24/7 Accident Recovery After a Collision

A collision leaves you with three jobs, in this order: make everyone safe, meet your legal duties, then deal with the damaged vehicle. We help with the third one. Once the scene is safe and the police or other drivers have what they need, call 020 8088 4032 and we'll collect the car, day or night.

Straight after the crash

The Highway Code (rule 283) sets out what to do if you're involved in a collision or stop to help:

• Stop somewhere as safe as possible and put the hazard warning lights on.
• Wear high-visibility clothing if you have it.
• Ask the drivers involved to turn off their engines, and ask everyone not to smoke.
• Call 999 with the exact location and details of any casualties.
• Lead uninjured people away from the vehicles to somewhere out of harm's way.
• Don't move injured people from their vehicles unless they're in immediate danger, and don't take a motorcyclist's helmet off unless it's essential and you're trained to.
• Stay at the scene until the emergency services arrive, and be ready to give first aid.

Your legal duties

Under section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, which applies in England, Wales and Scotland, the duties below apply when an accident involving your vehicle injures someone other than you, or damages another vehicle, an animal or property on or next to the road. The Highway Code repeats them in rules 286 and 287.

• You must stop.
• You must hand over details if anyone reasonably asks for them: your name and address, the vehicle owner's name and address, and the registration number.
• If you don't give your name and address at the scene, the law requires you to tell the police about it as soon as you reasonably can, and no later than 24 hours afterwards.
• If someone else is injured and you don't show your insurance certificate at the scene, you must notify the police within 24 hours and produce the certificate at a police station within seven days.

The Act's list of animals is horses, cattle, donkeys, mules, sheep, pigs, goats and dogs. Failing to meet these duties is a criminal offence.

In Northern Ireland the equivalent law is article 175 of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981. The NI Highway Code says that if you don't give your details at the scene, you must report the collision to the police immediately.

Getting the car moved

Even when a damaged car still starts, a bent wheel, a leaking radiator or broken lights can leave it dangerous, or unlawful, to drive. Don't risk it. Our car recovery and towing service loads the car and takes it wherever you decide, from £120.

When you ring, tell us:

1. The location, including the direction of travel on a main road.
2. What's damaged: whether the wheels turn and steer, whether fluid is leaking, and whether the airbags went off.
3. Whether the police are there or have asked for the vehicle to be moved.
4. Where it should go: home, a garage you choose, or another address.

For a longer journey to a repairer elsewhere in the country, vehicle transport is also from £120. We cover all of the UK, and we aim to reach you within 45 minutes in London.

Pothole, kerb or a car that just won't go

A hard hit on a pothole or kerb can leave a wheel, tyre or suspension arm too damaged to drive on. We recover those cars too, so call and describe what happened. If the car has simply stopped working, breakdown recovery may be what you need.

Call when the scene is safe

Save 020 8088 4032 in your phone. The phone is answered at any hour, 365 days a year.