What should I do if I have an accident?
In the event of an accident get as much on the spot information as possible. Keep a pen and paper in your car for this purpose. Take note of the names and addresses of independent witnesses before they lose interest and leave the scene. If you happen to have a camera in the car, get pictures before vehicles and property are moved. Also, make a sketch plan of the accident while the details are fresh in your mind.
•Ask the other drivers involved for their names and addresses and make a note of their car registration numbers together with the make and model.
•Ask for the name of their insurers and also, if possible, their policy number or certificate number.
•There may be injury to people or animals or damage to vehicles or property. If so, you are required to give your name and address, the name and address of the owner of the car you are driving and its registration number to anyone with reasonable grounds for wanting them.
•If anyone is injured you should produce your certificate of insurance either to a police officer or to anyone with reasonable grounds for wishing to see it. If you cannot do this at the scene you must produce it at a police station within 24 hours.
•At the scene of the accident do not discuss whose fault the accident seems to have been. If you do, you could create problems for you and your insurers in the handling of your claim. It is often not straightforward to identify fault, especially at the scene of an accident where people may be in shock about what has just happened. Leave that to the insurers or the police.
•You must tell your insurers as soon as possible - even if you don't intend to make a claim. This is a condition of your policy.
•Tell your insurers about any statement made at the scene by any of the parties.
•Complete any accident report form they give you with as much information as you can.

To obtain before the event accident insurance cover for mortgages and your income visit Personal Accident

To Get Your Car Repaired
If you have a comprehensive policy - Ask your insurer for advice. Your insurer may recommend a particular garage or windscreen repairer. This could avoid the need for you to arrange an estimate for the work required and get this approved by your insurer before the repair work can commence. As well as speeding up the repair considerably, this could allow your insurer to take advantage of any discounts secured in advance with certain repairers.
Many insurers' recommended repairers will also be able to provide you with a courtesy car whilst your vehicle is being repaired (if this isn’t provided for separately as a policy benefit).
If you take your car to another repairer, send the repairer's estimate to your insurer. They will check it and, if it is agreed, they will authorise repairs subject to your completing a satisfactory claim form.
When you collect the car after repairs you may have to pay the first part of the claim if you have an excess on your policy. You pay this money direct to the garage, whether or not you were to blame for the accident. Your insurers may also ask you to pay a part of the cost of repairs if your car is put into a better condition than before the accident.
The cost of repairs is your responsibility until your insurers have agreed to pay. For your peace of mind, you may want to obtain confirmation from your insurer that they accept liability and will pay the cost of repair.
If you have Third Party or Third Party Fire and Theft cover - your policy will not cover accidental damage to your car. You therefore have to pay the repair bill yourself or claim from the other driver if he or she was legally liable for the damage.
Contact the other driver – preferably in writing - saying that you intend to claim from him/her.
Say that you hold him/her responsible and ask him/her to tell their insurers.
Write direct to their insurers, if you have details, quoting the other driver's policy or certificate number.
Send a repairer's estimate as soon as possible - their insurers may well ask you for additional estimates.
Tell your own insurers that you are claiming against the third party.
The other driver should tell you who their insurer is. If not, you should be able to obtain details from the Motor Insurers’ Information Centre.

On receipt of your letter the third party may settle your claim themselves or may pass the matter to their insurers. If the insurer considers their policyholder entirely to blame it will pay your claim provided they have full information. If it considers that you were entirely or partly to blame it may refuse your claim or suggest a compromise.
The third party may refuse to co-operate at all in which case you should seek advice from your insurer, insurance adviser, motoring organisation or solicitor. You may, at the end of the day, have to take legal action against the other driver or their insurer. You may have legal expenses cover which will cover the costs of doing so - so it is worth checking your motor policy for this.