Car accidents and liability

If you are involved in an accident you should think very carefully what you say at the accident scene, particularly regarding the issue of who is at fault, especially if you think it might be yours.


Admitting liability at the scene

Unless the accident was blatantly your fault, it's probably a good idea not to admit that you may be at fault. The circumstances of an accident can be affected by many different things, and bearing in mind that you may be distressed and/or suffering from shock, you may not be thinking clearly enough to take them into account.

Although you may think at the time that it is the right thing to do, it's still better to let the police accident investigators consider all the evidence before even thinking about admitting liability.

Make notes of the positions of vehicles, speeds, directions, weather conditions etc., in fact any information that may have affected the decisions you made when the accident happened.

Do not feel pressured into admitting anything at the scene of the accident by other parties involved, remember that there may be things that you have not considered that could have contributed to the situation. You are not legally obliged to admit liability at the scene of an accident, so don't feel that you have to.

If you do admit anything at the scene, bear in mind that someone could quote you in any possible resulting court case, and it will be both difficult and 'suspicious' to suddenly change your story later. You may also have problems with any insurance or compensation claims you may wish to make, leaving you without a car and possibly facing some large repair bills.


Information you will need to help with your claim

Probably one of the most important things you can do if you feel that the accident was not your fault, is to collect information from independent witnesses.

There is nothing more valuable than a statement from someone who is not connected in any way to the drivers involved, or the circumstances that caused the accident. An independent witness will have no vested interest in the welfare of either party and so their impartiality can prove crucial in establishing the facts of the case.

Most people have mobile phones with built-in cameras these days,so if your phone has a camera then there are a number of things you could take pictures of that might help support your case.

  • Positions of the vehicles at the scene

  • Damage to the vehicles involved

  • Damage to property, barriers or other roadside equipment

  • Number plates of the vehicles involved

  • Skid marks

Remember that if you are involved in an accident you could be injured, suffering from shock and experiencing a whole range of possible emotions.

Under these conditions anyone can inadvertently say things that they might regret later. The most important thing to remember is to stay calm, and not admit to anything. Gather as much information as you can at the scene and contact your insurer or claims advisor as soon as you can.

If you have been involved in a car accident that was not your fault, you may be able to make a compensation claim. Please call Car Call on 02392 484 244 , and one of our experienced claims advisors will be happy to assist you.


No need to claim on your insurance

Anyone who has been involved in a road accident has the right to choose who repairs their vehicle. If you were responsible for the accident you were involved in, the company that insures your vehicle would normally deal with your accident claim.

However if you were not at-fault for the accident, you can choose to either claim on your own insurance policy or make a claim independently of your insurer. To find out more call 02392 484 244 and we will be happy to help.

We and our partners help thousands of people make independent accident claims. Our service enables motorists to get the help and assistance they need to resolve their accident related issues, with the costs being recovered directly from the at-fault driver on your behalf.

No excess to pay

Unfortunately even if an accident was not your fault, your insurer will almost certainly require you to pay your excess before any repair is started on your car.

This money should of course be recovered by an insurer at a later date, but with our service - you do not have to pay it at all.

By using our independent claims service, you are not making a claim on your insurance policy and so you will have no excess to pay.

Receive a comparable replacement hire vehicle

Not all insurance policies will include a replacement hire-car for you to use if yours is damaged and unroadworthy. In fact it is typically an 'optional extra' on your policy.

Other policies may offer a 'courtesy car' but this is often just a 'basic' saloon or hatchback which may not be suitable for your needs.

Car Call and its partners will provide a comparable replacement vehicle as part of our service. This means we will endeavour to supply a hire-vehicle that similar to your own in terms of its type, make and engine size.

So whether you drive a small hatchback or a prestige sports car, we will look to provide a similar hire-vehicle that suits your needs.

Manufacturer approved vehicle repairs

If you have been involved in a car accident, the last thing you want to have to worry about is the quality of the repairs to your car. We have a UK wide network of partner approved Accident Repair Centres available to all of our customers.

Many of our accident repair centres are have manufacturer approvals for specific brands, so if you require a manufacturer approved repair centre, simply tell your personal claim handler and they will ensure your vehicle goes to an approved repairer.

Want you vehicle repaired by a specific garage? No problem, we can alternatively use a repairer that you specify.

Legal Assistance

Our partner solicitors provide legal assistance as part of our service. They specialise in motor claims related issues, so you can be assured of the best possible advice and assistance.

They issues they can assist you with include:

  • Recovery of the cost of the replacement hire-vehicle
  • Recovery of the cost of uplifting your damaged vehicle
  • Recovery of all repair costs
  • Recovery of the cost of damaged of personal items
  • Seeking financial compensation for an injury