Road safety
Collisions - your questions answered
Q. What should I do if I am involved in a collision?
A: If the collision creates an emergency situation, you should dial 999. This includes:
- a collision involving serious injury
- a collision that creates a hazardous situation.
Examples of hazardous situations include:
- a blocked road or carriageway
- hazardous debris
- damage to railway tracks/bridges etc
- risk of fire
- hazardous loads such as chemicals or gas.
If the incident is not an emergency situation:
This advice only refers to collisions where no-one is hurt or suffered only minor injury. If you are involved in a collision where a vehicle or property is damaged, you must stop and give your details to anyone with reasonable grounds for requesting them.
If you are involved in a collision where no injuries have occurred, you need to exchange the following details with the other people involved:
- registration numbers of your vehicles
- details of the drivers involved
- details of the registered keeper if they are different from the driver.
If no one has been injured, and all the drivers involved are willing to exchange details, you don't have to report the matter to the police.
If the collision involves injury, you need to exchange the above details with the other drivers involved – but also provide details of your insurance. If you don't have these details available, you must report the collision to a police constable or a police station as soon as possible, but in any case within 24 hours.
Finally, if you have been involved in a collision and did not think you were injured at the time but have subsequently developed some symptoms, you should again report the matter to your local police station as soon as possible.
Staffordshire Police has produced a collision care pack for further advice if you are involved in an incident, or you can also call the free collision helpline on 0800 107 2337. This service is free to anyone and is provided by the RAC. (Staffordshire Police cannot support or endorse any companies, products or services)
Q. The driver involved in the collision failed to stop, or left without giving their details. What should I do?
A. Failing to stop if you are in a collision involving injury or damage to property is an offence. If a driver fails to stop or leaves the scene of a collision without giving details, you should notify the police as soon as possible, or in any case within 24 hours, giving:
- the time, place and nature of the incident
- details of the car and if possible the driver
- their direction of travel when leaving the scene.
The police will advise you on what to do next.
Q. Can you obtain details of other parties involved in a road collision?
A. Yes - if details have been recorded these can be obtained free of charge over the telephone from the appropriate Administration of Justice Department. However, details of witnesses will not be disclosed.
Once the case has been finalised, a full copy of the report can be obtained for a fee, but this is usually arranged by insurance companies or solicitors. You should allow a few days to elapse before contacting the Administration of Justice Department, as it may take some time for the report to reach them.
Q. Do I have to notify my insurance company?
A: Most, if not all, insurance policies state that the insured person must notify them of any collision in which they are involved, even if they’re not making a claim or they were not at fault. Read your policy for more information.
Q. I have witnessed a road collision. The driver at fault was driving badly beforehand. Should I report this to the police?
A: Yes. If you are a witness to any road traffic collision and do not give your details to the parties involved you should always contact the police as you may have important information.
Q. I think the driver of another vehicle has been drinking. What should I do?
A: If you believe they have been driving while over the legal alcohol limit, contact the police as soon as possible on 101. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.
Q. I’ve been in a collision involving an animal. What do I need to do?
A: If it is a wild animal, the Road Traffic Act does not require you to report the collision to police. However, if a wild animal is injured and needs veterinary treatment, the police hold a list of vets available to attend. The Road Traffic Act does however specify collisions with the following domestic type of animals as being reportable, they are, pig, cattle, goat, ass, sheep, horse, mule or dog. Contact should be made with the police in the area of the collision or to any police constable or at any police station within 24 hours.
You will be asked for details, such as:
- whether anyone is injured
- whether the animal is dead or injured
- whether you have traced the animal’s owner
- whether the incident has created any further hazards.
If there is no need for officers to attend, but if you haven’t been able to trace the animal’s owner, you must report the incident in person to a police officer or at a police station as soon as possible, or within 24 hours of the collision. You should take the following documents:
- driving licence
- insurance certificate
- MOT certificate if required
- details of any witnesses to the collision.
Q. Can I look at the Highway Code online?
A: Yes. Many of your questions about vehicles, roads and driving are answered in the Highway Code.
Q. My car was damaged in the collision. What will happen to it?
A: In the interests of road safety, damaged vehicles should be removed as quickly as possible. If necessary, the police may call a garage to recover your vehicle from the roadside. If this is done, any charges are payable by the vehicle owner. You can choose your own garage or the police will call the nearest garage.
Q. What if the other driver isn't insured?
A: If you suffer injury, loss or damage to your property as a result of a road collision, compensation will normally be payable through your policy.
Where the offender is untraced or uninsured, compensation may be available from:
Motor Insurers' Bureau
Linford Wood House
6-12 Capital Drive,
Linford Wood
MK14 6XT
Tel: 01908 830001
The Motor Insurers' Bureau can consider claims for:
- personal injury, loss or damage to your property caused by an identified driver who is uninsured. This can include injury, loss or damage caused by an identified driver of a stolen vehicle where the rightful owner is uninsured.
- personal injury (but not loss or damage to property) caused by an untraced driver.
If you should succeed in getting compensation in two or more ways from a criminal court, through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, or the Motor Insurers' Bureau, the award may be reduced to avoid a double payment.
You cannot receive compensation twice for the same thing from public funds. You need to be aware of this when claiming, whether you are claiming for yourself or for your insurance company. You cannot claim on insurance and also against an offender.
Where a stolen vehicle is insured by the rightful owner, claims for personal injury and property damage must be dealt with by the rightful owner's insurers. In these cases, details of a vehicle's ownership may be obtained from the police.
Q. What is the role of the police at a collision?
A: The officers will:
- protect the scene from further collisions
- ensure the injured are treated
- ensure the free-flow of traffic
- arrange recovery of vehicles where appropriate
- investigate the cause of the collision and whether offences have been committed.
Q. What will happen at the police station when I report the incident?
A: A member of staff will help you fill in a collision report. While at the station you may be asked to write a statement giving your version of the incident. Bring your:
- driving licence
- insurance details
- MOT test certificate if required
- registration document.
Q. Will I have to make a written statement?
A: You may be asked to make a written statement, but where cases are considered for prosecution you will usually be sent a statement to fill in yourself. This doesn’t automatically mean you will have to appear as a witness in criminal proceedings. Further written notification will be given to you should that be necessary.