If you have been involved in a road traffic accident, it is important to take the right steps as soon as possible. Your first priority should always be safety and medical attention, but evidence can also be important if you later decide to make a personal injury claim.

Road traffic accident claims may involve drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists or other road users. The steps you take after the accident can help show what happened, who may have been responsible and what injuries or losses were caused.

P.A. Duffy & Co Solicitors advise clients in Belfast, Dungannon and throughout Northern Ireland on road traffic accident claims. We can explain your options and guide you through the claims process.

What Should I Do Immediately After a Road Traffic Accident?

Immediately after a road traffic accident, you should make sure you and others are safe.

Where possible, you should:

• stop at the scene;

• check whether anyone is injured;

• call emergency services if needed;

• move to a safe place if possible;

• avoid admitting fault at the scene;

• exchange details with the other driver or parties involved;

• record the registration numbers of vehicles involved;

• take photographs where it is safe to do so;

• identify any witnesses;

• seek medical attention if you are injured.

If the accident is serious, someone is injured, details are not exchanged or a driver fails to stop, the police may need to be contacted.

Should I Report a Road Traffic Accident?

A road traffic accident may need to be reported depending on the circumstances.

You may need to report the accident if:

• someone was injured;

• a driver failed to stop;

• details were not exchanged;

• there was damage to another vehicle or property;

• the accident involved an uninsured or unknown driver;

• the police attended the scene;

• your insurer requires notification.

You should also notify your insurer in line with your policy terms, even if you do not believe you were at fault.

Should I Get Medical Attention?

Yes. You should seek medical attention if you have been injured or if symptoms develop after the accident.

Some injuries may not be obvious immediately. Symptoms such as neck pain, back pain, headaches, dizziness, psychological distress or soft tissue injuries may develop later.

Medical records can also be important evidence if you later bring a claim. They help show that you were injured and that the injury is connected to the accident.

What Evidence Should I Keep After a Road Traffic Accident?

Evidence can be important in a road traffic accident claim.

Useful evidence may include:

• photographs of the accident scene;

• photographs of vehicle damage;

• photographs of injuries;

• registration numbers;

• insurance details;

• names and contact details of witnesses;

• dashcam footage;

• CCTV footage where available;

• police reference numbers;

• medical records;

• repair invoices;

• recovery or towing records;

• travel expenses;

• proof of lost earnings.

For more information, see our guide on what evidence you need for a personal injury claim.

What Details Should I Exchange?

After a road traffic accident, you should exchange details with the other driver or parties involved where possible.

Useful details may include:

• name;

• address;

• telephone number;

• vehicle registration;

• insurance details;

• vehicle make and model;

• location of the accident;

• date and time of the accident.

If the other driver refuses to provide details, leaves the scene or you are concerned about their conduct, you may need to contact the police.

What If the Other Driver Denies Fault?

The other driver or their insurer may deny responsibility for the accident. This does not necessarily mean you cannot claim.

A solicitor can review the available evidence and advise whether liability can be proved.

Evidence may include:

• photographs;

• witness statements;

• dashcam footage;

• CCTV;

• police records;

• vehicle damage;

• accident location;

• road layout;

• expert evidence in more serious cases.

If fault is disputed, legal advice can be particularly important.

Can I Claim If I Was Partly at Fault?

You may still be able to claim if you were partly responsible for the road traffic accident, depending on the circumstances.

In some cases, responsibility may be shared between drivers or road users. If contributory negligence applies, compensation may be reduced to reflect your share of responsibility.

For more information, see our guide on claiming if the accident was partly your fault.

Can Passengers Claim After a Road Traffic Accident?

Passengers may be able to claim if they were injured in a road traffic accident caused by another person’s negligence.

A passenger claim may be made against the driver of another vehicle or, in some circumstances, the driver of the vehicle in which the passenger was travelling.

Passengers are often not responsible for the accident, but every case depends on the facts.

Can Pedestrians, Cyclists or Motorcyclists Claim?

Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists may be able to claim if they were injured because another road user failed to take reasonable care.

These claims can involve serious injuries and may require careful evidence about road position, speed, visibility, driver conduct, vehicle damage and medical impact.

If you are unsure whether you may have a claim, you should seek legal advice as early as possible.

How Long Do I Have to Claim After a Road Traffic Accident?

In many personal injury claims in Northern Ireland, the time limit is three years from the date of injury or the date of knowledge. However, exceptions can apply depending on the circumstances.

You should take legal advice as early as possible. Waiting too long can make it harder to obtain evidence, trace witnesses or secure footage.

For more information, see our guide on how long personal injury claims take.

How Much Compensation Could I Receive?

The amount of compensation depends on the injury, recovery period, medical evidence, financial losses and long-term impact of the accident.

Compensation may include:

• pain and suffering;

• loss of earnings;

• medical expenses;

• treatment costs;

• travel expenses;

• care and assistance;

• vehicle-related losses where relevant;

• future losses in more serious cases.

For more information, see our guide on how much compensation you could receive.

How Our Road Traffic Accident Solicitors Can Help

Our personal injury solicitors can help by:

• assessing whether you may have a claim;

• identifying who may be responsible;

• gathering evidence;

• contacting insurers;

• obtaining medical evidence;

• valuing the claim;

• calculating financial losses;

• negotiating settlement;

• issuing court proceedings where necessary.

For specific advice on this type of claim, see our road traffic accident claims page.

Speak to Our Personal Injury Solicitors

If you have been injured in a road traffic accident and are unsure what to do next, our solicitors can discuss what happened and advise on your options.

For more general information, see our Personal Injury Solicitors in Belfast, Dungannon, Omagh and Northern Ireland page.