If you have been involved in a road traffic accident, there are several important things you must do, however, one question that often comes up is: “do I have to claim on my insurance?”

This blog will examine your legal obligations when dealing with a road traffic accident – whether you are at fault or not – and what paths you can choose afterwards. 

What you must do after a road traffic accident 

According to section 170 of the 1988 Road Traffic Act, any driver involved in an accident must stay at the scene of the incident for a reasonable time and provide the following information to anyone with a genuine reason for asking. This includes but is not limited to:

• your vehicle registration number 
• your name
• your address
• Phone, mobile and email contact details

The same also applies to all parties involved.

If for whatever reason, you are unable to provide this information straight away, then you must do so within 24 hours by reporting the accident either online or in-person at a police station. 

Injury and insurance 

If the accident has resulted in any injuries, you must show your certificate of insurance to anyone with reasonable grounds for wishing to see it. 

Again, if this cannot be done at the scene of the accident, you must present it to the police within 24 hours. 

If you weren’t directly involved in the road traffic accident, but your vehicle was a factor, then you can nominate a police station when reporting the incident and must present your certificate of insurance within seven days. 

Potential penalties 

If you don’t carry out these steps, you have committed a criminal offence of failure to stop, and failure to report.

Each carries a fine of up to £5,000 and between five and 10 penalty points on your driving license. 

If you are found guilty of both offences, you could also face being disqualified from driving for several months or years.

Should you tell your insurer about an accident?

Telling your insurance company about being involved in a road traffic accident is another legal requirement. This should be done formally, in writing and promptly. 

Check your policy to confirm what the company considers a reasonable time frame. If you do not stick to the terms and conditions, the insurer may refuse cover in the future. 

It is at this point you can decide whether or not you want to make a claim. 

If the incident was minor and involved no injuries, many people choose to absorb the costs of repair or enter into a private arrangement with the other parties to preserve their no claims bonus. 

However, those who do choose to make a claim can come to us. 

How we help with the claims process

We understand that being involved in a road traffic collision can be a traumatic experience as well as a major inconvenience. 

The claims process can sometimes be a long old slog, with lots of back-and-forths, paperwork and the hassle of spending too much time on hold.

That’s why our dedicated claims experts will handle everything from start to finish, keeping you informed at every stage of the process and seeking the best outcome for you.

What if the accident wasn’t my fault?

Under these circumstances, we appreciate that you are the innocent party and through no fault of your own, find yourself in a situation of being inconvenienced as a consequence of the accident. Our team will pull out all the stops to get you back on the road fast, sorting out a replacement vehicle while yours is being repaired. 

If you were injured as a result of a road traffic accident, our injury specialists are on hand to guide and support you through the claims process. 

…and if it was my fault?

That’s okay too, we can still provide you with a courtesy vehicle for the duration of repairs to your vehicle, with the comfort of knowing that the repairs are fully guaranteed. 

Our whole support service is designed to eliminate stress for everyone involved in these emergencies, which can sometimes happen during very unsociable hours when offices are closed and people are hard to get hold of. 

Get peace of mind 

If you’re someone who’s on the road regularly or as part of their work, then our Integrity Club 20 Multi-Policy offers robust protection in the event of a road traffic accident. 

Club 20 includes a range of accident covered services, plus a host of other associated benefits. You will also be assigned a personal assistant who will manage all aspects of your claim including, roadside and home recovery, legal support and vehicle replacement. 

Make sure you keep our details close to hand, preferably in your car, as you will never know when you may need our services. We hope this doesn’t happen; however, it is good to know that should the need ever arise you have the security of knowing any claims will be dealt with swiftly and efficiently by our team – leaving you free to get on with your life, hassle-free. 

You can contact us here to find out more, email us at contact@integritycm.co.uk or call 020 8556 6633, our team will be delighted to help.