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What to do at the scene of a traffic accident

Do you know what to do if you have a traffic accident?

As soon as you turn 17, it’s a given that you apply for your driving licence, book your lessons and a few months down the line get access to a car – whether your own or your parents. So this evidently means more cars on the road which in turn means a higher risk for accidents.

Whether you’re involved in a crash or you witness one, there are many important things that you need to do to avoid breaking the law and to also help out with any insurance claims that need to be made.

If you are involved in a road accident, even a minor one, you need to be responsible, keep calm and act quickly. First of all, you will need to warn the traffic around you, especially if you’re on a busy road. Put your hazard lights on and if you have one, place a warning triangle on the road. Ensure that all engines are switched off to reduce the possibility of a fire.

If the accident is serious, you will need to get help as quickly as possible by calling 999. You will need to provide the operator with details of;

Your number in case you are cut off
The location of the accident - if you don’t know where this is, look around for road names or landmarks.
A description of what has happened and if someone is injured.

After this, you will need to assess all casualties on the scene. If needed, you can use simple first aid to help anyone injured but it is important you don’t try to move them. If someone isn’t breathing, you will need to perform CPR by clearing the mouth, gently tilting the head back whilst holding their nose and gently blow into their mouth at 5-second intervals. You can also stop any severe bleeding by applying firm pressure on the wound.

If you are involved in a minor accident, you will need to make sure you jot down a brief description of;

What happened
Date and Time
Location
Details of the vehicles (make, model, reg number, estimated speed, direction and number of passengers)
Contact details of people involved (full name, number, address)
Details of any witnesses
Pictures of damage to both cars

To make sure you start your driving off to a safe start, get yourself to SERE and purchase a high quality, great value car. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today on 028 9020 5100.