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So you just had an accident - what should you do?

Accidents can happen, and in the case of car accidents in the UK, they certainly do, at the rate of around 200,000 a year, a figure which is difficult to verify, as the majority of accidents do not get reported to the police, a considerable amount more to insurance companies and the vast majority go unreported altogether.

If you are involved in a car accident the steps that you will need are straightforward, yet important to follow, and step by step.

Even if the accident is fairly minor, the police should always be called. The will decide if they need to arrive at the scene or not depending on the circumstances. If the accident is serious enough that someone has been injured, or has happened as a result of serious traffic offence, or there is any suspicion that either or both drivers have been driving under the influence of alcohol of drugs, then the police will always arrive though not always immediately. Until they do arrive, nothing should be moved, especially anyone injured. They should be kept as warm and comfortable as possible till the ambulances arrive.

If there is no one hurt and the accident appears to be a result of human error, then the parties involved in the incident should be able to take care of reporting the details to their respective insurance companies.

On condition that no one has been injured, the first step to take is to move the cars out of the line of traffic, to allow the flow of traffic to be resumed. Try and mark the scene of the accident, especially if has happened in the dark, by operating hazard lights, placing warning triangles and cones if you are that well organised. Many auto centers sell luminous tunics, and it is a good idea to keep one or more in the car for such an eventuality.

The next step once the scene of the accident has been secured is to make contact with your insurance broker, providing as much details as possible. Keep a cool head, make no promises or statements to the parties involved in the accident, and sign nothing, unless it is police report. If there are any witnesses around, try and get some kind of statement from them if they are willing. Nowadays, most people have a digital camera on them, usually through their mobile phone.

Take as many photographs as you can of the scene of the accident, the position of the cars when the collision occurred and anything else relevant. Keep your distance from the driver of the other car or card, and never allow yourself to get dragged into an argument about who was wrong or right.

Never leave the scene of the accident till the police arrive. If your insurance broker is sending a representative, wait, even nearby in a café, till they arrive. Ideally it is best to wait till your car has been taken away from the scene, if at all possible.

These are the steps that need to be taken if you are ever involved in a car accident. By following these directions, you will enable your insurance company as accurate a picture as possible, and allow them to settle your claim as fairly and as soon as possible.

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