What to Do Right After a Car Accident: The First Steps That Matter
Stop, check for injury, and move to safety
The moment after a collision, your first job is not to exchange information or take photos—it is to make sure nobody is badly hurt and to get out of traffic if you can do it safely. Turn off your engine. If you are hurt or trapped, stay in the car and call 911. If you can move and the car is in a dangerous spot (middle of a highway, for example), turn on your hazard lights and move to the shoulder or a nearby parking lot, away from moving traffic.
Check yourself and your passengers for injuries. Adrenaline can mask pain, so even if you feel fine, you may have been hurt. If anyone is injured or you think they might be, call 911 before you do anything else. Tell the dispatcher where you are, how many people need help, and what you can see of their condition. Do not move an injured person unless they are in immediate danger from fire or oncoming traffic.
If the accident is minor, both cars are drivable, and nobody is hurt, you can move the vehicles out of traffic if it is safe to do so. This keeps the roadway clear and reduces the risk of a second collision. Turn on hazard lights and move slowly to a safe location.
Key Takeaways
- Call 911 if anyone is injured, the vehicles are blocking traffic, or you feel unsafe at the scene.
- Get the other driver's name, phone number, address, driver's license number, license plate, vehicle make and model, and insurance company name and policy number before you leave the scene.
- Take photos of vehicle damage, the accident scene, road conditions, traffic signs, and the other vehicle's license plate from multiple angles.
- File a police report in most states within 24 to 72 hours, even if the accident seems minor, because you may need the report number for your insurance claim.
- Contact your insurance company within one to three days and provide them with the police report number, photos, and the other driver's information.
Get the other driver's information before you leave
Do not leave the scene until you have collected specific details from the other driver. You will need their full name, phone number, and home address. Ask for their driver's license and write down the number, state, and expiration date. Get their vehicle's license plate number, make, model, year, and color. Write down the name of their insurance company and their policy number—this is on their insurance card, which they are required to show you.
If there are passengers in the other vehicle, get their names and phone numbers too. They may be witnesses or may file their own claim. If the other driver refuses to provide information or becomes hostile, do not argue. Note their appearance and vehicle details yourself, take a photo of their license plate, and call the police non-emergency line to report the refusal. Do not leave until police have documented the scene or you have their report number.
If a third vehicle was involved or if there are witnesses who stopped, get their names and phone numbers as well. Witness statements can matter if there is a disagreement about how the accident happened. Write down what they saw, not your interpretation of it.
Document the scene with photos and notes
Take photos from multiple angles: the front and back of both vehicles, the sides, the overall scene showing both cars' positions on the road, any skid marks or debris, traffic signs and signals, road conditions (wet, icy, potholed), and the time of day and weather. Get a close-up of the other vehicle's license plate. If you have a smartphone, use the camera's timestamp feature or note the time yourself. Take at least 10 to 15 photos—you can delete them later if you do not need them.
Write down what you remember while it is fresh: the date, time, and exact location (street names, mile marker, or landmarks). Note the weather, road conditions, traffic flow, and what you were doing just before the collision. Write down what you saw happen, not what you think caused it. For example: "I was stopped at a red light. The other car hit my rear bumper" is better than "The other driver was not paying attention."
Do not admit fault or apologize for the accident, even if you think you caused it. Saying "I'm sorry" can be used against you later. Stick to facts: what you did, what you saw, and what happened. You can be polite without admitting responsibility.
Call the police and get a report number
In most states, you are required to report an accident to police if there is injury, significant damage, or if either driver does not have insurance. Even if the law does not require it in your state, you should call the police non-emergency line (not 911 unless someone is hurt or in danger) so there is an official record. Police will send an officer to the scene or, in some cases, direct you to file a report online or at a local station.
When the officer arrives, give them the facts you wrote down. They will interview both drivers and any witnesses, inspect the vehicles, and create a report. Ask the officer for the report number and the case number before you leave—you will need these for your insurance claim. In some states, you can request a copy of the report online within a few days; in others, you may have to wait a week or more. The police report is not a judgment of fault, but it is an official record that insurance companies use.
If police do not come to the scene (which happens in some minor accidents), you can file a report yourself at the police station or online, depending on your state. Do this within 24 to 72 hours. Bring your photos, notes, and the other driver's information.
Contact your insurance company within one to three days
Call your insurance company as soon as you can, ideally within one to three days. Have your policy number, the police report number, and the other driver's information ready. Tell them what happened, where it happened, and when. Provide the other driver's name, phone number, insurance company, and policy number. Give them the police report number and offer to send photos.
Your insurance company will assign a claims adjuster who will contact you to schedule an inspection of your vehicle. The adjuster will estimate the cost of repairs and determine whether the other driver's insurance should pay (if the other driver was at fault) or whether your own coverage applies. Be honest about what happened, but do not speculate about fault—let the adjuster and the insurance companies sort that out.
Keep records of everything: the date and time you called, the name of the person you spoke with, what you told them, and what they told you. If you receive written communication from your insurance company, keep it. You may need these records later if there is a dispute.
Seek medical attention even if you feel fine
Some injuries—whiplash, internal bruising, concussion—do not show up immediately. If you were in a moderate or severe collision, see a doctor within a few days, even if you do not think you are hurt. Tell the doctor you were in a car accident and describe any pain, stiffness, headache, dizziness, or unusual symptoms. The doctor will document your condition, and this record becomes important if you later file a claim for medical expenses.
Keep all medical records, receipts for treatment, and notes about your symptoms. If you miss work because of the accident, keep records of the days you missed and any lost wages. These are part of your claim if the other driver's insurance is paying for damages.
Do not post about the accident on social media. Insurance companies and the other driver's lawyer may use your posts against you. Avoid discussing the accident with anyone except your doctor, your lawyer (if you hire one), and your insurance company.
Understand what happens next with your claim
After you file a claim, your insurance company will investigate. If the other driver was at fault, their insurance company should pay for your repairs and medical expenses. If you were at fault, your insurance will cover the other driver's expenses (up to your liability limits) and your own repairs (if you have collision coverage). If both drivers share fault, the insurance companies will negotiate how much each pays.
The claims process usually takes two to six weeks, but can take longer if there is disagreement about fault or if injuries are involved. Your adjuster will keep you updated. If you disagree with the adjuster's estimate of repair costs, you can get a second estimate from another repair shop and submit it to your insurance company.
If the other driver's insurance denies your claim or offers less than you think is fair, you have options: you can request a review, file a complaint with your state's insurance commissioner, or hire a lawyer. