Police and insurer notification timeline
You are unsure who needs to know about the accident, and how quickly.
Your notification dates
Enter when the accident happened to see the time each step is due.
- Police report
- Your own insurer
As soon as you can in the days that follow. Check your policy for its own notice window.
- Your employer
If you were commuting or working when it happened.
- Medical records
Keep every record from your first treatment onward.
General information only, worked out from the answers you gave. A lawyer can confirm what applies to your claim.
Request Lawyer ContactAfter a road accident, several clocks start at once. The police, your own insurer, and sometimes your employer each expect to hear from you, on their own timeframes. This timeline sets out a sensible order.
Why the order matters
Some notifications cannot wait. Others should not be left too long. This timeline separates the two.
The notification timeline
The first hours
- Get medical attention for anyone hurt, even if an injury seems minor at first.
- Gather what you can using the accident scene checklist while details are fresh.
- Note down everyone involved and a working way to reach them again.
Within 24 hours
- Lodge your police report, which is generally required within this window.[1]
- Keep the report number somewhere safe, since you will need to quote it repeatedly.
In the days that follow
- Tell your own insurer that the accident happened, even before you know the full extent of your injuries.
- Check your policy document for its own notice window, since this is set by the contract, not by a single fixed law.
- Begin keeping every medical record from your first treatment onward.
- If the accident happened while commuting or working, tell your employer, since this can affect entitlements separate from your accident claim.
What a late notification does, and does not, do
Missing an ideal window is common and rarely fatal to a genuine claim. A late police report can raise questions and, without a lawful excuse, can itself be an offence. It does not by itself destroy a valid claim.[1] The late police report myth explains this in full.
Either way, notify as soon as you reasonably can, and write down why if you could not.
What to do next
Once your report and notifications are in, organise your medical documents so nothing from your treatment goes missing. Reporting to your insurer covers what to say and what to avoid saying.
If the police report or insurer notice was late, an independent lawyer can deal with it along with your claim. Send the accident date, where it happened, whether anyone was injured (yes/no), and the police report status.
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Common questions
What happens if I report to the police a day or two late?
A late report without a good reason can be an offence and may draw questions later, but it does not by itself end a genuine claim. A short written explanation of the delay helps. See the late police report myth for what a late report does and does not mean.
Do I have to notify my own insurer even if the other driver was at fault?
Yes, it is worth telling your own insurer regardless of fault, since your policy may require it and your insurer can guide you through the early steps. This is separate from the claim you may bring against the at-fault driver's insurer.
How soon must I notify my insurer?
Motor policies commonly set their own notice window, so check your policy document or ask your insurer directly rather than assuming a fixed number of days. Telling them as soon as you reasonably can is always the safer approach.
What if I only remember days later that I should notify someone?
Notify them as soon as you realise, and explain the gap honestly. A short delay explained clearly is far less damaging than silence, and it does not automatically undo an otherwise valid 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.