According to the Department of Transport in the year ending June 2012, 1790 people were killed in road accidents, and the number of seriously injured rose to 24, 8790; this was the first time since 2003 that road traffic statistics have increased. Despite British roads becoming safer place accidents happened to motorists both experienced and new; one lapse in concentration can result in an accident. If you scrape another vehicle, regardless of the speed or impact it counts as a collision and will be dealt with by police and insurers as an accident. More serious accidents may result in criminal convictions and prosecutions from the police. As a responsible motorist you should be aware of how to react to an accident whether you are involved either as the driver, victim or witness; here is a useful guide to follow in the case of an accident.
1. Safety first.
If there is a major collision dial 999, the emergency services will swiftly arrive on the scene. Try and remain calm and take slow deep breaths; this will enable you to handle the situation better. If there are no injuries, and the vehicle is driveable, move your car to a safe spot to avoid blocking other motorists.
2. Exchange information.
After an accident, exchange personal contact information including name, telephone number and address. Exchange insurance details such as the insurance company, policy number, licence plate and driving licence. Write down how the collision occurred and remain courteous with the driver.
3. Photograph and document the accident.
Police will do all the work for serious collisions where they have been called to the scene. However in the case of minor incidents it is useful to take pictures and document the details of the accident. You may need to present this to insurers and it will provide a clearer picture of the accident.
4. File an Accident Report.
A police report provides an official account of the incident and may speed up the insurance process. All accidents however minor should be reported to the police, ‘stopping and failing to report at the scene of an accident’ is a serious driving offence.
5. Contact your insurance company.
It is a legal requirement for all drivers to have third party insurance; therefore any damages which occur to another vehicles car which are not the fault of the owner will be compensated. The driver that is at fault for the accident will pay out through his insurance company to other vehicles not damaged.
If you are the victim of a road traffic accident or accused of committing an offence, contact a driving offence solicitor who can provide qualified guidance and representation.
Written by Jim Barnett
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