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Home What To Do After A Car Accident

The first hour: people, evidence and roadworthiness

What to do after a car accident

The first hour: people, evidence and roadworthiness. Use this guide to see who needs to act and which terms should be confirmed.

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Driver using a mobile phone to photograph vehicle damage and the wider accident scene for a claim report
Accident photo report
People and sceneMove away from live traffic where possible and use emergency services when injuries or continuing danger require them
Identity and eventRecord drivers, registrations, insurers, witnesses, location, time and a factual sequence
Vehicle conditionPhotograph context and damage safely, then decide whether recovery or later assessment is the sensible route
No outcome assumedSterling can coordinate the damaged vehicle after the immediate scene is safe; it is not an emergency service and does not give medical or personal-injury advice
What changes the immediate response

What the next organisation needs to know

People and scene

Move away from live traffic where possible and use emergency services when injuries or continuing danger require them.

Identity and event

Record drivers, registrations, insurers, witnesses, location, time and a factual sequence.

Vehicle condition

Photograph context and damage safely, then decide whether recovery or later assessment is the sensible route.

Your first priorities

The first hour: people, evidence and roadworthiness

After a car accident, deal with immediate danger before the claim. Stop safely, check whether anyone needs emergency help, exchange accurate details and preserve information without arguing responsibility. Before driving away, look for damage that could affect wheels, tyres, lights, glazing, fluids or loose bodywork.

This advice is for motorists who need a calm order of actions immediately after a collision and then want to start the vehicle-claim process.

For a collision on a motorway, read our motorway accident safety and recovery guide first. It covers live traffic lanes, emergency areas, when to call 999 and the claims process after the scene is safe.

Evidence to protect now

Evidence to protect now

Roadside blame argument

Keep the account factual and let the responsible organisations assess liability.

Unsafe evidence gathering

Do not stand in a live lane or take photographs where doing so creates danger.

Driving because the engine starts

Starting does not prove steering, tyres, restraints or lights are safe.

Responsibility boundary: Sterling can coordinate the damaged vehicle after the immediate scene is safe; it is not an emergency service and does not give medical or personal-injury advice.

What to do at the scene and afterwards

Actions that keep the vehicle case moving

Use the order below to protect people and evidence, then identify the organisation responsible for the next decision.

  1. 1

    Stop and make the area safer

    Protect people and avoid creating a second collision.

  2. 2

    Exchange information

    Collect the other driver’s name, contact, registration and insurer details.

  3. 3

    Preserve independent evidence

    Save witnesses, dashcam and lawful camera information.

  4. 4

    Check before driving

    Look at tyres, wheels, lighting, glass, fluids, warning messages and bodywork.

  5. 5

    Report the accident

    Notify the appropriate insurer and start Sterling’s vehicle report when practical coordination is needed.

Questions drivers ask after an accident

Answers before the next step

Guidance for the next step

Answers about accident claims, repairs, recovery and replacement vehicles

Read the practical steps, responsibilities and decisions covered in this guide.

View the related guidance

Car accident claims support from first report to vehicle return

See the reporting, evidence and vehicle-support steps for this situation.

View accident-claim guidance

From accident report to recovery, repair and vehicle return

Follow each stage from the first report to the vehicle's return.

See how the service works
Start with an accurate vehicle record

Report the accident details you have

Sterling will review the vehicle position, explain the available coordination route and identify which organisation must make the next decision.

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