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UK Accident Claim Guides | Scenarios, PHV & Non-Fault Claims
56 long-form UK accident claim guides covering step-by-step procedures, scenario Q&A (who is liable and what to do), private hire and minicab driver guides, and what to avoid after any non-fault collision. Every article cites the relevant UK statutes and case law.
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How to use this guidance hub during a live claim
The articles below are arranged around the order in which problems actually appear on a UK non-fault accident file. A driver at the roadside needs different guidance from a driver two weeks later who has received a low total-loss offer, a recorded statement request, or a repair instruction from the at-fault insurer. The hub is therefore split into two tracks: what to do next, and what to avoid before the evidence has been secured.
If the collision happened today, read the first-hour checklist first. That guide covers safety, exchanging details, section 170 Road Traffic Act 1988 reporting, photographs, witness details and whether police attendance is needed. Then read the evidence guide, because the strongest liability files are built before the vehicles are moved, while road layout, debris, lane position, traffic signals and impact angles are still visible. The third article to read is the guide on working with the third-party insurer. That is where many non-fault drivers accidentally give away leverage by accepting a recorded call, a premature engineer valuation, or the insurer's own repairer before the independent evidence is complete.
If the accident was not your fault but the other driver is uninsured, untraced or has left the scene, go straight to the Motor Insurers' Bureau guide after the first-hour checklist. MIB claims have different evidence thresholds, different deductions and different timetables from a normal insured third-party claim. A police reference, witness statement, dashcam footage and proof that reasonable enquiries were made can decide whether the file is accepted under the 2017 Uninsured or Untraced Drivers' Agreement.
If the vehicle is already in a garage or the insurer has offered a write-off settlement, read the engineer inspection and total-loss valuation guide before agreeing anything. Pre-accident value depends on mileage, service history, options, condition, MOT history and genuine retail comparables. Category S and Category N salvage retention also needs careful handling because keeping the vehicle can affect settlement value, future insurance and the repair evidence needed before it returns to the road.
These guides are not legal advice and they do not replace a solicitor. They are operational accident-management guidance written to help drivers preserve evidence, understand the insurer process and avoid common mistakes. Where the file involves personal injury, contested liability, litigation, a low-value whiplash tariff issue or a limitation deadline, legal advice should come from an authorised solicitor. CityGrip refers injury enquiries only with separate written consent to an SRA-regulated panel solicitor.
Step-by-step guidance articles
Procedural guides for non-fault drivers, written around the actual UK statutes (Road Traffic Act 1988 section 170, Limitation Act 1980, Civil Liability Act 2018, Motor Insurers' Bureau Uninsured / Untraced Drivers' Agreements 2017) and the leading credit hire authorities (Dimond v Lovell and Lagden v O'Connor).
Guidance · 11 min read
The first hour after a non-fault car accident in the UK: a complete checklist
What UK drivers should do in the first sixty minutes after a non-fault collision: scene safety, the section 170 duty, what to photograph, what to say, what not to say, and how to start the claim file correctly.
Read the guide →
Guidance · 12 min read
How to gather and preserve evidence after a UK road traffic collision
A practical guide to the seven evidence streams that matter after a UK car accident - photographs, dashcam, CCTV, signal data, witnesses, contemporaneous notes and the police record - and the deadlines for each.
Read the guide →
Guidance · 13 min read
How non-fault credit hire works in the UK: legal basis, eligibility and what to expect
What credit hire is, how the basic and 'impecunious' rates work after Lagden v O'Connor, the eligibility tests, the daily-rate dispute that follows almost every claim, and how to keep the schedule recoverable.
Read the guide →
Guidance · 11 min read
Reporting a road traffic collision to UK police: when, how and what reference numbers to keep
When you must report a UK collision to the police under section 170 Road Traffic Act 1988, the difference between 999, 101 and online collision reporting, and which reference numbers your insurer will need.
Read the guide →
Guidance · 11 min read
Working with the third-party insurer after a non-fault accident: timeline and what to ask for
What happens between the third-party insurer being notified and a settlement being reached: pre-action protocol, ICOBS 8 expectations, the engineer-to-engineer call, and the realistic timeline.
Read the guide →
Guidance · 11 min read
Engineer inspections and total-loss valuations explained for UK non-fault claimants
How a UK accident engineer's inspection works, what the report covers, the difference between repairable and total-loss outcomes, how the pre-accident value is set, and why the inspection has to happen before the repair starts.
