What to do in the event of a road traffic collision

Helpful hints and tips.plus some good offers from ur specialists and advice on motoring abroad
Post Reply
User avatar
thedupleman
Club Owner
Posts: 16736
Joined: Mon Feb 08, 2010 9:14 pm
Real Name:
Coupe: s-Coupe (1991-1996)
Engine: 2.0
Location: Hcoc bunker, sandbach
+_number: 0002
Has thanked: 41 times
Been thanked: 154 times
Contact:

What to do in the event of a road traffic collision

#1

Post by thedupleman »

What to do if you have a road accident

What You Need to Know
Stay calm and make the situation as a safe as possible.
Call the Ambulance Service if there are injuries.
Exchange details with the other drivers.
Take down witness details.
Make comprehensive notes and take pictures.
Inform your insurer and the police.

When involved in an accident on the road its crucial to take the correct steps. If the fault lies elsewhere then you may be entitled to pursue a claim for personal injury compensation. Whilst most road accidents are of a minor nature and do not result in injuries, many can leave the injured party in pain and possibly unable to work. In these situations seeking compensation is an option.

Record your version of events
Be careful to ensure that you make comprehensive notes the nature of the accident and take details of the other drivers and any witnesses. Take care to record the make and model of the vehicles involved, the direction and speed of travel and any collision points. Ensure you take comprehensive details form all those who witnessed the accident.

Inform the police and your insurer
The police won't attend a road traffic accident unless that there is an obvious sign of injury but is in your best interests to still report every incident. Later down the line, you may have problems with the other driver claiming they weren’t at fault, so you should cover your back from the outset. By law, you should always involve the police if the other driver is not willing to share their insurance details with you or tries to leave the scene. Your insurers must be informed of the accident at the earliest opportunity. This will be a policy condition, and you may not be covered if you don't have reports an accident immediately.

Not the driver but the injured party
If a pedestrian or cyclist is involved in a road traffic accident the same rules apply. Make sure that you record the pertinent information about the accident, obtain witness details and take the full details about the driver including insurance information. A camera or camera phone can be extremely useful in capturing evidence.

Hit and run accidents
One of the most distressing situations you may face is to be involved in a hit and run accident. Many people believe that there is nowhere to turn for redress in this situation, but this is not true. The Motor Insurers Bureau is a non-profit organisation that is funded by UK insurers to support accident victims who find themselves in this position. If you were able to record the registration number of the responsible parties vehicle you can check this against national databases.

Making a claim
Witnesses will be crucial in this situation, so get their information when going through the steps described above to document the incident. In a hit-and-run incident the police must be involved as soon as possible. Without their involvement a claim through the Motor Insurers Bureau is difficult to pursue. If you feel that you have been injured by the accident you may wish to make a claim for personal injury compensation. Hospital records or records from your GP are essential in this instance. Even if your accident happened some time ago you may still be able to make a claim as child victims of hit-and-run drivers are allowed to pursue a road accident claim up until the 21st birthday.


Look out guys it’s him that thinks he’s in charge!
Post Reply