Accident scene evidence checklist
You are shaken at the roadside and unsure what to note before it disappears.
A road accident scene holds evidence that fades within minutes. Memories blur, skid marks wash away, and witnesses leave. This checklist lists what to capture first, in the order each piece disappears. Work through it once you are safe, and skip anything that is not possible.
The checklist to follow
First, while you are still at the scene
- Check for injuries and move to safety before anything else.
- Photograph the position of all vehicles before they are moved, from several angles.
- Photograph number plates, damage, road markings and any relevant traffic signs.
- Note the exact location: the road name, direction of travel and a nearby landmark.
- Note the time and the weather and light conditions at that moment.
- Exchange names, identity card numbers, phone numbers and vehicle registration numbers with the other driver.
- Get the names and phone numbers of any independent witnesses.
Within the first day
- Lodge a police report, generally within 24 hours of the accident.[1]
- Ask for a copy of the report, or note the report number.
- Seek medical treatment even if the injury feels minor at first.
- Write down your own account of what happened while it is still fresh.
- Check whether a dashcam, nearby closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera or a bystander’s phone captured the accident.
How this helps your claim
Photographs fix facts that memory later reshapes, and a witness who is easy to reach today may be impossible to find in a year. Accident scene evidence explains how these pieces are actually used once a claim starts. Dashcam footage explains why that recording matters even if you were not the one filming.
A partial list gathered calmly is worth more than a complete one you never finish.
What to do next
Keep everything from this list together, on your phone and on paper, and do not delete photos even if the damage looks minor. The road accident claim process shows what happens with this evidence once you take the next step. See the notification timeline next for when to tell the police and your insurer.
If you were injured, an independent lawyer can turn this evidence into a claim for you.
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.
Common questions
What if I could not take photos because I was injured?
A claim can still proceed without your own photographs. Police reports, medical records and any dashcam or CCTV footage from others can fill the gap, so tell whoever helps you afterwards exactly what happened.
Do I need to report a very minor accident with no injuries?
For minor accidents with no injury and no third-party damage, a report can sometimes be lodged online rather than at a police station. Where anyone is injured, a full police report is the safer route, made without delay.
Should I admit fault at the scene to keep things simple?
It is better to describe what happened factually and let the evidence decide fault later. Fault is often shared, and an early admission can complicate a claim that would otherwise have gone in your favour.
What if the other driver refuses to share their details?
Note the vehicle's registration number, take photographs, and get any witness details you can. A police report can then trace the driver through the vehicle registration, so refusal at the scene does not have to end your claim.
Sources
- Road Transport Act 1987, s.52 (Ministry of Transport) (accessed 2026-09-22)
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.