Nobody ever wants to think about the possibility of an accident but they can and do happen. As such, it is important to stay safe and take stock when they do.
Your health and safety come first, then insurance procedures, and finally ensuring that your trailer and car are serviced and repaired.
As winter approaches, driving conditions become more hazardous, and this can be particularly difficult for people using trailers for domestic and business purposes due to the unpredictability of other road users.
If you are caught in a collision involving your trailer, here is what you should do to get back on the road as soon as possible.
Stop In A Safe Place
The first step to take if you end up in a collision is to stop in as safe a place as possible. You should also turn off your engine, apply the handbrake, turn on your hazard warning lights, put on a high-visibility jacket if you have one and keep away from moving traffic as much as possible.
As you will need to share insurance details, it can be a crime to drive away from the scene of an accident if you do not report the accident to the police within 24 hours.
Check To Make Sure You Are Safe
Whilst your immediate concern may be your towing vehicle, trailer or payload, make sure that you and everyone else in your vehicle are safe and uninjured.
Even if the impact was not severe, there may be a chance of whiplash or other spinal injuries that may not be immediately apparent.
If anyone is injured, call 999 to ensure they get urgent medical attention, whilst you should call either the police or Highways Agency if the road cannot be easily cleared.
Do Not Panic
Once you are safely stopped and you have checked for injuries and immediate emergencies, take a deep breath and try to remain calm. Any damage to your vehicle can be fixed. Any lost materials and goods can be replaced.
What is harder to heal is injuries, so as long as you feel okay, everything else can be worked through. Getting upset or frustrated will not help your situation and could make it worse.
Call your insurance company, as they will be able to provide advice on what to do next, any specific information you need to gather and what you should do to recover your vehicle and your trailer.
Gather Evidence And Exchange Insurance Details With Other Motorists Involved
Take note of when the accident took place, jot down registration numbers and take pictures, if it is safe to do so, of any damage to your vehicle.
Once it is safe, talk to other drivers involved and exchange your name, address and insurance information. They will also do the same, so make sure you note that down.
Make sure to ask if the driver is also the registered owner of the vehicle. Get their information too (and share the information about the registered owner if you are driving a company car yourself).
If there are any independent witnesses, try to get their contact details too, in case they need to be asked about the accident later.
Any information you gather will help your claim for damages later.
Do You Need To Call The Police?
If an accident involves no injuries, everyone swaps information, and the road is not blocked, the police may not need to get involved.
However, if another driver leaves the scene without providing insurance details, the other driver has no insurance at all, they appear to be under the influence, or you have a suspicion that the collision was caused deliberately, contact the police within 24 hours of the accident.
Check To Make Sure Your Trailer Is Safe To Tow
Check to ensure that your towing vehicle is safe to drive and that the towing vehicle is secure and can be safely towed.
Sometimes a small impact can cause a vital component to dislodge and potentially make your trailer harder to control, so err on the side of caution if you are worried that you cannot safely drive it home yourself.
Take Your Trailer To Get Repaired And Serviced When You Are Advised To Do So
Talk to your insurance company and await their advice on future repairs. Often they will suggest getting any issues fixed as soon as possible, but they may want time to gather evidence or to ensure you take pictures of any evidence of damage.