Call the emergency services and the police — 112 is the single emergency number across the European Union. You may only move the vehicles after an accident if it is necessary to protect the injured or to keep the road safe. Without the police’s agreement, those involved — passengers included — may leave the scene only to get first aid or to call the police.

Photograph the scene from several angles so that the damage to every vehicle can be made out. Photograph the registration plates and makes of all vehicles involved.

If you believe you are at fault, hand over one copy of your Green Card, or a copy of it. Be aware that handing over the Green Card is treated as an admission of fault. Get contact details for any witnesses before they leave. The injured parties will then approach the motor insurance bureau in their own country, which will settle the loss itself or through its representatives and afterwards recover the money from the Ukrainian insurer that issued the card.

If you are not at fault, take — or photograph — the at-fault driver’s policy details, and photograph the scene and the vehicles as described above. Again: handing over your Green Card, or information about it, is treated as admitting fault. In a disputed case, most European legal systems allow ten days to appeal a decision, and after that it becomes very hard to establish your position. Read every document carefully before you sign it.

Once back in Ukraine, report the accident to your insurer and give them everything you have, including the photographs and your own written account. State in that account that you consider yourself not at fault, and why.

Where the accident is settled without the police, the procedure differs only in that a joint two-party accident statement is drawn up and signed by both drivers. The statement records the circumstances and does not require the parties to agree on who was at fault; it may include a sketch of the scene. If you accept fault, you must show the other driver your documents and a copy of your Green Card — the Highway Code requires you to confirm your identity.