Read the guide →
Guidance · 11 min read
How to prove you were not at fault in a UK road traffic collision
The patterns of evidence the third-party insurer looks for, what 'liability' actually means in a UK road traffic context, the role of contributory negligence, and how to present a non-fault account that survives challenge.
Read the guide →
Guidance · 10 min read
The 14 to 31 day evidence window: why timing matters for CCTV and signal data
How long councils, Transport for London, National Highways, supermarkets and bus operators keep CCTV and signal-data records, why most footage is gone after 28 to 31 days, and how to preserve it within the window.
Read the guide →
Guidance · 10 min read
ULEZ, Congestion Charge and your replacement vehicle: the like-for-like rules in London
Why a non-compliant courtesy car is not a like-for-like replacement in any London borough since 29 August 2023, how the Congestion Charge overlaps in central London, and how to challenge a non-compliant offer.
Read the guide →
Guidance · 11 min read
Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) claims: uninsured drivers, untraced drivers and what to do
How to claim through the Motor Insurers' Bureau when the at-fault driver is uninsured or untraced, the differences between the Uninsured Drivers' Agreement 2017 and the Untraced Drivers' Agreement 2017, and the deadlines.
Read the guide →
Guidance · 13 min read
Keeping your car after a UK write-off: Category S and Category N salvage retention
If your car is written off after a non-fault accident in the UK, you can often keep it. A complete guide to Category S and Category N salvage retention, the DVLA paperwork, the deduction, and when retaining is the right call - with London-specific notes.
Read the guide →Scenario Q&A: who is at fault and what do I do?
26 scenario-specific guides answering the exact question UK drivers search after an accident. Each article explains the liability rule that applies (Highway Code rule, RTA 1988 section, or leading case such as Nettleship v Weston [1971]), the evidence to gather, and the steps to open a non-fault file.
Scenario Q&A · 10 min read
Someone jumped a red light and hit me: liability and what to do (UK)
If a driver ran a red light and hit your car in the UK, liability is almost always clear-cut. This guide covers the evidence that proves it, how to claim recovery and repairs at no cost, and what happens when the light-jumper disputes the facts.
Read the guide →Scenario Q&A · 11 min read
A lorry hit my car or van: how to claim against an HGV driver (UK)
If a lorry, articulated truck or large goods vehicle hit your car or van, this guide explains HGV operator liability, tachograph evidence, blind spots, and how to get your car recovered, repaired and a courtesy vehicle arranged at no upfront cost.
Read the guide →Scenario Q&A · 10 min read
A bus hit my car or van: how to claim against the bus operator (UK)
If a bus, coach or minibus hit your car or van in the UK, the operator is almost certainly liable and CCTV evidence exists. This guide covers what to do, how to preserve bus CCTV, and how to get your car recovered and a courtesy vehicle arranged at no upfront cost.
Read the guide →Scenario Q&A · 10 min read
Hit on a motorway slip road: who is at fault and how to claim (UK)
Slip-road collisions on UK motorways are common but liability depends on precise road position and right of way. This guide explains who yields to whom, what happens when merging goes wrong, and how to claim as the non-fault driver.
Read the guide →Scenario Q&A · 10 min read
Someone failed to give way and hit me: UK non-fault claim guide
If a driver ignored a give way sign or failed to yield at a T-junction and hit your car, liability is usually clear. This guide covers the road law, the evidence that proves it, and how to claim at no upfront cost.
Read the guide →Scenario Q&A · 9 min read
Debris from a lorry hit my car: who pays and how to claim (UK)
If a load or debris fell from a lorry or van and damaged your car, the operator may be liable under the Road Traffic Act. This guide explains how to identify the vehicle, gather evidence and claim repairs at no upfront cost.
Read the guide →Scenario Q&A · 10 min read
Car park accident in the UK: who is at fault and how to claim
Car park collisions are common but often disputed. This guide explains the priority rules on private land, how CCTV evidence works, and how to claim against the driver who hit you even in a private car park.
Read the guide →Scenario Q&A · 10 min read
Winter road accident: claiming against the driver who hit me in snow or ice (UK)
Adverse weather does not remove a driver's duty of care. If someone hit your car in snow, ice or heavy rain, they may still be fully at fault. This guide explains liability in winter road collisions and how to claim.
