Emergency guide
I was just in a car accident
A car crash starts a few reporting duties and a few things to watch for. This page lists what to do today, the rules that may apply to you, who to call and words you can use.
General information, not legal advice. Rules depend on where you live. If you have a letter, notice or form with a date on it, get advice before that date passes.
Checked 9 October 2026 · re-check due 9 April 2027 · To keep a copy, use your browser’s print or share menu.
First: are you safe?
If anyone is hurt, trapped or in danger now, call 911 in the US or 999 in the UK before anything else, and say where you are. Put your hazard lights on and switch the engine off. If the car is on fire, get out at once. If no one is hurt and the car can still be driven, move it out of the traffic lanes to a safe spot close by: that is not leaving the scene. If you can get to a safe place away from moving traffic, such as well off the road or behind a barrier, get out on the side away from the traffic and take everyone who can walk with you. Do not stand between the cars and oncoming traffic. If you cannot get well away from fast traffic, stay in the car with your seat belt and hazard lights on, and call 911 or 999 and ask for the police. Do not move anyone who is hurt unless they are in danger where they are, such as from fire. Do not drive away from the scene. In the UK, the NHS says to call 999 if anyone hit their head at high speed, as can happen in a road accident. If the crash has you thinking about ending your life, call or text 988 in the US, or call Samaritans on 116 123 in the UK, at any hour.
Today
- Get everyone checked first. If anyone is hurt, or might be, call 911 or 999 and stay at the scene. Whiplash and concussion can start hours or days after a crash, so if someone asks how you are, say 'I don't know yet' rather than 'I'm fine'. The injury clocks below say what to watch for.
- Swap details with everyone involved: names, phone numbers, vehicle registration or plate numbers and insurers. Take photos of every vehicle, the plates, the damage and the road, and get the names and phone numbers of witnesses. US: a photo of the other driver's insurance card and license helps, if they agree.
- Say what happened if you are asked, not whose fault it was. Do not sign anything about fault or about paying for anything.
- If the other driver drove off, you could not swap details, or anyone was hurt, tell the police today; in Northern Ireland, straight away. The clock for your nation says how and how fast. Write down what you remember about the other car, its plate and its driver, and ask for a police reference number to give your insurer.
- US: try to report it even if police do not come. If you hit a parked car or property and cannot find the owner: in the US, leave a note with your name and address; in the UK a note is not enough, so report it to the police.
- Tell your own insurer today, even if you do not plan to claim, and write down who you spoke to and when. Keep your full account for the police and your own insurer, and do not sign anything from the other driver or their insurer until your own insurer or an adviser has read it.
- If a child seat was in the car, check it before you use it again. US: NHTSA (the federal road safety agency) says to replace it unless all of these are true: the car could be driven away, the door nearest the seat was not damaged, no one in the car was hurt, no airbag went off, and the seat shows no damage. Everywhere, follow the seat maker's instructions.
- US: if your car cannot be driven, be careful who tows it. Use a tow truck that you or the police called, say where it should go, read anything you are asked to sign and get a receipt for the towing fee. A tow to a shop you did not choose can turn into a very large storage bill.
The clocks that have started
Deadlines that can start when this happens, soonest first. Your own letters give your dates; when two dates could apply, count from the earlier one. The details of each are on the page online; its address is at the bottom.
Deadlines that can start when this happens, soonest first. Tap one to see when it starts and what happens if you miss it. Your own letters give your dates; when two dates could apply, count from the earlier one.
