What to do if you Witness a Road traffic Accident?

With multiple road traffic accidents taking place every day in the UK and Northern Ireland, do you know what to do if you are witness to a car crash?

Every day in the UK there are an average of five deaths caused by road traffic accidents. Even so, few residents know what the correct procedure is, should they encounter one. Whether you are involved in the accident or whether you are a passer-by, your witness statement could be a key tool investigators can use in discovering what really happened during a road traffic accident.

What to do if you see a Car Crash?

If you witness an accident first hand and you do not have any medical training, there may still be things which you can do to help. Certainly, your statement of events will help the police to piece together an accurate story of what happened during the accident. If anyone was injured in the car crash then the police will definitely want to speak to you.

There are around 80 people per day who become seriously injured on UK roads (Brake UK), so witnessing an accident is a real possibility. Report what you see to the police when they show up. You can also go to a police station in the following days to report the accident.

What if you Record an Accident on Your Dash Cam?

If you happen to catch another person having an accident on the roads via your dash cam, then you should surrender the footage if the local police appeal for it. In cases of serious accidents where there are fatalities, that footage could identify the responsible parties. Check with the police websites in your local area to look for appeals for dash cam footage.

What if You are Involved in an RTA?

If you become injured as a result of being involved in a Road Traffic Accident, then what do you do next?

In the UK and Northern Ireland you may bring a claim for compensation after a road traffic accident if you suffered injuries which were not your own fault. There may even be a basis for a compensation claim if you were partially responsible for the accident and you become injured.

If you are involved in an RTA then you must report what you experienced to the police. The details you give them could give clues as to what happened. For example, if you felt the brakes fail then you could testify to that.

In the cases of serious accidents or accidents involving volatile parties the police may show up. It is important that you are honest with them.

Be Prepared for the Legal Repercussions

After you have spoken to the police, make sure you seek legal advice on what to do next. Car accidents can leave you with serious physical and emotional injuries. Seeking compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance company is the correct course of action to ensure you are not left out of pocket.

Of course, if you are the at-fault party then legal advice is a must. Depending upon your policy, you may be able to find representation through your insurers.