What should I do after a car accident?

By their very nature, accidents happen when you least expect, which is why it’s always a good idea to be prepared. To help you do just that, is advice from mustard.co.uk who also share their top tips on how to get cheap car insurance after you’ve made a claim.

What you must do after a car accident

By law, you must stop if you’re involved in a car accident. You should also switch off your engine and exchange details with anyone else involved (this includes their name, address and car registration details).

You’ll also need to find out who the registered keeper of the car is if the person driving is not. Similarly, if you’re not the registered keeper of the vehicle you’re driving, you should let the other party or parties know who is.

You must also call the emergency services if:

• Anyone needs medical care.
• The road is blocked or if anything is causing an obstruction.
• You think the other driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• You suspect the crash was not an accident (for example, a crash for cash scam).

If you hit certain types of animal (horses, cattle, asses, mules, sheep, pigs, goats or dogs) you must also let the police know. Unless they’re causing an obstruction or pose a danger, you should use the non-emergency 101 number.

If you can’t contact the police from the scene of the accident, you should do so within 24 hours.

You don’t have to contact the police if:

• Nobody is hurt.
• There is no serious damage to property (including barriers, fences or bollards).
• Everyone involved has exchanged details.

Gathering additional evidence

If you can, it’s a good idea to take photos of the accident scene. You should also make a note of the date, time and any specific weather conditions that might have contributed to the accident (for instance, if it was icy or if visibility was poor).

Similarly, if there are witnesses, you should take their details too in case your insurer wants to speak with them at a later date.

How do I make a car insurance claim?

If your insurer has a particular claims procedure in place, this should be set out in your policy documents. Otherwise, it’s usually just a question of contacting your insurer either by phone or through a dedicated claims email or online portal.

Your insurer will guide you through the claims process so in most cases you’ll just need to answer their questions. If you have photo or video evidence, your insurer may ask you to share that with them too.

What can I claim for?

This depends on what level of car insurance you have:

• Comprehensive cover — you can claim for any damage done to your car. If your policy includes personal injury you can also claim compensation for injuries you’ve suffered.
• Third party, fire and theft — you can only make a claim if your car is stolen or damaged by fire.
• Third party only — this only compensates other people for injuries and damage.

Of course, if it’s established that someone else was at fault, then your insurer should be able to claim compensation from the other person’s insurance provider.

If you’re hit by an uninsured driver, you can claim from the Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB).

Will a claim affect my car insurance premium?

Yes, whether or not the accident was your fault, making a claim will affect your premium at renewal. That might seem unfair but as far as insurers are concerned, making a claim increases the probability of you making another.

However, as you’d expect, if you cause an accident your premium is likely to be much higher compared to someone who isn’t at fault.

Is it worth making a car insurance claim?

Whether or not it’s worth making a claim really depends on how much your repairs cost.

For example, if your excess is £100 but repairs cost £175, your insurer’s contribution is just £75 compared to the £100 that you’ll need to pay. In this scenario, making a claim probably isn’t worth it as you’re paying the bulk of the cost.

On the other hand, if your repairs are likely to cost £400, it’s probably worth making a claim as your insurer will be contributing more towards it.

When you’re weighing up the pros and cons of claiming, remember to factor in the effect on your no claims bonus (NCB) too. Claiming will lower the discount you get at renewal, unless you’ve protected your NCB.

How can I get cheap car insurance after a claim?

Unfortunately claims do affect your premium but you can keep costs low by:

• Paying for your policy in one go.
• Keeping your car as secure as possible, for example with an immobiliser.
• Taking an advanced driving course.
• Increasing your excess.

Of course, one sure fire way of making sure you get the very best value for money is to compare quotes at mustard.co.uk,  where you can browse policies from a range of leading UK insurers.