What to do after a Car Accident

No one ever plans or expects to be in an accident, however it's always a good idea to know what to do if you ever are in an accident.

Even the slightest of bumps or nudges can get the adrenaline pumping, so read and remember our advice below, so you can calmly deal with the situation.

Immediately after the accident

• Turn off the engine straightaway
• Switch your hazard lights on, to alert other drivers
• Check yourself and passengers for injuries
• If anyone is hurt of the road is blocked, call the Police and/or Ambulance
• Your adrenaline will be running high, so try to stay calm
• Don't apologise or admit responsibility unless you are entirely aware of what happened. Apologising could be used as an admission of fault.

Should I call the police?​

If the driver leaves the scene, or you believe they have no insurance or are under the influence of drink or drugs you should call the police.

Exchange details

• Share your name and address with everyone involved if the accident caused damage or injury – the law says you must do this.
• Swap insurance information and details with the other driver(s).
• Take down details of any other passengers and witnesses to the accident.
• Try to find out if the other driver is the registered owner of the vehicle, if they are not, find out who the owner is and get that information too (for instance it might be a company car).

What should I record at the accident scene?

• The make, model, colour, and number plate of the vehicles involved in the accident or take pictures of them.
• The time and date of the crash.
• The driving conditions, including the weather, lighting, and road quality (such as road markings, whether its wet or muddy, repair of the road surface).
• What sort of damage was caused to the vehicles and where – nearside front wing and door (nearside is the left side of your car, offside is the drivers side).
• Any injuries to drivers, passengers, or pedestrians.
• The names and contact details of any witnesses.
• Use your phone to take pictures of the scene, the positions of the cars involved, and damage to the cars.

Making a claim to your insurance provider

Phone your insurance company as soon as possible – ideally at the time of the accident. They'll ask for:

• Your policy number or information to identify you, such as your post code and car registration number.
• The registration number of the cars involved.
• The driver's name, address and phone number.
• The driver's insurance details if you have them.

Getting your vehicle repaired

When getting your vehicle repaired, you have the right to choose the repairer, it doesn't neccessairily have to be one of the insurance companies approved garages. Furrows work with many insurers and offer convienience for drivers in and around the Shropshire region. Here are a few reasons why you should use Furrows:

• Courtesy vehicles - Furrows have a fleet of courtesy vehicles available for use
• Guarantee - we offer a 12 month guarantee on all work completed by our Accident Repair Centre
• Furrows are proud to hold the CARSQA BS10125:2022 accreditation at our Shrewsbury and Oswestry Accident Repair Centres.