What Hammond should have done...

Top Gear's Richard Hammond was involved in a four-car crash at the weekend.

We explain what to do if you're involved in an accident.

What you need:

� Pen and paper
� Camera
� Your insurance details
� Mobile phone
� First aid kit

Directions:

1. Move to a safe place where possible and stop.

2. Switch on your hazard warning lights and ensure your car's engine is off.

3. If you're uninjured, leave the car and if possible, help other occupants out.

4. If the car accident is blocking the road or someone is injured, call the police immediately and an ambulance if necessary by dialling 999.

5. Stay at the scene of the accident until the situation is resolved.

6. If you're qualified to administer first aid, see if anyone requires any. Avoid taking matters into your own hands if unsure or it isn�t safe to do so*.

7. Give your details to anyone who requires them - this includes the police and those involved in the accident.

8. If you fail to report the accident at the scene, you must contact a police station within 24 hours.

9. Try and obtain the following pieces of information:

� Time and date of the accident
� Contact details of other people involved
� Vehicle details of all parties involved including registration numbers
� Photos and notes of vehicle damage
� Injury details
� Name, "collar number" and force details of any police officer or other public service worker around
� Weather, visibility and lighting conditions
� Whether the parties were using headlights or indicators
� Estimated speed of vehicles involved
� A full description of what happened, including who was there, where it took place and what caused it

10. If you're injured or in a state of shock, ask someone else to obtain the information on your behalf.

11. Tell your insurance company about the accident as soon as you can - even if you don't want to make a claim. Your policy could become void if you don't.

12. If you hit a parked car and the owner isn�t around, you must attach a note to the windscreen which includes your insurance and contact details.

13. Be prepared to be breathalysed by police after the accident.
You may want to print off this advice and leave it in your car's glove box for future reference. Click 'print friendly page' at the bottom of this article.

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