Jump to: United States · United Kingdom
In the United States
Tell your insurer about the crash todayTell your insurer the same day.United States (set by each state)
- How long
- Tell your insurer the same day. Your policy sets how fast you must tell them, and no single number applies everywhere: read the policy or ask. If the other driver left, your policy may also set a time limit for telling the police: ask
- Starts
- the day of the crash. Count from the crash, not from the day you get a repair quote
- If missed
- a late report can cause trouble with your own policy. Call your agent or insurer today and ask what you can still do
- It lets you
- start your claim while the details are fresh, and get the name and phone number of the person handling it. If the other driver had no insurance or drove off, ask whether your policy has uninsured motorist cover. If you see a doctor, keep the medical records and bills to show your insurer
Where this differs: Policies and state rules differ. Your state's insurance department can explain your state's rules or help with a claim dispute; your insurer or your state's government website can point you to it. This page quotes California's consumer guide as one example
Checked 9 October 2026 at California Department of Insurance (one state's consumer guide)
Find out if your state wants its own crash report from youLook up your state's rule on the day of the crash, on your state's motor vehicle agency's own pages.United States (set by each state)
- How long
- Look up your state's rule on the day of the crash, on your state's motor vehicle agency's own pages. Your state decides whether you must file a report, what makes it necessary (for example an injury or a damage amount) and how soon. It can be a matter of days
- Starts
- the day of the crash. Count from the crash, not from the day you get home
- If missed
- your state decides what a late report costs you; in some states it can put your driver's license at risk. If the date may have passed, call your state's motor vehicle agency today and ask what you can still do
- It lets you
- stay inside your state's rule. A report to the police does not always count as this report: in some states it is a separate report. At the scene, ask the police for the report number and where to get a copy, and give a copy to your insurer. If police do not come, ask your insurer or your state what to file
Where this differs: Thresholds, forms and deadlines differ by state, and in some states the police file for you. USAGov's 'State motor vehicle services' page finds your state's agency. California's DMV page is quoted here only as one example of a state that asks drivers for their own report
Checked 9 October 2026 at California DMV (one state's rule, as an example)
Get checked for injuries that show up later, such as a concussionSome symptoms appear right away; others may not appear for hours or days.United States (federal rule)
- How long
- some symptoms appear right away; others may not appear for hours or days. Most people with a mild concussion feel better within a couple of weeks
- Starts
- the injury. Count from the injury, not from the first time it hurts
- If missed
- the people with you should call 911 or take you to an emergency department right away if you have a headache that gets worse and does not go away, weakness, numbness, poor coordination, a seizure, repeated vomiting, slurred speech or unusual behavior, one pupil bigger than the other, or you are confused, restless or agitated, or cannot recognize people or places, or you pass out, look very drowsy or cannot be woken. For a child, the same, and also if they will not stop crying or will not nurse or eat
- It lets you
- get care early and have it recorded. Symptoms can be headaches, dizziness or balance problems, feeling foggy or slowed down, trouble sleeping, or feeling more emotional than usual. You may not notice some of them yourself. Tell the people around you about the crash: someone may notice a change in you before you do
Checked 9 October 2026 at CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
The time limit to sue for an injury or damage from the crash (your state decides)Your state decides, and it can differ by type of claim, for example an injury claim and a car-damage claim.United States (set by each state)
- How long
- your state decides, and it can differ by type of claim, for example an injury claim and a car-damage claim. Ask an injury lawyer early how long you have. Injury lawyers are often paid a share of what you win instead of by the hour (a contingency fee); that agreement should be in writing. Free legal aid offices generally cannot take an injury claim themselves, but can point you to a lawyer referral service
- Starts
- the day of the crash. Some states count from the day you found out you were hurt, but count from the crash to be safe
- If missed
- a case started after the limit is usually barred. If you are not sure whether the time has passed, ask a lawyer that week: in some places the clock runs from when you found out about the injury
- It lets you
- keep the option of going to court if the insurers do not settle
Where this differs: If the other vehicle was driven by a federal employee at work, for example a postal truck, you must first present a written claim to that federal agency within 2 years (28 U.S.C. 2401(b)), and you cannot sue until the agency turns it down or 6 months pass (28 U.S.C. 2675). A crash with a state, county or city vehicle, such as a bus or a police car, can need a written notice of claim within a much shorter time than the usual limit, or the claim is lost: ask a lawyer within days. LawHelp.org and the Legal Services Corporation lead to free legal help with other problems the crash causes
Checked 9 October 2026 at Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute
In the United Kingdom
Report the crash to the police within 24 hours if you did not give your name and address, or if someone was hurt (England, Wales, Scotland)As soon as you reasonably can, and in any case within 24 hours of the crash.England, Scotland and Wales
- How long
- as soon as you reasonably can, and in any case within 24 hours of the crash. If it is already late, report now
- Starts
- the moment of the crash, not the next morning. Count from the crash itself.
