Five things to do after an accident

You will naturally be stressed following an accident, and it's easy to panic and not quite know what to do. We have compiled a list of the five things you should do following an accident to make the claim process as easy as possible.

1. Exchange details with anyone else involved in the accident. Make sure you both provide your full name, a contact telephone number, insurance details - including the policy number and car registration details. At this point remain calm and polite, but do not admit you were at fault for the accident, even if you think you were. Make a note of any passengers in the third party car, including their rough age.
2. If you have a mobile phone on you or keep a camera in your car, it's a good idea to take a photo of the damage to both your car and the third party car. If any other property was damaged, photograph that too. Also take a photo of the scene of the accident including road markings and signs.
3. If there were any witnesses to the accident ask for their details too, including an address and telephone number. An independent witness can be useful to prove who was at fault for an accident.
4. If your car is causing an obstruction, try and move it to the side of the road, but make sure you can do so safely and don't put yourself in any danger.
5. Telephone our Claims department, on 0333 220 2037 they will be able to arrange for your car to be collected by one of our approved repairers so they can assess the damage. Our Claims team will talk you through the claim and take any important information from you to start the claims process as quickly as possible. If the accident happens outside our opening hours: Mon - Fri 8am - 9pm, Sat 9am - 5pm, Sun 10am - 4pm, and the car is undriveable, call the 24 hour Accident Recovery Helpline on 0800 600840. They will be able to collect and store your car until it can be assessed for damage.

Of course, if anyone is badly injured in the accident and requires urgent medical attention, telephone the emergency services.