Anyone involved in a road accident on UK roads has certain legal responsibilities which they must abide by.
If the accident you are involved in causes damage or injury to any other person, vehicle, animal or property the law dictates that you must
1 ) Stop and remain at the scene for a reasonable amount of time.
2) Provide your own, and if different, your vehicle owner's name address, and registration number to anyone having reasonable grounds for requiring them.
3) If these details can't be given at the scene, then you must report the accident at a police station or to a police officer as soon as is practicable possible and within 24 hours.
If another person is injured you are obliged to produce your car insurance certificate at the scene of the accident to anyone who has reasonable grounds to view it. If you are unable to produce your car insurance certificate at the scene of the accident then you must take it to the police station you reported the accident to within seven days.
These are your obligations even if you weren't directly involved in the accident. If your vehicle was involved in anyway what so ever you must stop and fulfil the above responsibilities.
If you fail to comply with the above responsibilities you are committing two offenses - failing to stop and failing to report. If found guilty or either you can receive a fine of up to £5000, have between five and ten penalty points added to your driving licence and be banned from driving.
Obtaining Car Insurance Information
It is important that you try and gather as much information as you can. If your able to take some photos of the accident then do so. If you can't then at least try and draw a sketch of the accident scene. Other essential information includes
1) The other driver's name, address and telephone number.
2) Whether the driver owns the the other vehicle.
3) The make, model and registration number of the other vehicle.
4) Details of the other driver's
car insurance policy - insurance company, whether third party of fully comprehensive, expiry date.
5) If any witnesses were present get their names and addresses.
6) Road and weather condition at the time of the accident.
7) What the involved vehicles were doing at the time of the accident.
If you stop at a traffic accident to offer assistance then the first rule you should remember is never put yourself at unnecessary risk. However if you can safely offer assistance then this is what you should do.
1) Turn on your hazard warning lights to warn approaching traffic.
2) If people are injured and in need of medical attention make sure someone has called an ambulance.
3) Clear the scene of non injured people.
4) If you have a warning triangle place it on the road at least 45 metres behind the scene of the accident.
5) Make sure all engines have been turned off.
6) Make sure no one is smoking a cigarette.
7) Medical aid should only be given to casualties by people who know what they are doing. However the fundamental rules of first aid at a traffic accident are as follows.
If an injured person remains in a vehicle you must only move them if protecting them from further danger. Only remove a motorcyclists helmet if it is essential to clear their airways. All casualties should be kept warm. Try and give them reassurance that they'll be OK but don't give them anything to eat, drink or smoke.
If a person is unconscious first check their breathing. Clear any obstruction to the airways and loosen tight clothing. If breathing doesn't restart give mouth to mouth resuscitation. To do this, lift the chin and tilt the head backwards. Pinch the persons nostrils and blow into the mouth until you see the chest rise. Repeat every four seconds until the person can breathe without assistance or until an ambulance arrives.
To stop heavy bleeding you should apply firm hand pressure over the open wound using some clean material.
If a casualty has burns to the skin then douse the burns with cool liquid but do not remove anything sticking to the burns.
For more driving advice see the
driving test and driving schools website.