Read the guide →Scenario Q&A · 10 min read
A cyclist hit my car: can I claim, and who pays? (UK)
Cyclists can be at fault in a road collision just as any other road user. If a cyclist hit your car, this guide explains your options, the challenges of claiming against an uninsured cyclist, and how to protect your position.
Read the guide →Scenario Q&A · 10 min read
Someone overtook dangerously and hit me: UK non-fault claim guide
A driver who overtakes unsafely and collides with your vehicle is almost always at fault. This guide covers the overtaking rules, evidence that proves dangerous overtaking, and how to claim at no upfront cost.
Read the guide →Scenario Q&A · 10 min read
A drink driver hit me: making a non-fault claim in the UK
If a drink or drug driver caused your accident, liability is almost certain but the claim process has specific steps. This guide covers how to use police evidence, claim from the driver's insurer, and what the MIB covers if they were uninsured.
Read the guide →Scenario Q&A · 10 min read
A company vehicle hit me: how to claim against an employer (UK)
When an employee in a company car, van or lorry hits you, the employer is usually vicariously liable. This guide explains the law, how to identify the correct defendant, and how to claim against a fleet insurer.
Read the guide →Scenario Q&A · 11 min read
Hit at a junction: who is at fault and how to make a non-fault claim (UK)
Junction accidents are one of the most common collision types in the UK. This guide explains right-of-way rules at different junction types, how liability is established, and how to claim as a non-fault driver.
Read the guide →Scenario Q&A · 9 min read
A learner driver hit me: who is liable and how to claim (UK)
Learner drivers and their supervisors both carry a duty of care. If you were hit by an L-plate driver in the UK, this guide explains the insurance requirements, supervisor liability, and how to claim recovery and repairs.
Read the guide →Scenario Q&A · 9 min read
Someone hit my car while I was parking: UK non-fault claim guide
Whether you were stationary in a bay, manoeuvring into a space, or waiting to park, a driver who collides with your vehicle while you are parking may be fully at fault. This guide explains liability and how to claim.
Read the guide →Private hire & minicab driver guides
Five guides written specifically for PHV and minicab drivers and their passengers. Topics include TfL reporting duties, Uber and Bolt insurance periods, loss of earnings calculation, PHV licence protection, and the rights of passengers injured in a minicab.
Private hire · 11 min read
PHV driver had an accident: the complete guide for private hire drivers (UK)
If you drive for private hire and have been involved in an accident, your obligations are wider than those of a private motorist. This guide covers TfL reporting, operator notification, licence implications, and how to protect your income and vehicle.
Read the guide →Private hire · 10 min read
Accident in a minicab: can a passenger claim and who pays? (UK)
If you were injured or your property was damaged in a minicab or private hire vehicle accident, you have rights against both the driver and their insurer. This guide explains who is liable, how to claim, and what you are entitled to.
Read the guide →Private hire · 11 min read
Uber or Bolt driver had an accident: what happens to your insurance and account (UK)
App-based PHV drivers face unique risks after an accident - platform account deactivation, complex insurance periods, and operator notification duties. This guide covers all of them.
Read the guide →Private hire · 10 min read
Minicab driver: how to claim loss of earnings after a non-fault accident (UK)
Loss of earnings is one of the most significant financial impacts of a non-fault accident for PHV and minicab drivers. This guide explains how to quantify and claim lost income from the at-fault insurer.
Read the guide →Private hire · 11 min read
Protecting your TfL PHV licence after an accident: what to report and when
A TfL PHV licence is a PHV driver's livelihood. An accident that is mishandled or not properly reported can put the licence at risk independently of civil liability. This guide covers the reporting duties, timelines, and how to manage TfL's assessment.
Read the guide →'What to avoid' articles
The most common preventable mistakes UK drivers make in the first hours and weeks after a non-fault collision, with the practical alternative for each. Topics include scene admissions, premature repair, recorded statements, the insurer's first offer, claims farms, the limitation deadline and the at-fault insurer's preferred repairer network.
What to avoid · 10 min read
Why you should never admit fault at the scene of a UK car accident
Why a casual 'sorry' at a UK accident scene can become an admission, how the third-party insurer uses scene admissions to argue contributory negligence, and what to say instead.
Read the guide →
What to avoid · 10 min read
Don't accept the third-party insurer's first offer: spotting an undervalued settlement
Why the at-fault insurer's first offer is almost always lower than the realistic claim value, what they leave out, and how to evaluate the offer using the engineer's report and the recoverable heads of loss.
