a photograph of the accident scene – including:
- The vehicles involved and their resting positions. Be sure to get a photo with the registration plates clearly visible and damage caused.
- Any road markings on the road or signs.
- Skid marks on the road itself.
- Even a photo of teh driver can prove valuable – to prevent a later a denial of involvement.
Photos will prove to be essential evidence should you make a road accident claim and liability is denied.
Go back to the scene to obtain further evidence to support your claim
If you didn’t have a camera with you at the time of your RTA then go back to the scene as soon as you can. Again take photos – there may still be visible skid marks on the road.
Take the names and contact details of any witnesses to the road accident
Independent witnesses are essential. If their is a dispute as to how the accident happened – it is often the independent witness evidence teh court will believe.
The court These witnesses may be needed to give evidence which can prove your road accident claim if there is a dispute as to how your collision occurred.
Independent Witnesses Can Make Or Break Your Claim
Independent witnesses are the key. In other words – passersby, pedestrians or other vehicle drivers. People unconnected with you or the other driver will be believed in preference to your own passengers – who clearly know you and may be considered bias.
Attend at hospital or your GP to have your injuries treated
The importance of attending at hospital and/or you GP cannot be underestimated. Contemporaneous (made at the time of close to the accident date) medical assistance is essential.
At hospital / GP – a record will be made of any trauma you complain of and any diagnosis given. Even if no initial treatment is deemed necessary – your medical notes will reflect your attendance.
Therefore – it is important you tell the doctor all of your injuries no matter how small they might seem.
Shock Can Mask Your Initial Symptoms
Some of your injuries, such as whiplash, may go initially go unnoticed initially due to shock. Shock is known to mask symptoms immediately following an accident.
However, as soon the shock wears off – symptoms may present themselves.
Therefore – however small these symptoms may seem – see your GP or go to hospital.
Notify your motor insurer that you have been involved in a road traffic accident
Your policy of motor insurance will typically require that you immediately notify your motor insurer of any road accidents involving the insured vehicle.
Generally – you should tell your insurer in all circumstances, including:
- Whether the accident was your fault of that of the other driver.
- You are undecided whether to make a claim.
- The third party driver of insurer contact you to settle your claim direct.
Failure To Notify May Result In Your Policy Bering Considered Void
Failure to notify your insurer of an road accident may lead to your current or future motor insurer asserting that your motor insurance policy is void.
This may only crop up when you have a later accident or when you are contacted with a claim alleged against you.
Most accidents involving vehicles can reported on the motor insurance data base, which insurers will access when a claim is made against your policy.
Keep a diary of all your physical and psychological symptoms
You should keep a detailed record of all the symptoms you suffer with corresponding dates.
Some of these records may be duplicated in your medial notes. However, as part of your road accident claim – you will see an independent medical expert (arranged by your solicitor) who will need to discuss you past and present symptoms whilst examining your injuries.
Avoid Getting Flustered
The medical examination will typically be very quick.
The medical expert is trying to be objective, so may not seem to be friendly or even on your side. You may get flustered during the examination and forget to mentions essential details of your present and past symptoms, which could prejudice your claim.
By keeping a diary of your symptoms – you will have an ordered mind as to what you have experienced.
You can use the diary to refresh your memory before the examination begins.
Should you get flustered – be calm and refer to your diary to be as accurate as possible
The expert will then compile a medico-legal report setting out both your injuries and likley recovery period (for ongoing symptoms).
This report is essential evidence that will be used by your solicitor to prove your pain and suffering claim.
Don’t Forget Psychological Symptoms
As well as physical symptoms, you should record any psychological symptoms you experience.
Psychological symptoms are another type of pain and suffering for which you can receive compensation.
Symptoms might include – shock, sleepless nights, fear of driving or even more severe psychological symptoms suggestive of PTSD.
Keep a record, as well as any receipts, for all your expenses
These records and receipts should include:
- Repair costs to your vehicle.
- Towing expenses.
- Vehicle storage costs.
- Absence from work (or reduced hours and lost overtime).
- Medical expenses. For example – prescriptions expenses.
- Travel expenses to and from he hospital and your GP. If you use public transport – keep receipts. Using your own vehicle or driven by family and friends – keep a note of the distances involved and number of occasions and parking at the hospital expenses.
The are many more expenses and you will know when you experience them – so keep records.
See our car accident compensation article – for a full list of all the expenses you can include as part of your claim for compensation.
Remember – financial losses and expenses can all form part of your road accident claim. However – you must be able to prove them.
Records Are Essential To Help Win Your Claim And Receive Full Compensation
Keeping records and taking the steps we have suggested may seem a pain to do.
However – not only will you find them cathartic, but also they could prove very important.
Both to winning your claim and ensuring your receive the maximum compensation you are entitled to.
SUMMARY And Road Accident Claim Next Steps
In summary – you now know exactly what actions to take straight after a road accident to safeguard your claim. Gather evidence, get prompt medical care, notify your insurer, and keep clear records — then you’ll be well placed to proceed confidently with your compensation claim.
NEXT STEPS In Making A Road Accident Claim
Car accidents tend to be quite straight forward. Whereas, collisions involving motorcycles are often more complicated – resulting in uncertainty as to how the accident actually happened.
See our motorcycle accident article to learn the evidence that can be used to prove how your RTA happened.
In addition – for full guidance on liability, fault and compensation amounts, see our Road Traffic Accident Guide.
FREE – Specialist Solicitor Help Options
We offer a number of telephone / online solicitor help options. You can not only ask a question, but also speak direct to a solicitor or have your road accident claim assessed.
