What to do if you're in an accident

Accidents happen. And they can happen in the blink of an eye. As an AA Driving School franchisee, it’s important to remain calm and professional if you’re involved in a traffic collision. Here’s what you should do following an accident, including who to contact and what you need to report.

If you’re involved in a collision, or your car is damaged or vandalised, you can report it through our Digital Claims Assistant.

First of all

Following a traffic accident, these are the steps that all road users should take:

• Stop the car. It’s a criminal offence not to stop after a collision. Try to stop somewhere safe that’s not obstructing traffic.
• Turn off the engine and switch on your hazards.
• Check for injuries – both to you and your passengers, and then other parties involved.
• If anyone’s hurt or the road is blocked, call the police and an ambulance immediately.
• You should also call the police immediately if you believe someone’s committed an offence.

Remember, it’s important to stay calm. It’s normal to be shaken after an accident, and you can expect other parties involved to be too. Try to keep a cool head, and don’t lose your temper.

And don’t admit or imply responsibility. This can protect you from liability if the accident wasn’t your fault.

Information to gather

Next, you should get all the relevant information from the scene. Exchange details with the other parties involved. Note down:

• Names, addresses and contact numbers
• Insurance companies and policy numbers
• Vehicle make, model and registration

These are the details to provide third parties:

• Your name
• Your car registration
• Our claims handling agent: Gallagher Bassett
• Our agent’s address: Station Square, One Gloucester Street, SWINDON, SN1 1GW
• Our agent’s contact number: (0044) 01793 468 001

Also be sure to note the following, taking photos where practical:

• Time, date, state of traffic
• Weather, visibility, road conditions
• Any road markings and signs
• Any signals made by you or others
• Police identity numbers
• What was said and sketch a plan
• Damage to all vehicles or property involved

If you can get any statements and contact details from eyewitnesses, this can help to establish liability. If your car was damaged while you weren’t in the vehicle, you can ask neighbours if they saw anything, or whether the incident may have been captured by their CCTV or Ring doorbell. To avoid any possible delays or complications, try to get as much of the above information as possible before reporting it to us.

Next: Contact AA Accident Management

Most drivers would normally report the collision to their insurer, but as an AA Driving School franchisee, you should report the incident to AA Accident Management. We can help manage the aftermath of the collision, providing you with any support you may need. We can also help to support your pupils and other third parties.

If you’re involved in a collision, or your car is damaged or vandalised, you can report it through our Digital Claims Assistant, which is both quick and easy to use and is available 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

Or you can call AA Accident Management on 0330 159 80 70 (option 2). Opening times:

• Monday to Friday, 0800-1800
• Saturday, 0900-1300

Please note that this is an internal number for driving instructors. If third parties request contact details, give them the number of our claims handling agent – 01793 468 001. 

What to report

You should report any of the following as soon as you reasonably can:

• Any injury to any person (including shock), whether it’s to you, your pupil or any third parties
• Any damage to third-party property (even if your vehicle is undamaged)
• Any damage to street furniture e.g. bench or bus stop (even if your vehicle is undamaged)
• Any significant damage to your vehicle. To find out what qualifies, refer to your AA Driving School Tuition Handbook.