How Do You Report A Car Accident?

Last updated 28th November 2024. Under the Road Traffic Act 1980 (RTA), all drivers must stop at the scene of an accident if damage has been caused or if somebody is injured. They must also give their contact details to anybody else involved if requested.

But what else do you need to do after being involved in a road traffic accident? Do you need to report the accident? If so, to whom? In this guide, we are going to clarify matters by answering the question “Do you need to report a car accident?”.

We will also look at your right to claim compensation if you are injured in a car crash. This might be possible if the accident wasn’t your fault or if you were only partially responsible.

If you decide to make a claim after reading this, we could help. Our team specialise in personal injury claims and offer a no-obligation review of any case along with free advice on what you should do next.

If the claim appears viable, you could progress your case with a personal injury lawyer from Advice. Should they agree to take your claim on, they can manage it on a No Win No Fee basis.

If you would like our advice on claiming, get in touch today:

• Call us on 0161 509 2856.
• Contact us with any queries.
• Use the Live Chat feature below.

Select A Section

• A Guide On How Do You Report A Car Accident?
• Car Accident Calculator For Claims
• What Is A Road Traffic Accident?
• What Should You Do After Being Involved In A Car Accident?
• Who Should You Report A Car Accident To?
• Do You Have To Stop After Being In A Car Accident?
• Do I Have To Report A Damage Only Non-Stop Accident?
• How Do You Report A Car Accident To The Motor Insurers’ Bureau?
• Should I Say Sorry After A Car Accident?
• Car Accident No Win No Fee Claims
• Contact Us
• More Information On How Do You Report A Car Accident

A Guide On How Do You Report A Car Accident?

In the event of a car accident, you may find that that you’re not sure what to do. We’re going to explain just that. We’ll also try to answer some common questions, including:

• Do you have to report a minor car accident to the police in the UK?
• Should I tell my insurance company about a minor accident?
• Within how many days do you have to report a car accident?

Importantly, if you are injured in a car accident that was caused by somebody else’s negligence, you might be entitled to claim compensation. To help with that, you will need evidence to support your claim.

Without evidence, the other party’s insurance company could deny liability for the accident. Therefore, it is a good idea to take the following steps after an accident:

• Photograph the scene once you have confirmed that no one is in danger.
• Take details from the other driver, including their contact details, insurer’s name, and vehicle registration number.
• Ask any witnesses for their details.
• Secure copies of any available dash cam footage.
• Have your injuries assessed at a hospital or by your GP as soon as possible.

You will also need to consider the personal injury claims time limit. This is generally 3 years from the date of the accident.

If your child has been injured in a car accident while under the age of 18, they can be represented by a litigation friend until their 18th birthday. Once they turn 18, they have until their 21st birthday to claim if they have not already.

If you would like to know more about claiming, why not call our team of specialists? We’ll review your claim during a free telephone consultation and explain your options.

Car Accident Calculator For Claims

In this section, we are going to show how much compensation could be paid for injuries sustained in a car crash. Importantly, no two claims are the same, so you should use the figures we supply as guidance only.

The first thing you’ll claim for is the pain, suffering, and loss of amenity that results from your injuries. This is known as general damages.

The estimated figures for this head of your claim are contained within our table below. The data is taken from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), a document used by legal professionals when considering compensation amounts. They are not a guarantee; instead, they are used to keep the parties on the same page as claims progress. Final amounts will vary.

• Up to £1,000,000 or more – multiple severe injuries plus special damages.
• £396,140 to £493,000 – injuries resulting in tetraplegia, which is a total and full-body loss of mobility.
• £267,340 to £346,890 – injuries resulting in paraplegia, which is a total loss of mobility from the waist down.
• £122,850 to £183,190 – chest injuries including serious heart damage or the removal of one lung.
• £80,240 to £122,850 – traumatic chest injuries causing permanent damage and/or impairment.
• £95,680 to £159,770 – Severe pelvis or hip injuries leading to substantial disability including sexual dysfunction and incontinence.
• £117,360 to £159,770 – Severe arm injuries equal in effect to but not including amputation.
• £47,810 to £73,050 – Arm injuries leading to substantial and permanent disability.
• £117,460 to £165,860 – Severe leg injuries equal in effect to but not including amputation.
• £66,920 to £109,290 – Very serious leg injuries leading to permanent or very long-term mobility and functional issues.

You will need to supply evidence of the severity of your injuries during your claim. You will therefore require a medical assessment. Our personal injury lawyers usually book these locally for you. The assessment will be carried out by an independent medical expert who will examine your injuries, review your medical records, and discuss your prognosis with you.

