What to do if you have a car accident

A road traffic accident (RTA) describes any accident which takes place either on the road or pavement/footpath. Every individual who uses a vehicle on the road, whether it be a car, motorcycle, van, lorry or bike has a duty to safe guard their own safety and the safety of other road users.

Shockingly, road traffic accidents are the cause of 1.2 million deaths annually worldwide and about forty times as many injuries.

If you are involved in an accident which you believe to be someone else’s fault you will need to prove negligence and demonstrate that the road user who you feel is at fault, did not take responsibility for the safety of other road users. As with all personal injury claims you will need to prove that another person is responsible for your injury.
There are some basic steps to follow if you are involved in an accident.
You must stop if whether or not the accident was your fault, if:

• Anyone is injured
• Damage has been caused to someone else’s property or vehicle
  An animal has been injured
• Any street furniture has been damaged (e.g. bollards, signs, street lamps)

You should gather information:

• Record the names, addresses and telephone numbers or any witnesses. This is especially important if you may wish to make a claim for compensation
• Take photographs which demonstrate exactly how the accident took place.  This can be done using a mobile phone or some drivers keep a disposable camera in their glove box to use in the event of an accident.  Renault actually supply an accident kit with their new cars which includes a disposable camera along with a pen and a note book. Photographic evidence will be important if you wish to make a claim.

If you have been injured in a car accident which was not your fault you may be entitled to make a compensation claim and you should seek the advice of an experience personal injury lawyer.