What to do after an accident in your classic

Here at Footman James, we understand that for owners of classic cars and classic bikes, the awful possibility of an accident in your pride and joy doesn’t bear thinking about. However, as the saying goes, accidents do happen, and we aim to get you back on the road as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Next month we will go into greater detail about the options that are available to get you back on the road, but below, we have put together a handy quick reference guide as to what to do after an accident in your classic.

Obviously, if you have been involved in an accident and are in need of urgent assistance then you will dial 999 as a matter of course, if everyone involved is okay, and the vehicles are in a safe location, then below are the steps to take.

Gather as much information as possible about the accident.

You should note down the make, model and registration numbers of any other vehicles involved, followed by the names and addresses of the drivers.

Don’t admit fault at the scene of the crash.

A natural human reaction is to apologise to those involved, even if it’s not your fault. However, determining who is at fault should always be left to experts, so fight the urge to say sorry.

Take as many photos as possible of the accident.

You should get detailed pictures of the damage to your car, as well as any damage caused to other vehicles. As much as possible, take pictures that show the wider location of the crash, which will help explain how the accident happened. If possible, make a sketch of the road on which the crash took place, and then draw a diagram of what happened. This can help you remember details of the crash after the event.

As soon as possible, call our dedicated claims number and report the accident to ourselves or your insurer, along with the information that you gathered above. The team are friendly and professional and will guide you through every step of making a claim.

Repairing Damage To Your Vehicle

Unlike many non-specialist insurers, if you have a policy with Footman James there are a number of options available to you for the repair of your vehicle. These include:

Approved Garages

Our insurers have a national network of approved garages and body shops that specialise in classic car and bike repairs. They will arrange for your car to be repaired by a garage that knows how to return it to the condition that was in before the accident.

Your Preferred Garage

If you have a garage you trust and which you would like to repair your car for you, this can be easily arranged.

Self-Repair

The third option available to you is self-repair. If you have the skills and the desire to repair your classic, then subject to agreement with your insurer, the claim amount could be paid directly to you to repair the car yourself.

Lastly, if your car cannot sensibly be repaired, we will always aim to give you a fair price for the loss. If you have an agreed value policy, then you have the instant peace of mind that your vehicle has a set value. If you have not set an agreed value, however, don’t worry: our insurers work with a range of trusted expert sources to find the fair value for your car.

To find out more about our insurance policies visit our classic car insurance and classic bike insurance pages.