No matter how minor, car accidents can leave you shaken and upset. But knowing what you need to do can help you stay calm. Here, comparison site mustard.co.uk, who are experts on how to get cheap car insurance, share advice on what to do after a minor mishap.
What should I do after a car accident?
If you’ve had an accident, try not to panic. Instead, you should:
- Stop the car.
- Switch off your engine but leave your hazard lights on.
- Check if anyone is hurt, this includes you, your passengers and anyone else involved in the accident. If they are, and it’s serious, you should call the emergency services immediately.
You shouldn’t take any responsibility for the accident until you know exactly what happened. In the meantime, you should also exchange details with the other driver.
Do I need to call the police?
You do not need to call the police if:
- No-one is hurt.
- The accident was minor and no property has been damaged.
- You have exchanged details with everyone else involved.
However, you’ll need to call the police if:
- The other driver refuses to give you their details.
- You think the other driver has been drinking or taking drugs.
- The other driver doesn’t have car insurance.
- The other driver tries to leave the scene of the accident.
- Any of the following animals have been injured: dogs, goats, pigs, asses, mules, horses, cattle, sheep.
- There is damage to property.
Unless you think it’s an emergency, you should call the police on the non-emergency number, 101.
Do I need to report a minor accident to my car insurer?
Most insurers will make it part of their terms and conditions that you tell them about all incidents and accidents involving your car. It doesn’t matter how minor an accident is or whether or not you want to make a claim.
If you don’t tell your insurer, it could invalidate your policy, which means they can refuse to pay out any compensation if you claim in the future.
What can I make a car insurance claim for?
If you have comprehensive car insurance, you’ll be able to make a claim for any damage to your car, even if the accident was your fault. If you’ve got third party cover, you’ll have to pay for repairs yourself.
If the accident was caused by someone else, their third party cover should cover any costs.
If your policy includes other features, for instance, legal expenses or personal injury cover, you could also make a claim for these.
Should I make a claim for minor car damage?
It’s entirely up to you whether or not to make a claim. But remember that making a claim could affect your no claims bonus (NCB) and lead to an increase in your premium at renewal.
Even if you’ve protected your NCB, your premium can still rise. This is because although the NCB discount remains the same, the accident itself can increase the base cost of the policy.
Don’t forget, you’ll also need to pay your excess (an amount you contribute towards a claim). If the damage to your car was minor, you should weigh up the the excess versus the cost of repairs. For example, if your excess is £100 and the cost of damage £150, consider if it’s actually worth claiming for £50.
Car insurance that comes with a Cheapest Price Guarantee*
At mustard.co.uk, car insurance comes with a Cheapest Price Guarantee*. It’s a promise that they’ll beat any other online quote which means you can be confident about getting great value for money.
You can start a quote right now online or pick up the phone and speak to a friendly expert member of the team on 0330 022 8971.
*T&Cs apply. See mustard.co.uk for details.