Collect Details

One of the most crucial steps to take after being involved in a car accident is collecting the contact and insurance details of the other party who is involved. You should remember to collect their:

• Name
• Phone number
• Address
• Witness details – If there were any witnesses to the event you should also stop them and ask for their contact details as they may be able to provide a witness statement at a later date which can be used as evidence to support your claim.

However, if a driver has driven off after an accident without giving you their contact details or their insurance information, you should perhaps contact the police to report the incident. The police will then try to track down the other person and you can hopefully still get their details that way.

Take Photographs

After being involved in a car accident, you should take photographs of the accident scene. These photographs should include:

• Wider shots, where you can highlight what actually happened in the accident – such as the position of a car.
• Closer shots which highlight the damage to the vehicles or any surrounding property that has been done. For example, if the accident has caused a dent in your car, you should document this.

Compensation for property damage can often be included in road traffic accident personal injury claims. Similarly, if you have suffered any visible injuries due to the car accident and it is not too painful or distressing for you to take photographs of them, you should aim to document your injuries as well. Having lots of photographs of the incident can be extremely useful in a personal injury claim to prove that certain events did happen in the way that they appear.

Inform your Insurance Company

It is a good idea to inform your insurance company that an accident has happened after being involved in a road traffic accident. You should possibly also contact the other person’s insurance company to inform them that you have been involved in a car crash with one of their policyholders.

When discussing the incident with either insurance company, you should only relay the facts of the accident rather than trying to state that you believe the other person is at fault. While you may want to prescribe blame as the act of experiencing a car crash can often leave someone feeling very emotionally vulnerable, it is best to allow the facts to speak for themselves and to highlight who is in the wrong organically.

Making Personal Injury Claims

If you have been injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to compensation. First Personal Injury solicitors are available to assist you and ensure that you get the compensation you deserve.

First Personal Injury works with both families and individuals across England and Wales, leading them on their legal journey and helping them claim compensation after an accident or injury. Contact our specialist team to begin the claims process, either by phone on 0800 808 9740 or through our online form.