360 Accident Management
The minutes after a collision are stressful, and it is easy to forget something important. If anyone is injured or in immediate danger, contact the emergency services first, then use this checklist to work through the rest calmly.
No two accidents are the same. But the sequence of good decisions in the first few minutes is broadly the same, whether it happens on a motorway hard shoulder, in a supermarket car park, or at a junction in town. This guide sets out that sequence as a plain checklist, in the order most people need it, so it can be followed under pressure without having to think too hard about what comes next.
The single most important point is a safety one. It is worth repeating at the start rather than leaving it buried in a list: if anyone is injured or in immediate danger, contact the emergency services first. Everything else on this page, including calling 360, can wait until people are safe. Vehicles, paperwork and insurance details are replaceable; the priority in the first moments is always people.
Once everyone is safe, the next challenge is usually uncertainty about what to say, what to record, and who to call first. It is common to feel pressure at the roadside, sometimes from the other driver, to agree who was at fault. It is best to avoid discussing blame at the scene at all. Simply exchange the required details and let the facts be assessed properly afterwards, by insurers or, where relevant, the police.
Evidence gathered in the minutes after an accident is often far more useful than evidence gathered later, because road markings, debris position, lighting conditions and witness memories can all change or fade. A small amount of care at the scene, taken safely, can make a claim considerably more straightforward weeks later.
How it works
Stop safely and assess the scene
Stop as soon as it is safe to do so, put on hazard warning lights, and move to a place of safety away from moving traffic where the road layout allows. Check yourself and any passengers for injury before considering anything else.
Contact emergency services where needed
If anyone is injured or in immediate danger, contact the emergency services first, without delay. Do not wait to assess vehicle damage or exchange details before making this call if it is needed.
Exchange details without discussing fault
Exchange names, contact details, vehicle registrations and insurance information with the other driver or drivers, calmly and without agreeing or arguing about who was to blame. Liability is established afterwards, based on evidence, not on statements made at the roadside.
Gather evidence safely
Where it is safe to do so, photograph the damage to each vehicle, the road layout, any relevant road markings or signage, and the general location. Note the details of any independent witnesses, as their account can be valuable later.
Involve the police where relevant
Contact the police where someone is injured, where a driver fails to stop or exchange details, or where the circumstances otherwise require it. Obtain a reference number if the police do attend or take a report.
Call 360 and arrange recovery
Call 360 Accident Management for guidance on next steps, and to arrange recovery if the vehicle is not safe or legal to continue driving. We can coordinate recovery to a suitable location and explain what happens next.
Notify your insurer
Contact your own insurer as soon as reasonably possible to report the accident, even where you believe you were not at fault, since most policies expect prompt notification. Keep the reference numbers and evidence gathered at the scene, as these will support the claim.
Capability
Safety decisions and evidence decisions serve different purposes, and treating them in the wrong order can cause real problems. Safety comes first because injuries can worsen if left unattended, and because a stationary vehicle in a live traffic lane is itself a hazard to everyone nearby. Evidence gathering only matters once people are no longer at risk, which is why it appears later in the sequence, not before it.
Liability in a road traffic accident is generally determined afterwards by insurers, and where necessary by the courts. This is based on an objective assessment of the evidence: road layout, damage patterns, witness accounts, dashcam footage where available, and sometimes police reports. A verbal statement made at the roadside, made under stress and without full information, carries little weight against this evidence and can occasionally be misinterpreted later, which is why it is best avoided altogether.
Police involvement is not automatic for every accident. As a general rule, the police should be told about an accident where someone is injured, where a driver does not stop, or where the drivers involved cannot or will not exchange the required details. Outside of these situations, many accidents are reported directly to insurers without police attendance, and this guide reflects that general position rather than being a substitute for legal advice on any specific incident.
Insurance policies commonly include a condition requiring the policyholder to notify the insurer of any accident within a reasonable time, regardless of fault. Notifying promptly, with the details and evidence gathered using this checklist, generally makes the subsequent claims process considerably smoother than notifying late with incomplete information.
If anyone is injured or in immediate danger, contact the emergency services first. Do not attempt to move an injured person unless leaving them in place puts them at further risk. Do not stand in a live traffic lane to gather evidence or exchange details if it can be avoided. This guide is general information and is not a substitute for the judgement required at the scene of a specific incident.
Why 360
Reading facility
Body repair, paint, structural repair and nationwide accident management support.
8 Arkwright Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG2 0LUMonday – Friday: 9:00am – 6:00pm
Saturday: By appointment only
Sunday: By appointment only
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360 Accident Management
24/7 nationwide accident assistance, recovery and replacement vehicle support.
