Should you report all accidents to the Police?

[EddyP]

Evening all,

I was involved in an RTA yesterday, fault currently being argued, important thing is no one was hurt, third party stopped, all details exchanged, no one else involved.
I was advised by a mate that all accidents need to be reported to the Police, even when there's no injury etc. So I just tried to call 101, after being on hold for half an hour a rather ditzy lass answers and seems confused that I want to report an accident, I explained the situation more and she says it can only be reported by going into the front desk of a police station, I very much doubt people normally do this so I thought I'd see what the PH collective thinks.

Should accidents like this still be reported to the police? Or just leave it with the insurance companies to sort out?

Ta

Ed.

[StanleyT]

Upload dashcam footage to local police twitter feed and ask for reference number.

Worked for a friend with their Home CCTV after a burglary when they'd been struggling with the 101 machine and due to the now unsecured nature of their property and circumstance (new born twins just home, suspicion buglers knew family were 20 miles away at local maternity unit for a few days) didn't want to trek the 10+ miles to the local cop shop..

[Cat]

No need to report to the police if it was damage only and details were exchanged at the time.

If there was a requirement to report it the legislation states It must be done at a police station or to a Constable.

Cat

[EddyP]

Thanks both.

Annoyingly I hadn't got around to fitting the dash cam yet, new baby shortly after getting the car, other distractions etc...

Really wish I had, then I wouldn't be fighting for the blame to be accounted to the third party, unfortunately no witnesses means it'll probably go 50:50 at best.

[Red Devil]

Section 170 RTA 1988 is quite clear on what a driver's obligations are.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/secti...

OP. your mate is not a reliable source. .

[EddyP]

Red Devil said:

Section 170 RTA 1988 is quite clear on what a driver's obligations are.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/secti...

OP. your mate is not a reliable source. .

Thanks

[Vaux]

Cat said:

No need to report to the police if it was damage only and details were exchanged at the time.

If there was a requirement to report it the legislation states It must be done at a police station or to a Constable.

Cat

Is there a need to report an injury RTC if details are exchanged?

[Cat]

Vaux said:

Is there a need to report an injury RTC if details are exchanged?

Not if all the actions required by s. 170 are complied with. In the case of an injury accident there is an additional duty, namely, to produce a certificate of insurance at the time of the accident, either to a Constable or to another person with reasonable grounds who requires it.

Cat