Causing an accident is unpleasant – hiding it is expensive. The compulsory motor third-party liability insurance (MTPL) system gives the at-fault side a clear process too: you report the event to your own insurer within the deadline set under the rules in force, and the insurer's claims team takes it from there. Do that properly, and it's just paperwork; skip it, and it becomes a risk.
- The at-fault driver reports the event to their own MTPL insurer – within the deadline set under the rules in force, typically measured in days.
- Reporting the claim is not an admission of guilt: it's a statement of facts that lets the insurer settle the claim with the injured party.
- Failing to report can have downsides – a properly handled report is also in the at-fault driver's own interest.
Why is it in your interest to report quickly?
For three reasons. First: reporting is an obligation under the rules in force, with a deadline – missing it can create a problem of its own. Second: the injured party will report their claim to your insurer regardless – if your version is missing, the case starts out based on their account alone. Third: a properly handled report closes the case fastest – and a closed case means fewer follow-up questions and less correspondence.
How to report the claim, and what to include
You report it through the insurer's claims line or online claims portal – the details are on your policy and the insurer's website. For the report you'll need: the completed accident statement (or a photo of it), the on-scene photos, a short, factual description of the event, and the details (policy number, number plate, driver). Keep it factual: what happened, where, when – working out who's at fault, and to what degree, is a job for the claims handling, not the report.
What happens after you report it?
The insurer handles the injured party's claim through its own claims process: an inspection or photo-based assessment, a calculation, and payment – there's usually little left for you to do beyond providing a statement if asked. Two things follow on your own side: the paid claim goes onto the central claims history register, and under the rules, your bonus-malus class worsens at the next renewal date – unless you repay the amount paid out within the deadline set under the rules; it's worth weighing that up using the method described there.
Typical mistakes at-fault drivers make
Four mistakes come up again and again: putting off the report (“maybe the other driver won't report it”); missing on-scene documentation (without a statement and photos, nothing backs up your version); disputing liability on the spot instead of documenting it (a disputed situation calls for the police and facts, not raised voices); and ignoring correspondence during claims handling. All of these are avoidable with the on-scene order of steps and reporting on time. And if anything about the case becomes disputed – say, you feel the claim amount is excessive – speak up: helping clients in stuck or disputed cases is part of my work as a broker.
Common question: 'am I definitely the one at fault?'
It's a common situation for liability not to be black and white: both drivers made a mistake, or circumstances played a part too (road conditions, a third vehicle). Even then, a factual report is the right approach: describe what happened – the insurers decide how liability is split during claims handling, under the rules in force; split liability also exists, where each party's insurer pays a proportionate share. What not to do: don't make a statement about liability without being sure, either admitting or denying it – 'I think they made a mistake too' belongs in the Remarks field, backed by facts. Disputed-liability cases are the trickiest category of claims – and this is exactly where good on-scene documentation, and help if needed, pays off the most.
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