Reporting an accident
Reporting an accident
An accident should be reported:
- If personal injury is caused to a person other than the driver of that motor vehicle
- If damage is caused to another vehicle
- If damage is caused to an animal (horse, cattle, ass, mule, sheep, pig, goat or dog), other than an animal being carried in that vehicle or trailer.
- If damage is caused to any other property forming part of the land on which the road is situated
In a road traffic collision involving fatal/serious injury, contact the police immediately by phoning 999.
'Injury Collision'
In a non-serious incident, but where injury is caused - the driver of the motor vehicle must stop and, if required to do so by any person having reasonable grounds for so requiring, give their name and address, and also the name and address of the owner and the identification marks of the vehicle.
If not, the accident must be reported to the police as soon as possible, and in any case within 24 hours (this covers instances in which the persons involved are not able to comply with the requirement to report the incident immediately due to circumstances over which they have no control).
The driver of the vehicle must also provide a certificate of insurance to a police constable, or any other person having reasonable grounds for requesting, as soon as is practicable.
Failure to provide name and address or report the accident is an offence.
'Damage Only' Collision
There is no need to report 'damage-only' incidents to the police, provided that the following details have been exchanged:
- Name and address of the drivers involved,
- Details of the registered owner (if different to that of the driver).
- The identification mark (referred to as either registration mark or index) of the vehicle.
The matter can then be dealt with by either the insurance companies or by civil claim.