- If missed
- not reporting when the law says you must is an offence. The law says to report at a police station or to a police officer. If anyone is in danger, call 999. If a police officer comes to the scene, give them your details and tell them about the crash there. Otherwise go to a police station. If you cannot get to one, call 101 straight away, say you need to report a road collision within the 24 hours, and do what they tell you before the 24 hours run out. Write down the time, who you spoke to and the reference number. If the 24 hours may have passed, report now and say why it is late
- It lets you
- meet the legal duty. At the scene you must stop and, if anyone with good reason asks, give your name and address, the vehicle owner's name and address, and the registration number. If you did not give your name and address, for example because the other driver left or no one was there, you must report the crash to the police. If someone other than you was hurt, you must also report it and produce your insurance certificate, unless you showed the certificate at the scene to a police officer or to someone who asked for it. If you do not have it with you when you report, you can show it within 7 days at the police station you name then. If you are not sure you showed the certificate to the right person, report the crash whenever someone other than you was hurt
Where this differs: England, Wales and Scotland: Road Traffic Act 1988 section 170 covers all three, and 101 is the police non-emergency number in all three. Northern Ireland has its own law and its own clock. The duty is the driver's, after a crash on a road or other public place that hurt someone other than the driver, or damaged another vehicle, property on or next to the road, or a horse, cattle, donkey, mule, sheep, pig, goat or dog
Checked 9 October 2026 at GOV.UK
Tell the police about the crash straight away if someone was hurt or you did not give your details (Northern Ireland)Straight away, as soon as you safely can.Northern Ireland
- How long
- straight away, as soon as you safely can. The law says 'forthwith', and a late report is excused only if you had good cause and reported as soon as reasonably practicable. nidirect's insurance page gives 24 hours as an outer limit: do not wait for it
- Starts
- the moment of the crash. Count from the crash itself.
- If missed
- knowingly breaking the duty is an offence. If anyone is in danger, call 999. If a police officer comes to the scene, tell them there. Otherwise go to a police station. If you cannot get to one straight away, call 101 at once, say you need to report a road collision, and do what they tell you. Write down the time, who you spoke to and the reference number. If it is already late, report now and say why
- It lets you
- meet the legal duty. You must stop, stay for a reasonable time, and give your name and address, the vehicle owner's name and address and the registration number to a police officer who asks and to anyone with reasonable grounds to ask. If you did not give them, or if anyone other than you was hurt (even when you did give them), you must report the crash at a police station or to a police officer, give those details and produce your insurance certificate. If it is not with you, the Highway Code for Northern Ireland says to produce it as soon as reasonably practicable
Where this differs: Northern Ireland only. England, Wales and Scotland have a different law and a 24-hour limit: see that clock. In Northern Ireland the police non-emergency number is 101; if your mobile is with Tesco Mobile or giffgaff, nidirect gives 028 9065 0222 instead
Checked 9 October 2026 at nidirect
Tell your insurer about the crash, even if you do not plan to claimAs soon as you can.Whole UK
- How long
- as soon as you can. Your policy sets how fast you must tell your insurer: read the policy or ask, and tell them today rather than wait
- Starts
- the day of the crash. Count from the crash, not from the day you know what the damage costs
- If missed
- GOV.UK says you must report it. Check your policy for what it says about a late report, and call today if you have not yet
- It lets you
- start any claim and get your insurer's advice on what to do next. If the other driver had no insurance or drove off, tell the police as well as your insurer and keep the police reference number: you may be able to claim from the Motor Insurers' Bureau, which has its own rules and time limits, so contact it as soon as you can (01908 830001, from GOV.UK). Ask your insurer too what your own policy covers when the other driver is uninsured or untraced
Where this differs: Great Britain: GOV.UK. Northern Ireland: nidirect's 'Motor insurance explained' says the same, and says an accident with an uninsured driver should be reported to the police. The policy wording, not this page, decides your time limit
Checked 9 October 2026 at GOV.UK
Get checked for injuries that show up later, such as whiplash or concussionNeck pain and stiffness can start several hours after the injury.Whole UK
- How long
