What to do at an accident scene

ACCORDING to the Automobile Association (AA) it is an offence if you either fail to stop at the

scene of an accident or fail to report an accident in which you are involved.

There are important things you must do in case the driver who caused the accident injured

another person, animal or caused damaged to property to avoid breaking the law and to help

any possible future insurance claim.

Regardless of whose fault the accident was, there are certain steps that need to be taken.

If you are the driver and a person other than yourself is injured, damage is caused to another

vehicle or to someone else’s property or an animal has been killed or injured, except in your

own vehicle or trailer, you must stop and remain at the scene for a reasonable period and give

your vehicle registration number, your name and address, and that of the vehicle owner (if

different) to anyone with reasonable grounds for asking for those details.

If you don’t exchange those details at the scene, you must report the accident at a police

station or to a police constable as soon as you can, and in any case within 24 hours.

Reporting the accident to the police by telephone is not sufficient and you cannot ask

someone else to report for you.

You’re obliged to do these things not only when you are directly involved in an accident, but

also if your vehicle’s ‘presence’ was a factor.

If you don’t comply with these obligations you risk committing two offences namely failing

to stop and failing to report, and you can be guilty of either or both.

At the scene you should note down a detailed description of what happened, collecting as

much information, photographs and notes, as you can while at the scene.

Write down the date, time, location, weather conditions, traffic conditions and road markings

or –signs as well as the make, model, registration number, colour, condition, estimated speed,

direction, use of lights or indicators and number of passengers of all vehicles involved.

The people’s involved contact details, description or distinguishing features of driver(s),

contact details of passengers, pedestrians or other witnesses and details of any police officers

involved. The damaged of the vehicles or property and any injuries to people involved,

should also be noted.