Claim after a crash that wasn't your fault

This guide is for drivers and passengers in England and Wales after a collision someone else caused. It starts once you are safe and have swapped details, and takes you through choosing who handles your claim, the risks of accident management and credit hire firms, getting your car repaired and a replacement car, recovering every uninsured loss, minor injury claims through the Official Injury Claim service, and what to do if the other driver was uninsured or drove off. You will finish with a loss schedule, the right letters and clear time limits. It is general information, not legal advice: for serious injury or a disputed claim, speak to a solicitor or your motor legal protection helpline, and note that Scotland and Northern Ireland have different procedures.

What is inside

• Full step-by-step method9 detailed steps with decision points
• Ready-to-use templatesLetter of claim to the at-fault driver's insurer for uninsured losses · Questions to ask before accepting credit hire or accident management · Uninsured loss schedule
• Timed action plan8 stages from “Day 1” to “At renewal”
• Costly mistakes to avoid4 traps and what to do instead
• Complete checklist12 items to tick off
• Insider tips and fixes4 tips and 4 common problems solved

Step by step

1. Lock down the evidence in the first 72 hours

   Tell your own insurer about the accident even if it was not your fault and you do not plan to claim on your policy, because most policies make prompt notification a condition and the other side may claim against you. Check the other vehicle's insurance on the Motor Insurance Database (askMID) using its registration. If the other driver left without giving details, or anyone was injured and no insurance certificate was produced, report it to the police as soon as possible (a driver who did not exchange details at the scene must report within 24 hours), get the reference number, and remember that a prompt police report is a condition of any Motor Insurers' Bureau claim. Save dashcam footage to a computer straight away, because many cameras overwrite after a few hours of driving, and ask nearby shops or homes about CCTV, which is often deleted within days. Write down your account while it is fresh, with a sketch of road positions, and collect names and numbers of independent witnesses. Do not admit fault, agree cash deals or sign anything from a company that contacts you unexpectedly until you have chosen your route (the regular guide to handling a minor accident covers the roadside part).