Read the guide →
What to avoid · 10 min read
Don't repair your car before the engineer inspects: how this destroys your claim
Why repairing the vehicle before the engineer inspects removes the evidential basis for the repair scope, the at-fault insurer's standard challenge, and the order of events that protects the claim.
Read the guide →
What to avoid · 9 min read
Why you should not give a recorded statement to the third-party insurer in the UK
What a recorded statement is, why the at-fault insurer asks for one, why there is rarely an upside for the non-fault driver, and how to decline politely.
Read the guide →
What to avoid · 10 min read
How to spot and avoid UK claims farms and unregulated handlers
What a claims farm is, why unregulated handlers are dangerous, the regulatory authorisation rules for regulated claims management, and the warning signs to look for.
Read the guide →
What to avoid · 10 min read
Don't miss the limitation deadline: 3 years for injury, 6 years for property - a UK claimant's guide
The Limitation Act 1980 deadlines that govern UK road traffic claims, why the 3-year personal injury and 6-year property damage windows are strict, and the narrow exceptions that extend them.
Read the guide →
What to avoid · 10 min read
Why you should not use the at-fault insurer's chosen repairer or hire vehicle
The conflict-of-interest problem with using the at-fault insurer's repairer or courtesy car, why their network is built around their indemnity spend not your repair, and the right of repairer choice.
Read the guide →
What to avoid · 10 min read
The Direct Vision Standard and HGV-involved collisions in London: don't ignore the evidence position
What the Direct Vision Standard scheme is, the Progressive Safe System update, why HGV operators carry mandatory cameras, and how this changes the evidence position after a collision in Greater London.
Read the guide →
What to avoid · 9 min read
Why you should not claim through your own insurer first in a non-fault claim
The cost of routing a non-fault claim through your own comprehensive cover, the no-claims discount impact, the excess problem, and when going direct to the at-fault insurer is the right call.
Read the guide →
What to avoid · 11 min read
12 things UK drivers do wrong at the accident scene
The most common preventable mistakes UK drivers make in the first hour after a road traffic collision, ranked by how often they cause real problems in the subsequent claim.
Read the guide →More articles
Article · 10 min read
Someone hit the rear of my car: what to do and who pays (UK)
Rear-ended in the UK? Why the driver behind is almost always at fault, what to photograph, and how to claim recovery, repairs and a replacement car.
Read the guide →Article · 9 min read
Someone reversed into my car: your rights and next steps (UK)
Reversed into in the UK? Why the reversing driver is usually liable, the Highway Code rules that apply, and how to claim repairs and recovery at no upfront cost.
Read the guide →Article · 10 min read
Someone hit my parked car: how to claim when you weren't there (UK)
Came back to a damaged parked car in the UK? How to claim whether the driver left a note, drove off, or is untraced - via the at-fault insurer or the MIB.
Read the guide →Article · 10 min read
Someone pulled out in front of me: proving fault at a junction (UK)
A driver pulled out of a junction in front of you in the UK? How right of way works, the evidence that proves fault, and how to claim as the non-fault driver.
Read the guide →Article · 10 min read
Someone changed lanes into me: sideswipe and merging claims (UK)
Sideswiped by a driver changing lanes in the UK? How fault is decided in merging and lane-change crashes, the evidence that matters, and how to claim non-fault.
Read the guide →Article · 11 min read
I was rear-ended at traffic lights: claiming for a stationary shunt (UK)
Shunted while stopped at a red light in the UK? Why a stationary rear-end is near-impossible for the other driver to defend, and how to claim recovery, repairs and a hire car.
Read the guide →Article · 11 min read
Hit on a roundabout: who is at fault and what to do (UK)
Hit on a UK roundabout? How the Highway Code's give-way-to-the-right rule decides fault, why lane discipline matters, and how to claim when you weren't to blame.
Read the guide →
Article · 11 min read
Someone opened a car door into me or my bike: dooring claims (UK)
Doored by a parked car in the UK? Highway Code rule 239 puts the duty on the person opening the door. How cyclists and drivers claim for a dooring.
Read the guide →
Article · 12 min read
Sideswiped on the motorway: merging and lane-change claims (UK)
Sideswiped while merging or changing lanes on a UK motorway? Who gives way, how engineers prove which car strayed, and how to claim recovery and a hire car.
