At fault in a car accident? What happens next
Published 26 September 2026
Most of what you read about accident claims assumes the crash was someone else's fault. Plenty are not. If it was yours, the questions are different: what to tell your insurer, what it will cost you, who repairs your car, and what happens to the people who were in it with you.
At the scene
Stop, check everyone is safe, and call 999 if anyone is injured or the road is dangerous. Swap names, addresses, registrations and insurance details with the other driver, and take photos of both vehicles and the scene.
Do not admit liability at the scene, even if you think the accident was your fault. Most motor policies say you must not accept blame without your insurer's agreement, and who was at fault is not always as clear afterwards as it feels on the day.
Telling your insurer
Your policy almost certainly requires you to report any accident promptly, whether or not you plan to claim. Leave it too long, or get the details wrong, and you can put your cover at risk.
We help you report it to your insurer and make sure the facts are recorded clearly and accurately from the start, so avoidable problems do not come back later.
Your policy excess
When you claim on your own policy, you normally pay the excess: the first part of the cost, shown on your policy schedule. It is often a compulsory amount plus any voluntary amount you chose when you took the policy out.
Help with your excess is something we can offer on some claims. We will tell you at the start whether we can help with yours.
Getting your car repaired
If you have comprehensive cover, your policy pays to repair your own car, less the excess. If you only have third party, or third party, fire and theft cover, damage to your own car is not covered, although your insurer still deals with the other driver's claim.
When we handle your repair, we inspect your car during the repair to check the work is being done properly, and it comes back to you valeted.
A free credit hire car is only available when someone else was at fault, because its cost is recovered from their insurer. On a fault claim, check your policy: some include a courtesy car while yours is off the road.
Your passengers can still claim
If your passengers were hurt, they can claim compensation even though the accident was your fault. Their claim is dealt with by your insurer, not paid by you personally.
We deal with passenger injury claims for you, putting each passenger in touch with a specialist solicitor on a no win, no fee basis.
Your own injuries are different. As the driver at fault you generally cannot claim compensation from anyone else, although some policies include personal accident cover, so it is worth checking yours.
Your no-claims discount
A fault claim will usually reduce your no-claims discount unless it is protected, and your premium may go up at renewal either way.
Not sure whose fault it was?
Fault is not always clear-cut. The other driver may share the blame, or witnesses and dashcam footage may change the picture. If the other driver was wholly or partly to blame, you may be able to claim from their insurer, so talk to us before you assume the worst.
How we can help
Scottish Accident handles fault claims as well as non-fault ones. We guide you through telling your insurer, help with your excess where we can, deal with any passenger injury claims, inspect your car during the repair and return it to you valeted.
If the accident was your fault, you can start your claim here or call us on 0141 258 2030.
At fault in an accident?
Call us first. We will talk you through what happens next.