Core: Leaving the scene of an accident is a criminal offence — and the PAMAN order

The book sets five steps in a fixed order, summarised in the mnemonic PAMAN: first your own safety (don't stand in the carriageway), then the safety of other people involved, then marking the accident scene (warning triangle, hazard lights, hand signals), then alerting the emergency services, and only last the necessary first aid (Book p.170). Call 112 for serious accidents; describe as exactly as possible where you are, what happened, how many vehicles are involved and how many (seriously) injured there are — the more precise the report, the faster the right help arrives. Is there only sheet-metal damage and can both cars still drive? Then there is a lighter, separate procedure: take a photo of the situation and drive together with the other party to a car park to sort out the damage — that way you hinder traffic the least. Driving off without any of these steps is prohibited as soon as there is death, injury OR damage: you may not leave the scene of the accident without disclosing your details. If you hit a parked, unattended car, a separate duty applies: leave your contact details at the damaged vehicle and inform the police — that is mandatory, even though there is no one to talk to.