The First Steps that the Savvy Driver Takes After an Accident

Motor accidents occur every day throughout the UK, but their common occurrence does not make them any less jarring, unfortunately, for those motorists who are experiencing them in the moment. Many drivers, upon being involved in an accident, are in a state of shock, pain, or bewilderment, and thus do not always make the most prudent decisions as to what to do directly after the occurrence.

The good news is that if you know what to do ahead of time in the event of an accident, you can empower yourself to go through the motions – wisely – when the time comes and you are on the side of the road in the aftermath of the event. Those key actions that you take directly after the accident are often the major players in determining what happens financially, insurance wise, and with regards to any other involved drivers in the coming days. Those drivers who act wisely will be able to enjoy a short time period of dealing with car insurance claims, medical costs, and accountability. However, motorists who make rash or shock based decisions will often find themselves tangled in an unbelievable web of complicated interactions, financial responsibility and unnecessary stress.

Car Insurance - The First Steps that the Savvy Driver Takes After an Accident

The British Insurance Broker’s Association emphasizes that you must be prepared to share at least the following information directly after an accident: your name and address, your phone number or other form of contact information, and your insurance policy name and number. You will also, of course, want to make sure that you obtain as much of that information as possible from any other involved drivers, regardless of whether you were at fault in the accident or not.

What Not to Do After the Accident

Under any circumstances, be sure that do not admit liability or that you are at fault in any way. Admitting fault might include statements of apology, promises to pay financial remuneration or make it up to the other driver in some way, or any indications that you were the perpetrator of the damage. Even if the incident was blatantly caused by you, admitting fault can rack up the amount you must pay in the end, so leave that aspect of things up to the insurance adjusters and their professional opinions. Remember that your insurance adjuster is there to defend you and be in your corner regardless of the circumstances, so you may rely on that knowledge and know that you are not alone in your defense, if it comes down to a conflict of opinion.

To Involve or Not to Involve: The Law and the Insurance Agencies

When it comes to choosing whether or not to involve the police and/or the insurance company of one or both driver parties, you will want to keep in mind a few guidelines. You must involve the police if there is any physical damage to a driver or passengers, and they will be responsible for writing up an incident report that includes the accounts of any witnesses. Secondly, you must inform your insurance company of the happening even if you absolutely do not plan to file a claim. Simply letting them know of the accident is enough to take care of your end of the responsibility, particularly if you plan to handle the matter financially out of pocket, or if the damage or repairs are so minor that they are of little consequence to anyone but you and the other driver. Once you inform your agent of what happened, they may able to then advise you as to whether it would be in your best interest to make a claim or not.

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