UK drivers may know what to do at the scene of a collision, but new research suggests many are unprepared for the legal, medical and financial consequences that can follow.
The road accident recovery gap was identified by law firm Irwin Mitchell after surveying 2,001 UK drivers.
More than two-thirds of respondents knew to collect witness details or photograph vehicle positions. However, only 8% regarded gathering evidence as their first priority, while 59% did not know the deadline for starting a personal injury claim.
Knowledge falls after the immediate response
The research found:
- 70.6% knew to collect witness details
- 68.5% knew to photograph vehicle positions
- 65.4% knew to record the time and conditions
- 12.4% knew about the general three-year claim limit
- Two-thirds had never heard of the 2021 Whiplash Reforms
Although drivers will normally need to report a collision to their insurer within the timeframe specified by their policy, Irwin Mitchell advises anyone who has been injured to consider seeking independent legal advice early.
Financial and psychological consequences
The road accident recovery gap also extends to financial planning. More than a third of drivers said they had no safety net if a collision prevented them from working for three months, while 22.1% had not planned for any financial consequences.
Only 24% had considered rehabilitation or physiotherapy costs, and 17.7% had thought about the potential cost of caring for dependants.
Meanwhile, 43.7% did not realise that post-traumatic stress disorder and severe driving anxiety can be recognised as injuries within a claim.
Figures obtained from DVLA show that the number of GB licence holders surrendering or losing their licence with a qualifying mental health condition declared rose from 364 in 2021 to 1,005 in 2025. The figures cover a broad range of declared conditions and are not limited to those caused by road collisions.
Evidence can make a difference
Angela Batchelor, Partner in Irwin Mitchell’s Serious Injury team, said: “If you take one thing away from this, it’s to gather evidence early – photos, witness details, dashcam footage.”
For driver and rider trainers, the findings highlight the value of helping learners understand not only how to remain safe at a collision scene, but also the importance of recording accurate information, avoiding speculative social media posts and recognising the possible longer-term consequences.
The full findings are available in Irwin Mitchell’s Road Accident Readiness report.
