Car insurance experts at the Confused.com have issued advice on what to do if you are involved in a road traffic accident
Millions of drivers have found themselves apologising at the scene of a car accident, even when they weren’t to blame, potentially jeopardising their insurance claims.
One in ten confess to having said sorry following a collision where they were not at fault, while others have apologised without being certain who was responsible. What many motorists fail to realise is that such an apology could be used against them during the claims process.
Confused.com advises that regardless of whether you believe you’re at fault or not, it’s best to avoid saying sorry at the accident scene just in case it’s interpreted by the other party as an admission of guilt.
Despite not legally accepting responsibility by apologising, the other insurer could try to use it against you at a later date.
Rhydian Jones, motoring expert at Confused.com, which conducted the survey said: “With more than 128,000 road users being involved in a road accident in 2024, it is more important than ever that motorists are aware of the steps to take should this happen to them, to avoid landing themselves in hot water.
“Even if you don’t want to make a claim, it’s important that your insurer knows about any accident you’ve been involved in to reassess your policy.
“Insurance is in place to keep you and our roads safe, as well as making the aftermath of a car accident as straightforward as possible.”
The research discovered that a quarter of 18- to 24 year olds apologised despite not being at fault. However, those aged between 25 and 34 were found to be the most likely to admit fault following an incident.
Almost half of those who have been in an accident confessed to not taking the other driver’s details, while the majority neglected to capture photographic or video evidence of the scene.
It was also found that half failed to inform their insurance company at the time of the incident, with 6 per cent not reporting it at all.
According to the survey, this is down to the fact that49 per cent didn’t realise that road accidents should be reported to their insurance company even if they don’t intend to claim.
However, experts warn that failing to do so can invalidate policies, lead to increased insurance costs, and risk future coverage refusals.
If you are involved in a road traffic accident, car insurance experts at Confused.com advise you to check for injuries, call emergency services if necessary, and exchange details with the other driver.
Rhydian Jones added: “Being involved in an accident on the roads isn’t something pleasant to think about, but it’s important that motorists are prepared and know what to do if this happens.”
#Expert #warn #word #drivers #accident
