What to do after a minor road collision

Stop, secure the scene and check everyone is safe

A minor shunt on the A39 or a clipped wing mirror in a narrow Devon lane can still leave you shaken. Before anything else, stop. Failing to stop after a collision is an offence, and staying put is also the safest thing to do for everyone involved.

Switch on your hazard lights, then assess the situation. If the vehicles are drivable and the road is clear, move them somewhere safe — a lay-by, a farm gateway, a side road — rather than blocking a blind bend or a junction. On rural West Country lanes bordered by high hedges, get yourself and any passengers behind the hedge or onto the verge, well away from passing traffic. Tractor drivers, delivery vans and holiday traffic rarely expect a stationary car around the next corner.

• Put on a high-visibility jacket if you have one.
• Never place a warning triangle on a motorway or dual carriageway.
• Call 999 if anyone is injured, the road is blocked or there is a risk of fire.
• If there are no injuries, you can report the incident to the police later on 101.

Do not apologise, admit fault or argue about who caused what. Be polite, exchange what you need to, and leave the question of liability to the insurers.

Exchange the right details — and note what the law requires

The law is clear: after a collision involving damage or injury, you must give your name and address, the vehicle registration and insurance details to anyone with reasonable grounds to ask. If you were not driving your own car, you must also give the owner's name and address.

Gather the same information from the other driver:

• Full name, address and phone number.
• Vehicle registration, make, model and colour.
• Insurance company name and policy number.
• Names and contact details of any witnesses.
• The number of people in the other vehicle, and whether anyone mentioned an injury.

If the other driver leaves without giving details, or refuses to, you must report it to the police as soon as reasonably practicable and in any case within 24 hours. This applies even if the damage looks trivial — a scraped bumper in a supermarket car park in Taunton still counts.

Photograph everything before the vehicles are moved

Assuming it is safe, take pictures before you move anything. Photos are the single most useful evidence you can collect, and modern phone cameras are more than good enough.

Work through a simple sequence: wide shots showing both vehicles in the road layout, medium shots from each corner, then close-ups of every bit of damage. Include number plates, road markings, give-way lines, traffic signs, skid marks, debris and any relevant weather or lighting conditions. If there is a landmark nearby — a pub, a bridge, a farm gate, a mile marker — include it so the location is unmistakable.

Take a photo of the other driver's insurance certificate if they have it, and grab dashcam footage straight away. Many cameras overwrite old files within hours, so download it to your phone that evening rather than leaving it until the weekend.

Tell your insurer promptly, even if you may not claim

Most policies require you to notify your insurer of any incident, whether or not you intend to make a claim. Delay can cause problems later, and a claim can still land on your file from the other side even if you decide not to pursue one yourself.

When you call, stick to the facts. Describe what happened, where, when and who was involved, and pass on the photographs and witness details. Avoid speculation about blame — that is for the insurers to sort out. Ask what the notification means for your premium and no-claims discount, and confirm whether it will be recorded as a claim or simply as a notification.

If the damage is minor and you plan to pay for repairs yourself, say so, but still notify. A small repair bill is often cheaper than losing a protected no-claims bonus, and a bodyshop in Exeter or Bristol can give you a written quote within a day or two. Keep every receipt and estimate in one folder or photo album so nothing goes missing.

After the paperwork: repairs, costs and follow-up

Once the initial flurry is over, take stock. If you are claiming, your insurer will usually offer a network repairer; you are entitled to ask for quotes from others, though it may affect courtesy car arrangements. If you are paying yourself, get at least two quotes and ask whether the work involves new parts or reclaimed ones.

• Record the claim reference and the name of everyone you speak to.
• Chase the other insurer directly if liability has been accepted and you are owed uninsured losses such as your excess or hire costs.
• Watch out for cold callers offering to manage a claim — you are not obliged to use them.
• Check your policy renewal carefully in the following year.

Finally, a quiet word of reassurance. Most minor collisions are resolved without drama, and the drivers who cope best are the ones who keep calm, collect good evidence and keep their insurer informed from the start. A little admin now saves an awful lot of arguing later.