Sarah Johns has over 8 years of experience evaluating personal injury claims across Scotland. Having reviewed thousands of initial case assessments, Sarah specialises in helping consumers understand the Scottish personal injury claims process and connecting them with specialist, panel-approved solicitors.
After a motorcycle crash, stop somewhere safe and check whether anyone needs help. You must stop even if you believe the other driver caused it.
The Road Traffic Act 1988 sets out your duties after a collision on a road or other public place. These apply when someone other than you is injured, another vehicle or someone else’s property is damaged, or certain animals are injured.
Exchange insurance information too. If another person is injured, you must show your insurance certificate when properly requested; giving a policy number may not be enough.
If you cannot provide the required identifying details at the scene, you must report the crash to Police Scotland. You must also report and arrange to produce your insurance certificate if someone else is injured and you have not shown it as required.
You should also tell your insurer about the crash within the time stated in your policy, even if you plan to pay for repairs yourself.
Report as soon as you reasonably can, and always within 24 hours when the law requires it. You shouldn’t choose to wait until the deadline if you could reasonably report sooner.
A report is normally needed when you have not given the required details to the person concerned. That might happen because the other driver left, nobody was there to receive them, or you needed urgent medical care.
If you hit an unattended parked car, leaving a note with your phone number under the windscreen wiper is not enough. By law, you must exchange details with an actual person. If the owner is not there to receive them, you are legally required to report the collision to Police Scotland within 24 hours.
As a rule, you do not need to report a damage-only crash to the police if you stop and exchange your name, address, and registration directly with the other owner. If someone is injured, exchanging details alone is not enough. You must show your insurance certificate at the scene, and if you cannot produce it then and there, you must report the collision to the police within 24 hours.
Call 999 if someone is seriously hurt or there is an immediate danger. This includes a rider lying in the road, a dangerous blockage, or a suspected drink- or drug-driver who is still driving.
Tell the 999 operator your location before describing what happened. This allows them to dispatch emergency crews immediately, even if the call drops. If you are on a rural road, give the road number, your direction of travel, and any nearby junctions, landmarks, or what3words locations.
Ask for an ambulance if needed and follow the call handler’s instructions. Do not put yourself in moving traffic to recover the bike or take photographs.
If the other driver flees the scene, call 999 immediately so police can try to intercept them and send medical help if you are hurt. If there are no injuries, you are in a safe place, and the vehicle is long gone, report the accident through the non-emergency number 101 instead. Under no circumstances should you try to chase the fleeing driver, as doing so puts you at high risk of another collision or a dangerous confrontation.
Call 101 when you need police assistance, but there is no emergency. Explain what happened and ask where you can make a formal collision report.
Do not assume that calling 101 satisfies your legal obligations.
According to Scottish police guidance on reporting a collision, if you left the scene without exchanging details, you must physically visit a police station as soon as possible, and always within 24 hours. A phone call only creates an initial accident log. To avoid being charged with failing to report, you must attend a station in person to provide your statement and details.
Check the station’s opening hours before travelling. Ask for an accident reference number and confirm whether police need any documents from you.
If you are admitted to hospital, focus on your medical treatment first. As soon as you are able, contact the police to explain that your injuries prevent you from visiting a station, and make sure to retain documentation of your admission and treatment.
You do not need a polished statement. Explain what you remember, and be clear about anything you did not see or cannot recall.
Keep the original footage, including the moments before the crash. A short edited clip may leave out something useful.
Police may need your driving licence and certificate of insurance. Have your MOT details and vehicle registration document (V5C) available if requested, but do not delay reporting while searching for paperwork.
Most motorcyclists do not carry paper documents while riding. If the police ask for your paperwork and you do not have it with you, they will issue a notice to produce, commonly known as a “producer slip.” This is standard procedure.
Under road traffic law, you have a strict seven-day window to take your driving licence, MOT, and insurance certificate to a police station of your choice. Be sure to attend within those seven days, as missing the deadline is a separate offence.
There is no routine requirement to report the crash itself to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). You may, however, need to notify it separately if your injuries affect your fitness to ride.
You can face charges for failing to stop, failing to report, or both. This remains possible even when someone else caused the accident.
According to Scottish road traffic solicitors’ guidance on these offences, penalties can include 5 to 10 penalty points and a fine of up to £5,000. Courts can also disqualify a driver or impose imprisonment in serious cases. Points or a conviction may also make future insurance more expensive.
Police investigate and may send a report to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), which decides whether to prosecute. A case may be heard in the Sheriff Court.
If you have already missed the deadline, report now and explain the delay honestly. Get legal advice if police believe you have committed an offence; reporting late does not automatically settle the matter.
A formal police report creates an independent, contemporaneous record that becomes the foundation of your compensation claim. It provides your solicitor and insurer with verified details about the date, time, and location, while helping them trace independent witnesses and scrutinise the other driver’s account.
Establishing that proof quickly is essential, particularly given the rising severity of motorcycle accidents on Scottish roads. Transport Scotland recorded 581 motorcycle casualties in Scotland in 2025, including 336 serious injuries and 34 deaths, a 24% increase compared to 2024. In high-value claims involving severe injuries, an early, accurate police record can prevent the other party’s insurer from disputing how the crash occurred.
If you are recovering from an injury, keep medical records and receipts together. Include lost earnings, travel to appointments and damage to your helmet or riding clothing.
Where the driver was uninsured or cannot be traced, the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) may offer a route to compensation.
Keep your Police Accident Reference Number for the application. Untraced-driver claims have their own reporting and cooperation rules, so get advice promptly.
Remember that while you must report an injury collision to the police within 24 hours, the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973 gives you a strict three-year window from the date of the crash to formally raise a personal injury claim. Your solicitor will explain how shared responsibility might affect your case.
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When reporting is legally required, you must do it as soon as reasonably practicable and within 24 hours. Do not wait for repair quotes or your insurer’s response.
Do not rely on an online form to complete a legally required report. Scottish police guidance directs people reporting after leaving the scene to attend a police station; call 101 to check arrangements.
Usually not if only you were injured and only your own bike was damaged. If you hurt a passenger or pedestrian, or damage someone else’s property, further duties apply.
For example, hitting an unattended council sign normally means reporting because nobody is there to receive your details. Where someone else is injured, the insurance-certificate rules also apply.
Do not argue or try to stop them leaving. Note the registration number, vehicle description and any witness details, then contact Police Scotland promptly.
Refusing a valid request for required details can be an offence. Use 999 if there is immediate danger; otherwise, call 101, and remember that you must still provide your own details.
Disclaimer: The information on this page is for general guidance only and does not constitute formal legal or medical advice. If you require urgent medical assistance or there is immediate danger, dial 999. Reading this guide does not create a solicitor-client relationship under Scots law. Always consult a regulated Scottish solicitor for legal advice tailored to your specific circumstances.
