Even if there was no personal injury involved and someone holds you responsible for an accident they have the right to request your insurance details. This request can be made later and not necessarily at the time of the accident. A failure to provide your insurance details without a reasonable excuse is an offence. A reasonable excuse would constitute having suffered an injury at the time of the accident. After the accident there is the immediate concern for the people involved; whether you should alert the emergency services; the worry and cost of repairing the car; how you’re going to get around while it’s off the road; and even what your employer, partner, or parents will say when you tell them.
What to do after an accident
Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 section 170, if you’re involved in an accident and you’re the driver, you must stay at the scene for a reasonable time. You must provide the following details to anyone with reasonable grounds for asking:
- Your vehicle registration number
- Your name
- Your address,
- The name and address of the vehicle owner (if different)
If you don’t exchange these details at the scene, you must report the accident at a police station or to a police officer as soon as you can, and in any case, within 24 hours.