- neck pain and stiffness can start several hours after the injury. After a head injury, symptoms can last up to 2 weeks. Whiplash usually gets better within 2 to 3 months, but some people have symptoms for longer
- Starts
- the injury. Count from the injury, not from the first time it hurts
- If missed
- call 999 if someone has hit their head and has been knocked out, cannot stay awake, has a fit, has problems with vision or hearing, has clear fluid coming from the ears or nose, is bleeding from the ears or has bruising behind them, has a black eye without hitting the eye, has new numbness or weakness, has problems walking, balancing, understanding, speaking or writing, or their behaviour has changed. The NHS also says call 999 if they hit their head at high speed, such as in a road accident. Head injury symptoms that last more than 2 weeks need a GP
- It lets you
- get care early and have the crash recorded with a doctor. See a GP if whiplash has not improved after 1 week, if painkillers have not worked or if you are worried. Get an urgent GP appointment, or call the urgent line for your nation (below), if after a neck injury you have severe pain despite painkillers, pins and needles, a sudden 'electric shock' feeling in your neck and back, weak hands, arms or legs, or problems walking or sitting upright; or if after a head injury you are being sick, feel dizzy, take a medicine that thins your blood, or had been drinking or taking drugs. After a head injury, an adult should stay with you for at least the first 24 hours. Do not drive until you have spoken to a GP or the urgent line about neck nerve symptoms, or until you feel fully recovered from a head injury, and do not drive yourself to A&E if you hit your head
Where this differs: The advice is the NHS's and applies across the UK; where to call differs. England: NHS 111, by phone or 111 online. Scotland: NHS 24 on 111. Wales: NHS 111 Wales on 111. Northern Ireland has no 111: in the day call your GP; when the surgery is closed, call the GP out-of-hours service for your area (numbers on nidirect). 999 is the same everywhere
Checked 9 October 2026 at NHS (nhs.uk)
The time limit to start court action for an injury from the crash3 years to start court proceedings.Whole UK
- How long
- 3 years to start court proceedings. This is a legal outer limit, not the date to start: speak to an adviser or solicitor early
- Starts
- the day of the crash. The law also lets you count from the date you knew about the injury if that is later, but count from the crash to be safe
- If missed
- a claim started after the limit is usually barred. If more than 3 years may have passed, still ask a solicitor: the clock can run from when you first knew of the injury, and a court can sometimes extend it
- It lets you
- claim compensation through the courts if talks with the other driver's insurer do not settle it. Steps before that, such as a claim to an insurer, are separate from this limit
Where this differs: The same 3-year period applies in England and Wales (Limitation Act 1980 section 11), Scotland (Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973 section 17) and Northern Ireland (Limitation (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 article 7); the quote below is the English and Welsh one. In all three it counts from the injury, or from a later date when the injured person knew enough to claim; count from the crash to be safe. Different rules may apply for a child, or for someone who cannot manage their own affairs: ask an adviser. In England and Wales, a claim for a minor injury from a crash on or after 31 May 2021, worth under £5,000 and usually whiplash, can be made through the free Official Injury Claim service without a solicitor (GOV.UK; Portal Support Centre 0800 118 1631, 9am to 5pm weekdays)
Checked 9 October 2026 at legislation.gov.uk (Limitation Act 1980, section 11)
Who to call
Jump to: United States · United Kingdom
In the United States
follow-up care for an injury on a fee set by your income, with or without insurance
findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov · Website, any time
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- your city, state or zip code, to search for centers near you
They can
- find local clinics that treat medical, dental, mental health and other health care needs
- show contact information and directions for each center
- lead you to centers that adjust their fees based on income and family size and serve everyone, even if they cannot pay
They cannot
- tell you what you will be charged: each center sets your fee from your income and family size
if a hospital bill from the crash is more than you can pay: they help you apply for the hospital's financial assistance (the federal rules cover nonprofit hospitals). They do not take calls: use the form on their site. Ask your own insurer too whether your policy pays medical bills
dollarfor.org · Online form any time; team follows up on weekdays
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- the hospital bill and the amount you owe after insurance and any other payer
- your income and who lives in your household (most hospitals count everyone on your tax return)