Read the guide →Article · 12 min read
Hit while turning right: proving fault in a turning collision (UK)
Hit while turning right in the UK? How fault is decided between a right-turner and oncoming or overtaking traffic, and how to prove your non-fault claim.
Read the guide →Article · 12 min read
An uninsured driver hit me: your options and the MIB (UK)
Hit by an uninsured driver in the UK? Why you can still claim through the Motor Insurers' Bureau, the time limits that apply, and how recovery and repairs work.
Read the guide →Article · 12 min read
Do I need a car accident claim agency? (UK)
When a car accident claim agency genuinely helps a non-fault UK driver, what it does, what it costs you (nothing up front), and the real risk of doing nothing.
Read the guide →Article · 13 min read
How to choose an accident claim agency in the UK (avoid scams)
The UK checklist for picking an honest accident claim agency: transparency, no upfront cost, the mitigation test, disclosed referrals, the regulated financial services perimeter and red flags.
Read the guide →The editorial standard behind every article
Each guide is designed to answer one narrow claim-handling problem rather than acting as a generic blog post. We cite primary law where the article turns on a legal duty, such as section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 for stopping and reporting, the Limitation Act 1980 for time limits, the Civil Liability Act 2018 for low-value whiplash claims, and the MIB agreements for uninsured or untraced drivers. Where the issue is practical rather than statutory, the guide explains the evidence file that normally persuades the at-fault insurer: photographs, engineer reports, repair scopes, CCTV disclosure logs, hire-need notes, proof of impecuniosity where relevant, and correspondence showing that the claimant mitigated their loss.
The articles also separate accident management from legal representation. CityGrip coordinates recovery, secure storage, repair management, independent engineer inspection, credit hire screening and third-party insurer dialogue. We do not conduct litigation and we do not provide legal advice. If a guide explains a personal injury route, it does so to describe the process and the consent point, not to advise on the merits of a legal claim.
The most important theme across the hub is timing. CCTV can disappear within days. Dashcam footage can be overwritten. Witnesses become harder to reach. The insurer's first valuation can anchor the negotiation before comparable evidence is ready. The best accident files are the ones with the cleanest record, collected early and presented in the format the insurer's handler, engineer and credit hire team can process without avoidable dispute.
About these guides
- How long are the guides?
- Each guide is 1,500 to 2,500 words and covers a single topic in depth, with citations to the relevant UK statutes (Road Traffic Act 1988, Limitation Act 1980, Civil Liability Act 2018, MIB agreements 2017) and case law (Lagden v O'Connor, Dimond v Lovell) where applicable.
- Are the guides legal advice?
- No. The guides are general UK accident-management guidance written for non-fault drivers. We are not a solicitor firm and the guides do not constitute legal advice. Where you need legal advice on a personal injury or contested liability claim, we refer to authorised legal partners with your separate written consent.
- How often are they updated?
- The guides reflect UK law and practice as at the published date shown on each article. Where statutes, agreements (such as the MIB Uninsured Drivers' Agreement) or significant case law change, the affected guides are revised and the dateModified updated.
- Can I use these for my own non-fault claim?
- Yes - they are written exactly to support a non-fault driver in the UK working through a road traffic collision, from the scene to settlement. The companion accident form starts the file with us in under five minutes.
- Which guide should I read first if the accident happened today?
- Start with the first-hour checklist, then the evidence-gathering guide, then the guide on working with the third-party insurer. That order follows the practical sequence of a live file: make the scene safe, preserve proof before it disappears, then control the insurer conversation before any recorded statement, early offer or repair instruction is accepted.
- Do the guides cover uninsured and hit-and-run drivers?
- Yes. The Motor Insurers' Bureau guide explains the difference between uninsured and untraced-driver claims, the evidence needed under the 2017 agreements, why a police reference matters, and how recovery, repair and replacement support can run while the MIB process is assessed.
- Why do several guides talk about CCTV within 14 to 31 days?
- Because short CCTV retention is one of the most common evidence failures in non-fault claims. Council, TfL, private car park, bus, retail and dashcam evidence may be overwritten quickly. The guides repeatedly point readers back to early disclosure requests because liability disputes are often won or lost on footage requested in the first few days.
- Can these articles replace a solicitor on a personal injury claim?
- No. They are educational guides about accident management, evidence and insurer process. Personal injury, contested liability and litigation strategy require legal advice from an authorised solicitor. CityGrip is not a law firm and refers injury enquiries only with separate written consent to SRA-regulated panel solicitors.
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