Notice of accident

A notice of accident is the notification a policyholder gives their insurer after a crash, informing them that an accident has happened and a claim may follow.

Motor policies commonly require this notice within a short window after the accident, though the exact number of days is set by the specific policy rather than by statute, so it is worth checking your own document as part of reporting to your insurer. Delaying this step can complicate an otherwise straightforward claim.

Giving notice early, even before every detail is confirmed, is generally safer than waiting until you have a complete picture.

A verbal call to the insurer’s hotline is often accepted as a first step, followed by the written notice the policy actually requires.