What to Do After a Car Accident
Involved in a Car Accident? Here’s What to Do Next
Regardless of fault, being involved in an accident can be traumatic.
It can leave you feeling anxious, emotional and frightened.
There are more than 1.3 million licensed vehicles in Northern Ireland, and with so many people out on the road accidents are, unfortunately, inevitable.
But if you were involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you should not be out of pocket financially.
Nor should you have to spend a penny on rehabilitation or vehicle repair.
And if you can’t work after an accident, you should be compensated fairly.
There were 4,753 injury road traffic collisions recorded in 2024 by police.
Sadly, 69 people died as a result, 939 people were seriously injured and 6,486 were slightly injured.
Overall road traffic casualty levels in 2024 fell by 6.1% compared to 2023 and continue to remain below pre–Covid-19 figures. However, the number of people killed or seriously injured (KSI) increased by 6.0% from the previous year and remains consistently higher than levels recorded before 2020. Among these, 93 children aged under 16 were killed or seriously injured — 10 more than in 2023. There were also 21 fatalities among those aged 65 and over, representing an increase of three compared with 2023 and 11 more than in 2022.
So if the worst should happen to you, do these 5 things immediately after an accident.
1. Report the Accident and Contact Emergency Services
Your first priority should always be safety.
If anyone is injured, call 999 immediately and request emergency assistance. Even if injuries appear minor, it’s important to seek medical attention and ensure everyone involved receives appropriate care.
Where appropriate, report the collision to the police. Having an official record of the incident can be helpful when dealing with insurers, vehicle repairs, and any future disputes about how the accident happened.
The police can also help manage the scene, protect road users, and investigate any serious road traffic offences.
2. Move to a Safe Location
After an accident, your vehicle may pose a risk to other road users.
If it is safe and practical to do so, move yourself and any passengers away from live traffic and into a safe area. On motorways and busy roads, standing beside a damaged vehicle can be extremely dangerous.
Turn on your hazard warning lights if appropriate and wait in a safe location until assistance arrives.
Your safety should always come before property damage or vehicle recovery.
3. Check for Injuries and Gather Evidence
Once everyone is safe, check on the wellbeing of other drivers, passengers, cyclists, or pedestrians involved.
Avoid discussing fault or arguing about who caused the accident. Instead, focus on collecting evidence.
Use your smartphone to take photographs of:
- Vehicle damage
- Registration plates
- Vehicle positions
- Road markings
- Traffic signs
- Weather conditions
- Any debris or skid marks
The more evidence you gather at the scene, the easier it may be to establish what happened.
You may also find our guide on what evidence you need after a car accident helpful.
4. Exchange Driver and Insurance Details
Exchanging information is one of the most important steps after a road traffic accident.
Make a note of:
- Full name
- Address
- Telephone number
- Vehicle registration
- Insurance details
- Vehicle make and model
- Details of any visible damage
It’s also worthwhile recording your own account of the incident while everything is still fresh in your mind.
Include details such as:
- Time and location of the accident
- Road and weather conditions
- Direction of travel
- Estimated speed
- Names and contact details of witnesses
For more comprehensive advice, read our 10 Essential Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Northern Ireland and 5 Things You Should Never Do After a Car Accident guides.
5. Contact CRASH Services
At CRASH, we take care of everything at no cost to you. We deal with your accident from start to finish and even offer legal and medical assistance. Our mission is to To act with care for those involved in road traffic incidents and we have an excellent team of claims specialists who are here to help you get back on the road as quickly as possible.
How CRASH Services Can Help You After A Car Crash or Accident
At CRASH Services, we specialise in helping drivers in Belfast, Newry, Derry~Londonderry and across Northern Ireland get back on the road quickly.
After an accident, our expert team will take care of:
- vehicle recovery,
- collision investigation,
- organising repairs,
- providing a replacement vehicle,
- liaising with insurance companies and
- legal and medical
And we do it all, at no cost to the not-at-fault driver.
Our service is free as we recover the costs from the third-party insurers.
Why Choose CRASH Services?
- Established in 1996
- Trusted by Hundreds of Thousands Local Northern Ireland Motorists
- No Cost to You, Costs Recovered from Insurers
- Complete Accident Management from Recovery to Repairs
- 99% Customer Recommendation Rate
Our Mission is Simple:
“To act with care for those involved in road traffic accidents.”
Need Help After an Accident in Belfast, Newry, Derry~Londonderry or anywhere across Northern Ireland?
Call us today on 028 9066 0244 or Request a Callback Today
CRASH Services, take care of everything, at no cost to you!
Frequently Asked Questions
- What should I do immediately after a car accident?
The first priority is safety. Check for injuries, call the emergency services if required, move to a safe location where possible, and ensure other road users are not placed at risk.
- Do I need to call the police after a car accident?
If there are injuries, road blockages, concerns for safety, or legal obligations to report the collision, you should contact the police. An official record of the incident can also be helpful later.
- What information should I collect at the scene?
Try to obtain:
- Driver names and contact details
- Vehicle registration numbers
- Insurance details
- Photographs of vehicle damage and the accident scene
- Witness names and contact details (if available)
- Should I take photographs after a collision?
Yes. Photographs can provide valuable evidence. Capture vehicle damage, road positions, road markings, traffic signs, weather conditions, and any other relevant details.
- What should I do if someone has been injured?
Call 999 immediately and request emergency assistance. Do not move injured individuals unless there is an immediate danger, such as fire or a risk of further collisions.
