ROUTE
Car Accident: What to Do
The five minutes at the scene, not a word on fault, the central hotline β and the full claims list including a lawyer at the liable party expense.
β Checked: 18/07/2026
The first five minutes after a road accident decide more than all the proceedings that follow. In that time evidence is secured which cannot later be recreated, and words are said which cannot be taken back.
βΊ More about this route
This three-step route covers everything: what to do at the scene with the cardinal rule of saying nothing about your own fault, notifying your own and the other partyβs insurer through the central enquiry service, and finally the full list of what you can claim.
That final step usually proves the most valuable: where the other party is at fault, considerably more than the repair is compensated. It includes the vehicleβs diminished value, replacement transport costs, an independent assessor and legal fees β all paid by the liable partyβs insurer.
WHERE PEOPLE MOST OFTEN LOSE MONEY AND TIME
- Admitting fault at the scene. Assessing it is the insurersβ job and, if needed, a courtβs; words spoken under stress are later read against you.
- Driving away without documenting the scene. Photographs of vehicle positions, damage and surroundings cannot be recreated by anything later.
- Accepting the other insurerβs chosen garage without your own assessment. Where the other party is at fault you may choose your own assessor and workshop.
- Not claiming diminished value. On relatively new vehicles it is a substantial amount, and no insurer will remind you of it.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ROUTE
What comes first at the scene?βΎ
Make the scene and the people safe, call help if anyone is injured, then document the situation photographically and exchange details. Police are not always required, but they are where there are injuries, disputed fault or significant damage.
Why say nothing about my own fault?βΎ
Because the legal assessment follows the circumstances rather than your impression under stress. An admission at the scene binds your own insurer and worsens your position even if the facts turn out differently.
How do I find the other partyβs insurer?βΎ
Through the central enquiry service for motor insurers using the registration number β that is exactly what it exists for. The plate is enough, and the enquiry can be made immediately after the accident.
What can I claim besides the repair?βΎ
Where the other party is at fault: diminished value, a replacement vehicle or compensation for loss of use, an independent assessment, towing and legal costs. All of these form part of recoverable loss.