After the meeting, the specialist will detail their prognosis and findings in a report that will be sent to your lawyer.

Further Damages You Could Claim

As well as claiming for physical suffering, you might need to claim for losses and expenses incurred as a result of your accident. This part of the claim is called special damages. As before, the amount that can be claimed varies, but some of the expenses you can be compensated for include:

• Travel costs. This might cover the cost of alternative travel arrangements required during your recovery. It could also include public transport fares, fuel costs, or parking fees incurred because of medical appointments.
• Medical costs. Should you have to pay for prescriptions or other medications, the cost could be claimed back. In some cases, you might need to claim for the cost of non-NHS services.
• Care costs. You could claim for the time somebody spent supporting you during your recovery. This could include a family member helping you with daily chores.
• Changes to your home. If you are left with a disability following the accident, you might need to modify your home to help you cope. The cost of any necessary changes could be included in your claim.
• Loss of earnings. Taking time away from work to recover might prove expensive. If you do lose income because of your injuries, it could be claimed back.
• Future lost earnings. For injuries that have an adverse impact on your ability to work, you could claim for future lost earnings. As an example, an electrician who ends up with reduced grip following an accident might lose work if their ability to do their job is affected.

For more advice on what you could claim, please speak to an advisor today. Please bear in mind that you should retain evidence of your expenses, including receipts, wage slips, and bank statements.

What Is A Road Traffic Accident?

A road traffic accident can involve a single vehicle, multiple vehicles, or a mixture of vehicles and pedestrians. For the purpose of claiming compensation, you need to show that:

• You were owed a duty of care by the other road users involved.
• They caused the accident by breaching this duty of care.
• Because of the accident, you were harmed.

Proving a duty of care is quite straightforward, as all users of public roads need to drive safely to try and avoid accidents. Proving the cause of your injuries is possible using the evidence we discussed earlier, such as photographs, dashcam footage, and medical records.

You may still be able to claim if you were partially to blame for the accident. This is known as a split-liability claim. The claim will proceed as normal once each party has agreed on a percentage share of the blame. Following that, any compensation will be adjusted accordingly. If a 50-50 split is agreed, you would receive 50% of the final compensation.

If you would like help with starting a claim, contact our team today. We are happy to offer free advice following a no-obligation review of your accident.

What Should You Do After Being Involved In A Car Accident?

As well as the process of gathering evidence that we discussed earlier, there are some more steps you should take following a car accident. These include:

• Stop as soon as is safely possible. We’ll explain why you must do so in the next section.
• Turn your hazard lights on and stop the engine.
• See if anybody in your vehicle is injured.
• Check to see if anybody outside your vehicle is injured.
• If someone is injured, the road is blocked, or you suspect the other driver is drunk, dial 999 and speak to the operator.
• Move passengers to a safe place if you’re able to safely do so.
• Swap or exchange details with others involved in the accident if asked.

Who Should You Report A Car Accident To?

How do you report a car accident? A big part of answering this question is determining to whom you should make a car incident report to. This will vary depending on the circumstances in which it happened.

The Police

In accordance with the Road Traffic Act, you must report a car accident to the police if:

• The other driver won’t supply their details.
• You couldn’t supply your insurance details at the time of the accident.

You may not be able to provide your insurance details for several reasons. The incident may have happened on a motorway where you could not stop. You may not have had your insurance details on your person. Whatever the reason, you must produce your documents at a police station within 24 hours of an accident.

You do not have to call 999 if there is no danger. Reporting a car accident can be done via 101, the police’s non-emergency phone number.

Insurance Companies

Most insurance policies state that you must report a car accident involving your vehicle as soon as possible, regardless of whether you intend to claim or were at fault. Failing to do so could invalidate your policy, leaving you uninsured and unable to drive.

The Motor Insurers’ Bureau

This is a scheme that makes reporting a car accident possible when uninsured and even untraced drivers are involved. We’ll explain more of this topic later on. For now, please note that you can still make a road traffic accident claim, even if you are the only name listed on the car incident report.

If you have been in a car accident and would like some advice on the steps you could take, you can contact one our advisors.

Do You Have To Stop After Being In A Car Accident?

The RTA explains that you must stop at the scene of an accident where any damage has been caused or where anybody is injured. In reality, this means you will need to stop for most types of car accidents. Failing to do so is a criminal offence.