- proof of income such as pay stubs, tax forms or bank statements, which you upload with the patient form
They may ask
- about your bill, your income and your expenses, on their patient form
They can
- check whether your hospital bill may qualify for financial assistance, then prepare and send the application to the hospital for you, free
- help you in English and Spanish
- work with you without asking about your citizenship status
They cannot
- take or return phone calls: use the contact form on the site
- pay your bill, or promise a result: the hospital decides
- help with bills from a pharmacy, dentist, ambulance or other provider: it only helps with hospital bills
- give legal advice: ask legal aid in your state
- make sure your application is in on time: it is your job to send it before the deadline
if the crash has left you short of money for rent, food or bills: say what happened
Call 211 · 24/7 in most areas
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- a few facts about your current living situation
- any income you have
- the children or other dependents who live with you
They may ask
- about your current living situation
- about any income you have
- about any children or other dependents who live with you
They can
- connect you to local help with rent, mortgage, utilities, food and health care
- talk to you by phone; some local 211s also offer text and web chat, so check yours
- use 180 languages on request
- keep the call confidential, and it can be anonymous
- give you other ideas if you do not qualify for one program: you can call again
They cannot
- give you money themselves: 211 is the number for information and referrals to services
- help in a life-threatening emergency: call 911 first if you or someone you love is in one or may be a danger to someone else
if the other driver drove off or was drunk: confidential support and your rights as a victim of crime
Call 1-855-484-2846 · Text Text 1-855-484-2846 · Call, text, or chat — hours vary; check the site
free legal help in your state with problems the crash causes, such as debts, or being pushed to sign something. For an injury claim, ask them to point you to a lawyer
lawhelp.org · Online
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- the state or territory where you live: the site starts by asking you to choose it
They can
- send you to legal aid and other low-cost legal help near you
- give you legal help guides, including one on court fees and getting them paid
- help you create legal documents for free in areas such as housing, with LawHelp Interactive
Legal Services Corporation — Find Legal Aid
another way to find free legal help near you, usually based on income
lsc.gov · Website, any time
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- an address or a city: the finder uses it to show the legal aid organization that covers your area
They can
- show you the LSC-funded legal aid organization for your area, with its phone number and website, for a civil legal problem
- point you to LawHelp.org for information about your legal questions and free legal forms
They cannot
- give you legal advice itself: LSC pays for legal aid organizations, and you contact the one for your area
In the United Kingdom
if a symptom starts after the crash and it is not an emergency: where to get help (England)
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- direct you to the best place to get help: an emergency 999 or A&E, an urgent treatment centre, an out-of-hours GP, a nurse callback, a pharmacist, or care at home
- take your questions online, in the NHS App or by phone; call if the person is under 5
- take text relay calls on 18001 111 and BSL video through signvideo.co.uk/nhs111, and give an interpreter on a call
They cannot
- issue fit notes or make or cancel appointments for you in other parts of the NHS: contact your GP for those
- let you ask for a nurse callback: one is offered depending on your symptoms. If you miss all 3 tries, you cannot call the nurse back and must start again with 111 online or a new call
If you are offered a nurse callback, the wait depends on your symptoms, and the service is usually busier at weekends and on bank holidays. You do not need to call again while you wait unless your symptoms change or get worse.
the same help in Scotland. For a life or limb threatening emergency call 999
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- if you are phoning for someone else, be with them at the time of the call
They may ask
- who you are
- where you are phoning from
- why you are phoning
They can
- assess you and refer you to your local NHS services, which may be a phone or video consultation with a clinician, or an appointment at A&E or a Minor Injuries Unit
- offer a call back at weekends and public holidays, instead of waiting on hold
They cannot
- arrange appointments at your GP or manage appointments in your local area: your local health board contacts you
- deal with a life or limb threatening emergency: phone 999 or go to A&E
Busiest 6pm to 9pm on weekdays and 9am to midday on Saturdays and Sundays. If you miss a callback, a nurse tries up to 3 times; after that you phone 111 again.
