After a UK accident, the at-fault driver's insurer may contact you directly, sometimes offering a quick pre-medical settlement. The insurer works for the other side, not for you. You are not obliged to accept an early offer, give a recorded statement, or settle before you know how badly you are hurt — and settling early usually undervalues the claim. Get a medical opinion first, keep records, and consider independent advice.
Soon after an accident — sometimes within days — you may get a friendly call from the other driver's insurer offering to "sort everything out". It can feel helpful, but it's important to understand whose interests that insurer serves. This guide explains how third-party insurers operate and how to deal with them without giving away the value of your claim.
One thing to be clear about from the outset: we are an independent information service, not a law firm and not a firm of solicitors. Nothing here is legal advice about your own situation. For that, speak to an SRA-regulated solicitor or use the official sources we signpost below.
Remember whose side the insurer is on
The at-fault driver's insurer — the third-party insurer — has a commercial interest in settling your claim for as little as possible, as quickly as possible. That doesn't make them dishonest, but it does mean their first offer is rarely their best, and their advice is not independent. You are under no obligation to deal with them by phone, to accept a figure, or to settle before you understand your injuries. Being polite but cautious costs you nothing.
Why pre-medical offers are risky
⚠️ Don't settle before you know how hurt you are
A pre-medical offer is money offered before any doctor has assessed your injuries. The danger is obvious: soft-tissue injuries can take days to show and weeks or months to resolve, and once you accept and sign, the claim is closed for good — you cannot reopen it if things turn out worse. A proper medical report is what tells you the true value. Almost always, wait for it.
Phone calls and recorded statements
You may be asked to give a recorded telephone statement about how the accident happened and how you feel. You are not required to do this, and an off-the-cuff account given while you're still shaken can be used to dispute liability or downplay your injuries later. It is reasonable to say you'll put things in writing, or that any communication should go through your solicitor. Stick to facts, never guess, and don't minimise symptoms out of politeness.
Recognising and responding to a low offer
A low offer typically ignores or underestimates your financial losses — lost earnings, treatment, care, travel and future costs — and assumes a quick recovery. Before responding, build a clear picture of your losses (our what compensation covers guide helps) and compare the offer with a realistic valuation based on your medical prognosis. You can decline, counter, or — if it's an offer made within a formal process — consider the costs consequences of refusing. Never feel rushed by a "this week only" framing.
Your own insurer and the duty to notify
Separately from any claim, your own policy almost certainly requires you to notify your insurer of any accident, even if you don't intend to claim on your own cover. Failing to do so can breach your policy. Notifying is not the same as accepting blame — it's an administrative duty. Your insurer may also offer legal-expenses cover or a panel solicitor, but you usually have the right to choose your own SRA-regulated solicitor; check the policy terms before agreeing.
Frequently asked questions
Should I accept the first offer from an insurer?
Usually not. The at-fault insurer aims to settle cheaply, and a first offer — especially one made before a medical assessment — often undervalues the claim. Get a medical opinion and a clear picture of your financial losses before deciding, and remember that accepting and signing normally closes the claim permanently.
Do I have to give the insurer a recorded statement?
No. You are not obliged to give a recorded telephone statement to the other side's insurer. An off-the-cuff account given while you're still shaken can be used against you later, so it is reasonable to deal with things in writing or through a solicitor, sticking strictly to facts.
What is a pre-medical offer and should I take it?
It is an offer of compensation made before any doctor has assessed your injuries. It is risky because injuries can worsen or take time to appear, and once you accept and sign, you generally cannot reopen the claim. In almost all cases it is better to wait for a proper medical report.
Can I deal with the insurer myself?
Yes, particularly for lower-value road-traffic claims through the Official Injury Claim portal. But for anything more serious or disputed, independent advice from an SRA-regulated solicitor — often on no-win-no-fee — helps you avoid undervaluing the claim or making admissions that hurt it.
Do I have to tell my own insurer about the accident?
Almost certainly yes. Most policies require you to notify your insurer of any accident regardless of whether you intend to claim, and failing to do so can breach your policy. Notifying is an administrative duty and does not amount to accepting blame.
Get help from official, free sources
- GOV.UK — official guidance on injury claims, the courts and your rights
- Citizens Advice — free, impartial advice on making a claim
- Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) & The Law Society — check and find a regulated solicitor
- Official Injury Claim (OIC) — the free portal for lower-value road-traffic injury claims
- Civil Procedure Rules (justice.gov.uk) — the rules and pre-action protocols that govern claims