The reason for stopping is to help anybody who is injured and to provide your details to anybody with ‘reasonable grounds’ to ask for them. Generally, that will be the other party involved in the accident.

It’s worth reiterating that, at this point, it would be a good idea to gather details of witnesses. You should also take photographs of the crash scene before anything is removed. If you are injured, you should attend A&E as soon as possible to receive treatment.

Do I Have To Report A Damage Only Non-Stop Accident?

The police would be overwhelmed if every single collision had to be logged with them. If everything is dealt with at the scene and both parties swap details, there’s no need to report the accident.

This police advice says that, for collisions in which no injuries are sustained, you should only contact the police if you have the registration number of a vehicle that did not stop at the scene. You could also report the incident to the police if the area where it happened was covered by CCTV or if there is an independent witness who can verify the vehicle’s registration number.

How Do You Report A Car Accident To The Motor Insurers’ Bureau?

The Motor Insurers’ Bureau was set up to help protect drivers who are involved in accidents with hit and run or uninsured drivers. The scheme is funded by insurance companies that levy a fee on insurance policies. This means that, as an insured driver, you have contributed to the scheme.

You will need to provide similar details to the MIB as you would in claims against insured drivers. Therefore, you should still take steps to secure information about the other vehicle at the time of the accident. The registration plate, car make, model, and colour should all be written down as soon as safely possible to help you remember if you decide to file a claim.

You don’t need to wait for a conviction in a hit and run case either. As long as you have reported it to the police and have a reference number, you could begin your claim.

We are able to help with MIB claims. If you would like free legal advice on starting, please let us know. We will review what evidence you have and let you know your options.

Should I Say Sorry After A Car Accident?

Fault, or liability, for an accident is worked out by experts after the circumstances of the accident have been reviewed thoroughly. We would advise you not to admit the blame for the accident at the scene.

This is true even if you think you were at fault. The reason for this is you might not be aware of everything that led to the accident, especially if you are suffering from shock. Admitting liability for a car accident could impact your ability to claim compensation for your injuries.

If you are unsure of what caused your accident to happen, why not call us today? We have a team of specialist advisors ready to take your call. They’ll review all of the evidence to try and determine what happened.

You could then be partnered with a personal injury lawyer from Advice who’ll work with you on a No Win No Fee basis if they agree to represent you. You may be able to recover some of your costs and be compensated, even if you were partially to blame for the accident.

Car Accident No Win No Fee Claims

Are you worried about the cost of hiring a solicitor to help with your car accident claim? If so, we can help. This is due to the fact that our personal injury lawyers offer a No Win No Fee service for all accepted claims.

This allows you to get access to an experienced legal representative with reduced financial risks. This can make the claims process far less stressful.

If they believe there is a reasonable chance of success, you will receive a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This is the formal term for a No Win No Fee agreement and explains what needs to be achieved if the lawyer is to be paid for their work. It outlines that:

• Payment upfront is not a requirement of the claim starting.
• The lawyer won’t ask you to pay their fees while they work on your case.
• If your claim does not succeed, you won’t need to pay the lawyer’s fees at all.

In fact, you will only have to pay your lawyer if you‘re successful in your claim. In this case, they will keep a portion of your compensation. This is referred to as a success fee, which is listed in the CFA as a fixed percentage of your settlement. Legally, success fees are capped to prevent overcharging.

If you would like us to verify whether your claim could be made on a No Win No Fee basis, why not get in touch today?

Contact Us

We are nearly at the end of this article about claiming for injuries caused as a result of being involved in a road traffic accident. We are here to help you if you have decided to claim. To contact our team, you can:

• Call us for free legal advice on 0161 509 2856.
• Contact us via our enquiry form.
• Discuss your case to an online advisor via Live Chat.

Our claims line operates 24-hours a day. You’ll be given free claims advice when you call, and an advisor will assess your case with no obligation.

If you decide to make a claim, and your case is strong enough, we could partner you with a specialist lawyer here at Advice. Remember, to reduce the stress involved in claiming, any accepted case can be funded by a No Win No Fee agreement.

More Information On How Do You Report A Car Accident

Thanks for reading this article about reporting car accidents. Hopefully, you now have all the information you require and know what to do next. In this last part of our guide, you’ll find some links to resources that may prove useful.

• The Road Safety Trust – A charity that awards grants to try and reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on the road.
• Whiplash Injuries – Advice from the NHS about soft tissue injuries caused following a car crash.
• The Highway Code – All of the rules of the road with sections relating to different types of road users.

Thank you for reading our guide, looking at the question “how do you report a car accident?”.