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Stop, stay calm and make the scene safe

A minor collision is rarely minor in the moment. Your heart is thumping, your hands are shaking and the temptation is to wave apologetically, swap a couple of sentences and drive off. Resist that urge. What you do in the first ten minutes often decides how straightforward the next few weeks will be.

The law is straightforward: if anyone is injured or property belonging to someone else is damaged, you must stop. Failing to stop and failing to report an incident can mean a fine, penalty points and even prosecution. Pull as far off the carriageway as you safely can, switch on your hazard warning lights and, if it is dark or on a fast road, keep well away from passing traffic.

• Check yourself and your passengers before doing anything else, and call 999 if anyone is hurt, trapped or in danger.
• If the vehicles are blocking traffic on a motorway or a blind bend, and nobody is injured, move them somewhere safer first. Safety beats preserving the exact positions of the cars.
• Never leave the scene without giving your details, even if the other driver tells you not to worry about it.
• For damage-only incidents where the other party has driven off, report it to the police on the non-emergency number as soon as you reasonably can.

Exchange the right details at the roadside

Use your phone's notes app to record everything while it is fresh, and be polite but businesslike. You are gathering facts, not settling blame. Most insurers ask for a clear account, and memory fades quickly once you are back at work or making tea.

• The other driver's full name, address and a contact number.
• Their vehicle's registration, plus the make, model and colour.
• Their insurer's name and their policy number, if they have it to hand.
• Whether they are the registered keeper, and the name of anyone else involved, such as a passenger or a witness.
• Names and numbers for any independent witnesses — bystanders are surprisingly willing, and they disappear fast.
• The time, date and location, with a note of road conditions, weather and lighting.

Do not accept an apology as an admission of fault, and equally do not say anything that could be read as accepting blame yourself. A simple "let's swap details and let the insurers sort it out" keeps things neutral. If the other driver refuses to give their details, or you are unable to exchange them, you must report the incident to the police within 24 hours.

Photograph everything before you drive away

Photographs are the single most useful evidence you can gather, and they cost nothing. Take more than you think you need.

• Wide shots showing both vehicles in relation to road markings, junctions, kerbs and signage.
• Close-ups of every area of damage, from several angles, including any previous scratches or dents nearby.
• Both number plates, and the other vehicle as a whole.
• The road layout, traffic lights, give-way markings, skid marks and any debris.
• Any dash cam footage — download it to your phone or a memory card the same day, before the camera loops over it.

If you can, take photographs before the vehicles are moved. If that is not safe, prioritise safety, then take pictures wherever the cars end up.

Tell your insurer promptly, even if you plan to settle privately

Nearly every motor policy requires you to notify your insurer of any incident, whether or not you intend to claim. This is not bureaucracy for its own sake: it protects you if the other driver later reports damage you did not expect, or if an injury surfaces weeks afterwards. Phoning in a notification does not automatically mean you lose your no-claims bonus, and it does not commit you to a claim.

Be honest and specific. Tell them it is a notification only at this stage, give them the facts and reference numbers, and ask what happens next. Failing to tell them, then discovering you need to claim months later, gives an insurer a genuine reason to question or refuse the claim. That is a far bigger headache than a five-minute phone call.

Deciding whether a private settlement is really simpler

Settling privately can work well for a scuffed bumper between friends or neighbours, but only if you are realistic about the risks. Unexpected structural damage, a hire car while yours is off the road, or a soft-tissue injury that appears two days later can all turn a friendly handshake into an expensive dispute.

• Always notify your insurer first, whatever you decide to do about the money.
• Get two or three independent repair quotes before agreeing a figure, and never simply accept the other party's estimate.
• Put any agreement in writing, signed and dated by both parties, stating the amount and that it settles the matter.
• Keep photographs, messages, bank records and receipts for at least three years.

After the dust settles: repairs and your own wellbeing

Choose a repairer you trust, ask for a written itemised estimate and check whether your policy requires an approved garage. Hidden damage is common after a light impact — misaligned wheels, cracked mounting brackets, a boot that no longer seals — so have the car inspected properly rather than judging by what you can see. Keep a note of any courtesy car, storage or recovery charges, as these are often recoverable.

Finally, look after yourself. Whiplash and back pain can take a day or two to appear, so see your GP if anything feels wrong, and record it. A calm, well-documented response at the roadside turns a stressful morning into a manageable admin task — and that is exactly what you want.