What to do right after a highway accident
You have just had an accident on a fast, busy highway and need to think clearly.
Judge whether staying inside your vehicle or getting well clear of it is safer, based on where you have stopped relative to moving traffic, and act on that before anything else. A highway’s speed makes this first judgement call more important than it would be on an ordinary road.
The first few minutes on a fast road
- Turn on your hazard lights immediately, even before you have fully assessed the situation.
- Decide quickly whether to stay belted inside the vehicle or move to a safety barrier area, based on where the vehicle has stopped.
- Place a warning triangle well back from your vehicle if you have one and it is safe to do so.
- Check for injuries, and call for an ambulance without delay if anyone is hurt.
- Stay out of live lanes once you are safely clear, even to retrieve belongings.
Why highways call for a different first instinct
On an ordinary road, getting out to check damage is usually the natural first move. On a highway, that same instinct can put you directly in the path of vehicles travelling far faster than they would in town, so the safety judgement genuinely needs to come first here.
If your vehicle cannot be moved
A vehicle that will not start or is too damaged to move safely should be left with hazards on and a triangle placed if possible, while everyone gets clear of the carriageway itself. Highway patrols and towing services are generally used to this situation and will manage the vehicle once they arrive.
Once everyone is safely clear
The same core evidence steps still apply once the immediate danger has passed: photos, details and a police report, covered fully in what to do after a road accident. Lodging a police report explains what changes slightly when the accident happened on a highway rather than a city road.
Thinking beyond the scene
Once you are safe, making a road accident claim explains how a claim actually works, and what happens practically in the days after a highway accident is covered separately once the immediate danger is behind you.
Common questions
Should I get out of my car or stay inside on a highway?
If your car is in a position where getting out puts you in the path of fast-moving traffic, staying inside with your seatbelt on until help arrives can be safer. If you can reach the roadside or a safety barrier area without danger, moving there is usually better.
How far away should I place a warning triangle?
Placing it well back from your vehicle gives approaching traffic more time to react, especially at highway speeds. If you do not have one, hazard lights and staying visible matter even more.
Is it safe to try to move an injured passenger?
Only move someone if leaving them where they are creates a greater danger, such as being in a live lane, and only if you can do so without worsening a possible neck or back injury. Otherwise wait for trained help to arrive.
Who do I call first, the highway operator or the police?
Either is reasonable, and many highway operators can also alert the relevant emergency services quickly. If anyone is injured, getting an ambulance moving is the priority, whichever number you call first.