the same help in Wales. In a medical emergency call 999
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- help you find services near you by postcode or town, including GPs, pharmacies, and hospitals with emergency departments and minor injuries units
- let you check your symptoms online
- give advice on what to do out of hours, and point you to a pharmacy for a common ailment or medication
GP out of hours service (Northern Ireland)
the same help in Northern Ireland, which has no 111: when your GP surgery is closed, phone the out-of-hours service for your area first. In an emergency call 999
nidirect.gov.uk · 6.00pm on weekdays until your GP surgery opens the next morning; 24 hours on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- assess you by phone: the doctor or nurse will give you advice, decide if you need to see a doctor, or refer you to another service
- take textphone calls: the page gives 18001 followed by the area number
They cannot
- help with repeat prescriptions, dental problems or minor ailments a pharmacist can treat
- replace 999: if your condition is life-threatening, phone 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance
- answer in the daytime on weekdays: the service runs from 6.00 pm on weekdays until your GP surgery opens, and 24 hours on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays
Brake (National Road Victim Service)
if someone died or was badly hurt in the crash: free support for people in the UK who are bereaved or seriously injured. Its page gives a current reply time of 10 working days; Samaritans are on 116 123 at any hour meanwhile
Call 0808 8000 401 · Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, excluding bank holidays
if the other driver drove off or broke the law and it has shaken you: free support, whether or not it was reported (England and Wales)
Call 08 08 16 89 111 · 24/7, every day of the year
Before you call: what to have ready
They may ask
- on the online form: how you want help, what brought you to Victim Support (for example fraud, cyber crime or image based sexual abuse), and which country and county you live in
They can
- give free, confidential, independent advice by phone on 08 08 16 89 111, by live chat or through an online form, at any time
- call you back from your local area team within three working days if you use the online form
- take Relay UK calls or help in BSL
They cannot
- replace 999: in an emergency, always call 999
- help you if you live in Scotland: Victim Support Scotland is a separate service, and the form on this site is for England and Wales
- keep everything private in every case: it shares information without your consent only if it is worried about your safety or someone else's, or if the law requires it
Victim Support Scotland (helpline)
the same support in Scotland: a free helpline, by phone or chat
Call 0800 160 1985 · 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday
the same support in Northern Ireland: free and confidential, by phone to your nearest hub
Call 028 9024 3133 · Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- give free, confidential emotional and practical support after any type of crime, whether or not you reported it to the police
- help with tasks such as filling in forms for a criminal injury compensation claim
- help arrange counselling if they think you need it: what they do is similar to counselling, but it is not the same
- help relatives and friends too
They cannot
- keep everything confidential in every case: they may pass information on if someone is at risk of harm, if a child may be at risk, or if a judge directs it
Lines can be busy. If you cannot get through, wait on the line until the answer service starts and leave your name and number: a member of staff will call you back as soon as they can. You can also email your nearest hub.
Citizens Advice (Adviceline, England)
free advice on money problems that follow a crash, such as bills you cannot cover (England)
Call 0800 144 8848 · Usually 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Not available on public holidays.
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- your postcode if you call from a mobile: if you do not have one, say one nearby such as a GP surgery, takeaway shop or taxi company
They may ask
- your postcode, from a mobile, to find your local Citizens Advice
They can
- connect you to your local Citizens Advice (Adviceline, England)
- talk to you by online chat: Universal Credit claims 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, debt 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 9:30am to 1pm Saturday
- help with a new Universal Credit claim through Help to Claim, free and confidential, from the application to the first payment
- take Relay UK calls (18001 then 0800 144 8848)
They cannot
- answer on public holidays: Adviceline is not available then
- cover all of the UK on this number: it is for England, Wales has a separate Advicelink line, and there are a few parts of England not yet covered
- help everywhere: most local Citizens Advice can only help if you live or work in their area
Usually busiest at the start of the day. At busy times you might wait up to an hour, and a call not answered within an hour is disconnected, so try again later. Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.
