What to do if you have a car accident

Being involved in a car accident is always a shock and can be quite upsetting. Knowing what to do if it happens to you can make the claims process much easier and save you added stress and worry. 

Key points:

• If you’re in an accident you MUST stop at the scene

• Don’t admit fault

• Take the registration details of any other cars involved

• Contact your insurer as soon as possible

• Ensure your car is in good working order to help avoid future accidents 
  

Immediately after the accident 

You must stop the car. Don’t apologise or admit fault and take the name, address and registration details of anyone else involved. You’ll need to contact your insurer as soon as possible after the accident has taken place. You can find their contact details in your policy schedule or just go to the ‘Make a claim’ section of our Help Hub if you are a John Lewis Money customer. If you’re still unsure how to contact them, please call us on 0345 608 9032* for help. 

*Monday to Friday 9am - 6pm, closed weekends and bank holidays. Calls may be recorded and call charges vary.

You're legally required to:

• Stop your car as soon as possible, as it's an offence if you don't

• Give your name, address and insurance details to anyone who has a good reason to ask for them – namely the other driver

• Report the collision to the police if you were unable to exchange details at the scene, if anyone was injured, or if you suspect that the other person may have committed a driving offence

You should also collect the following information:

• Full details of the other driver(s)

• Registration numbers of all vehicles involved in the accident

• Where, when and how the accident happened

• Injuries or damage caused

• Names and contact details of witnesses

• Police officers’ details and report references

• Photographs of the scene or any damage, if possible

• CCTV or dashcam footage

Find out more on the Police.uk or GOV.uk websites about what to do when you have a collision. 

Get the claims process underway

Once you’ve let your insurance company know what’s happened, they’ll help you to complete all of the necessary paperwork and start the claims process. Most insurers have a 24-hour emergency helpline you can call if you have an accident.

Before contacting them you should take any necessary and reasonable action to reduce further loss or damage, making sure that you and your family are safe as a priority. However, you mustn't complete any repairs or dispose of any items without prior authorisation from your insurer.

What happens next with your car

If your car is repairable, then the insurer will usually use one of their own approved repairers. If you wish to use your own garage or repair centre, then you will need to send your insurer the details of your garage so they can authorise it.

If an approved repairer is being used, you may also be entitled to the use of a courtesy car until yours is fixed, which means your life can continue as normal. 

Once the repair work is carried out, the garage will invoice the insurance company. Any repairs carried out by an approved supplier are guaranteed as long as you still own the car. You will need to pay any excess to the repairer on completion of the work. 

If your car is beyond economical repair or a write-off, then your insurer will discuss the value of your car with you to work out a settlement. This is usually based on the current market value of the car minus any necessary deductions, such as outstanding payments.

After receiving your documentation, which includes the vehicle registration document (V5C) and the current MOT certificate, your insurer will discuss the value of your vehicle with you and provide details of the settlement. Once you’ve accepted your insurer’s settlement, they will own your car. Any excess will be deducted from the settlement.

Avoiding accidents in the future

The trouble with driving is that you can be as conscientious as possible, but other drivers can still cause you problems. However, there are quite a few things still in your control that can help prevent an accident:

• Make sure that your car is in good working order, have the brakes tested regularly and ensure that everything under the bonnet is topped up

• Always wear a seat belt and insist that passengers do as well. If you have children, check that their car or booster seat is a high-quality one that will protect them against sudden impact. 

• Take frequent breaks from driving, as roads - especially motorways - can be repetitive and your eyes can get tired easily. Avoid driving if you are tired or feeling unwell as your concentration will be lowered and you may not react as quickly as normal. 

This article is for promotional or information purposes only. You must not rely on it as advice.