What Happens in the First Hour After a Non-Fault Accident

The first hour after a non-fault accident sets up your whole claim. Stay safe, swap details, gather evidence, and call someone who handles this every day. Do that and the rest gets a lot easier.

A non-fault accident is one where you were not to blame. That single fact is what entitles you to a replacement vehicle at no upfront cost, so the first hour is about staying safe and protecting that fact with good evidence.

What should you do in the first hour after a non-fault accident?

Make sure everyone is safe, then start gathering information. The clearer your record of what happened, the smoother your claim will be.

Here is the order we talk claimants through on the phone:

1. Stop and switch on your hazard lights. Check yourself and any passengers for injuries.
2. Move to a safe place if the vehicles are causing a hazard and it is safe to do so.
3. Call 999 if anyone is hurt, the road is blocked, or the other driver leaves the scene.
4. Swap details with the other driver: name, number, address, registration, make and model, and insurer.
5. Take photos and note the time, location, and weather.
6. Look for witnesses and ask for their contact details.
7. Call us so we can get you back on the road.

What information should you collect at the scene?

Collect everything you can about the other vehicle, the location, and any witnesses. Photos are your friend here, because a phone full of clear pictures beats trying to remember details later.

Try to capture the other car's registration, make, model and colour, the driver's name and contact number, and their insurer if they will share it. Photograph the damage to both vehicles, the position of the cars on the road, any skid marks or debris, and the wider scene including road signs and signals. If anyone stopped to help, a name and number can make all the difference if liability is ever questioned.

Should you admit fault or say sorry?

No. Stay polite, but do not accept blame or agree who was responsible at the roadside. A quick sorry said out of shock can be misread later, so stick to swapping details and recording the facts.

Liability is decided by the insurers using the evidence, not by what anyone says in the heat of the moment. Your job at the scene is simply to be safe, be civil, and be thorough.

When should you call your insurer, and when should you call a credit hire company?

Tell your own insurer about the accident, as most policies require it. To get a replacement vehicle quickly without going through your own cover, call a credit hire company like us.

If you claim through your own insurer you may pay your excess and risk your no-claims discount, even though the accident was not your fault. A non-fault credit hire claim is handled against the at-fault driver's insurer instead, so you keep your excess and your no-claims bonus where the evidence supports your case. We explain the difference plainly before anything is agreed, and you can read more on our credit hire replacement vehicles page.

How do you get a replacement vehicle after a non-fault accident?

Call us with your accident details and we arrange a like-for-like replacement, delivered to you. One named handler owns your case from the first call through to settlement.

We take the details of the accident, confirm the basics of your claim, and match you to a comparable vehicle so you are not left without wheels. There is no upfront cost to you when you were not at fault, because the charges are recovered from the at-fault driver's insurer. If you want the detail first, our common questions page covers the points claimants ask us most.

What does non-fault actually mean?

Non-fault means the accident was not your responsibility, so another party should cover your losses. It does not always mean the police were involved or that anyone was prosecuted. It simply means the blame sits elsewhere.

Plenty of everyday accidents are non-fault: someone goes into the back of you, a car pulls out of a junction, or a parked vehicle is hit. If you are not sure where you stand, our credit hire glossary explains the common terms, and a two-minute call will usually settle it.