Citizens Advice Cymru (Advicelink Wales)
the same help in Wales
Call 0800 702 2020 · Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm. Saturday 9am to 1pm.
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- connect you to an adviser through Advicelink (Wales) on 0800 702 2020, free from mobiles and landlines
- talk to you by online chat about any other kind of problem, usually 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
- take Relay UK calls: 18001 then 0800 702 2020
- point you to the Citizens Advice consumer service for problems with energy, water or post
They cannot
- answer on public holidays: Advicelink is not available then
- help you in person if you live outside your local office's area: most local Citizens Advice can only help if you live or work in their area
Usually busiest at the beginning and end of the day. At busy times you might wait up to an hour, and a call not answered within an hour is disconnected, so try again later.
Citizens Advice Scotland (Scottish Citizens Advice Helpline)
the same help in Scotland
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- your postcode: the page finds your local Citizens Advice Bureau by postcode
They can
- put you through to an adviser at your local bureau by phone on 0800 028 1456, the Scottish Citizens Advice Helpline
- give free, confidential and impartial advice, and help you work out next steps
- raise a complaint with an energy supplier for you through its Extra Help Unit, if you may be considered vulnerable or at risk of disconnection
- give advice online, on its advice pages
the same help in Northern Ireland
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- give advice on benefits, personal debt and managing bills, through the freephone helpline on 0800 915 4604
- answer by email at advice@adviceni.net
- point you to an Advice NI member near you if you need face-to-face advice
They cannot
- see you in person themselves: for face-to-face advice you contact a local advice centre run by an Advice NI member
Say it this way
Change anything to your own words.
Are you hurt? Can we swap names, phone numbers, vehicle registration numbers and insurance details? I would like to photograph both vehicles and the road. I would rather leave the question of whose fault it was to the insurers.
I was in a road collision at [place] on [date and time]. [The other driver left / We could not swap details / Someone was hurt.] I am reporting it now. My name and address are [..], the car's owner is [..] and the registration is [..]. What do you need from me, and could I have a reference number?
I was in a crash on [date] at [place]. I am calling to report it, whether or not I claim. Could you tell me what you need from me and what my policy covers, including if the other driver has no insurance? Could I have a claim number and the name of the person handling it?
I was in a car crash on [date]. I felt all right at first, but now I have [neck pain / a headache / dizziness]. Could I be seen, or could you tell me where to go? Please note the crash in my record.
Not for you if…
This guide is for a driver or passenger in a car crash. It does not say who was at fault. If someone died or was seriously hurt: the safety steps, the reporting rules and the injury signs on this page still apply, but you will need more help than this page gives. If you were driving, you must still stop, give your details and report the crash as the clocks say. If the police say you may be charged or want to interview you, or you think you may be blamed for a serious offence, talk to a lawyer or solicitor before you say more. If someone close to you died or you were badly hurt, Brake supports people in the UK bereaved or seriously injured in a road crash, and the guide for when someone has died may help. Get a lawyer or an adviser if an insurer refuses your claim, or if you are pushed to sign or accept money before you know how badly you are hurt. For an injury claim in the US, ask an injury lawyer; in England and Wales a small claim can be made without one (see the injury clock). If the car was a work vehicle, a hire car or a ride-share car, your employer or the hire firm also has rules to follow: ask them today. If you were hit while on foot or on a bicycle or motorbike, some steps here fit, but the insurance and injury rules differ: ask an adviser. If the crash was abroad, the rules of that country apply. If the other driver was uninsured or drove off, the insurer and police steps here are the start, not the whole answer. If you are in Northern Ireland, some of the rules here are different; each clock says how.
A different emergency? Account frozen or closed · Benefits stopped · Suspended or excluded from school · Debt collector or court papers · Eviction notice · Flood, fire or storm · Unsafe home · Hurt at work · Paid a scammer · Lost my job · Lost wallet or phone · A medical bill · Nowhere to sleep · Shutoff notice · Someone died · Someone is missing · A tax bill · Told to leave home
From the library
What do I do right after a car accident?
I got a shutoff notice, court papers or a denial letter — what do I do before the date?