'I'm a legal expert - this common mistake after a car crash could be a £5,000 fine'

A motor collision, whether it's a minor scrape on the high street or a devastating motorway smash, can send anyone into a state of shock. But according to legal expert Elliot Johnson it's frequently the most glaring errors that end up hitting drivers hardest in the wallet.

Elliot highlighted two particularly costly blunders - departing the scene prematurely and neglecting to contact police when necessary. He warned they could transform a nerve-wracking incident into a financial and legal nightmare.

Elliot said: "In the UK, leaving the scene without stopping properly isn't just bad judgement, it's a criminal offence. The law is crystal clear: you must stop, provide your details and, if necessary, report the crash.

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"If you don't, you could face a fine of up to £5,000, get between five and ten penalty points on your licence, and in serious cases even face a driving ban or up to six months in prison. That's before we even talk about what your insurer might do. Many refuse to cover drivers who flee, which means you could be left personally liable for damages that can easily run into the tens of thousands of pounds if vehicles are written off or someone is injured."

He revealed the most significant problem is how frequently motorists dismiss the gravity of "just driving off" following a trivial bump.

Elliot, from Angel Reyes & Associates, said: "It happens more than you'd think. Someone brushes another car in a car park, panics, and leaves a note or worse, leaves nothing at all. They think because no one's seriously hurt, it's fine.

"But if that driver reports you, you could be prosecuted. Courts take a dim view of motorists who fail to stop, no matter how small the incident. And when it comes to insurance claims, you've already damaged your credibility before you've even begun."

'Second mistake'

The second blunder Johnson witnesses far too frequently is neglecting to contact police when circumstances demand it: "People often tell me they didn't want to 'make a fuss' or thought the crash was straightforward. But if there are injuries, suspicions of drink or drug driving, or property damage, you are legally obliged to report it.

"Failing to do so can carry the same penalties as leaving the scene. More importantly, without that police record, you're on shaky ground if the other driver changes their story later. I've seen cases collapse entirely because a client had no official report to back them up."

Elliot warned that avoiding this crucial step could prove to be amongst the most expensive errors a motorist can commit.

He explained: "Without a police record, insurers may well reduce or deny your compensation altogether. I've worked on claims where drivers ended up footing the bill themselves, sometimes £10,000 to £50,000 in repair costs, medical fees, or compensation payouts, simply because they thought involving the police was unnecessary. That's a life-changing amount of money to lose over what feels like a small decision at the time."

Elliot said: "It doesn't take much to do the right thing. Stop, stay calm, exchange details, and if there's any doubt, call the police. Those few minutes could save you thousands of pounds and years of stress. Too many drivers let panic or embarrassment push them into a decision that unravels everything later."