Road Reckoner penalty guidance Fixed Fee Legal Advice Drink Driving Motor Accidents Table of Driving Offences Worthless Speed Camera Rules Notices of Intended Prosecution Driving Offence Details Endorsements, Disqualifications & Revocations Seat Belts Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
Injured in an accident? Not your fault? Use our free Claim on the Web service to see if you can claim - CLICK HERE

Click to go to the full framed LAW on the WEB home page (frames)Motor Accidents                                  click to return to RTO Basics back to RTO basics
updated 24 July 2007

Accidents when driving your car, riding your motorbike, or simply on a bicycle can happen to anyone. Whether they are your fault or not, and whether or not you, or others are injured, they are a nerve-racking experience. 

picture of crashed motor carIf you or one of your passengers do happen to be injured in an accident your insurance company will not pursue this matter for you - even if you have paid an additional sum for "Legal Expenses Insurance" (LEI) or "Uninsured Loss Insurance". If you have LEI they will pass the matter on to a firm of solicitors who they have chosen. It is worth noting that despite what you may be told you do NOT have to instruct their solicitors to pursue your claim. You can instruct any firm of solicitors to deal with the claim for you. If you would like to be free to choose your own solicitors then use our simple claim form below and we will assess your chances of making a successful claim, and put you in touch with a specialist law firm. If you like them then you can instruct them.

Here is our checklist of the legal "dos and don'ts".

1. Always stop after an accident.
2. Check for damage to your vehicle, any other vehicles involved and any injuries to people or animals.
3. Exchange details, including name, address, telephone number, vehicle registration and insurance cover (if available) with others involved.
4. If you do not stop, or cannot provide any details, then you should report the accident to the police within 24 hours. If someone has been injured, their property damaged or an animal injured then you MUST report it if you could not provide all the relevant details at the accident scene.
5. Make sure you have a note of the other people involved and their vehicles (colour, registration, make and model).
6. If there were any witnesses to the accident make sure you have their contact details too.
7. If possible try and make a note of the precise location of the vehicles before any are moved.
8. If you have any worries, doubts or concerns then you should call the police and ask them to attend. 
9. As soon as you can after the accident sit quietly and write out your recollection of exactly what happened.
10. Report the accident to your insurers.
11. If you or any of your passengers were injured in the accident then you/they should attend a doctor at the earliest opportunity and consider making a claim (see below). Note that you do not have to use any solicitors who may be appointed by your insurers under any legal expenses insurance scheme. We would suggest you choose your own.
12. Do not make any admissions about liability for the accident either at the scene or later.
13. If the police are called and you think that you may have been at fault, ask if you can arrange to give a statement at a later date. You can then prepare and also instruct a solicitor if necessary.

Motor Accident Claim Assessment Form

[Use your tab button or arrow keys, and not the return key, at the end of each answer]

The Boring Bit

Your First Name
Your Last Name
Address
Post Code** 
Email address 
Home telephone
Work Telephone (if available)
When is the best time to contact you by telephone?  
Is this on your home or work number  Home Work
How would you prefer to be contacted  Email Telephone Letter
Region in which you live
(we will try and find a solicitor within your region if possible)

About the Accident

When did the accident occur?
Where did the accident occur?
Please describe what happened?
Were you injured? If so please provide details of your injury
Were there any witnesses to the accident? Yes No
Do you have their contact details? Yes No
Is there any other information which you think may be relevant?
How did you hear about Can I Claim?
(not compulsory, but would be helpful)

If you are happy with the information you have provided click the Submit button and we will get a solicitor to assess your case and contact you by your chosen method within 2 days. After that it is up to you. 

LAW on the WEB reserves the right not to answer any queries raised and cannot guarantee in any way that a response will be received within the stated timeframe, nor indeed at all. LAW on the WEB accepts no responsibility whatsoever for any advice received from any of our panel solicitors, nor any actions done, or not done, as a result of receiving such advice. 

Complaints I Conveyancing Quote I Divorce I DIY Law I Employment I Family Law I Find a Solicitor I EPA I Law on the Phone I Law Online I Law Student I Legal Advice I Legal Basics I Legal Fun I Legal News I Links I Mediation I Motoring Law I Press I Property Dispute I Search I Solicitors I The Law Shop I  Webster - Our Guide Dog I Wills and Probate I Home (Frames) I Home (No Frames)

Email us with any comments about this site