What to Do After a Car Accident in Scotland

Being in a car accident is stressful. Your heart is pounding, your hands might be shaking, and your first instinct is probably to just get out of there. But what you do in the first few minutes after a collision can make a big difference to any claim you make later. Here is a straightforward guide to the steps you should take.

Under Scots law, you must stop at the scene of an accident. Switch off your engine, turn on your hazard lights, and check yourself and any passengers for injuries. If anyone is hurt, call 999 straight away. Do not move anyone who is seriously injured unless they are in immediate danger, such as from fire.

If the accident is minor and nobody is hurt, move your vehicles off the road if it is safe to do so. On a motorway or dual carriageway, get behind the barrier if you can.

You are legally required to exchange certain information with the other driver. That means your name, address, vehicle registration number, and insurance details. If there are witnesses, ask for their contact details too. People are usually willing to help, especially right after an accident when they can see what happened.

Take photos of the scene. Photograph the damage to both vehicles, the road layout, any skid marks, traffic signs, and the weather conditions. Your phone camera is fine. These photos can be crucial evidence later.

In Scotland, you must report an accident to Police Scotland within 24 hours if anyone is injured, if the other driver did not stop or did not give their details, or if there is damage to property other than the vehicles involved. You can report by calling 101 (the non-emergency number) or by visiting your nearest police station.

Even if reporting is not strictly required, it is worth doing anyway. A police report can strengthen your claim, particularly if the other driver later disputes what happened.

Some injuries do not show up straight away. Whiplash, for example, often takes 24 to 48 hours to develop symptoms. Even if you feel fine at the scene, visit your GP or A&E as soon as you can. A medical record created close to the date of the accident is strong evidence if you later make a personal injury claim.

This is a common mistake. In the shock of the moment, people often say things like "sorry, I didn't see you." Even a casual apology can be used against you later. Be polite, check the other person is alright, but do not accept blame. Let the insurers and, if necessary, the courts work out who was at fault.

Once you have dealt with the immediate aftermath, the next step is making your claim. That is where Scottish Accident comes in. We have been handling motor accident claims across Scotland for over 35 years. We arrange hire cars, deal with the other driver's insurer, and make sure you get the compensation you are entitled to.

You can start a claim online or call us directly. We will take it from there.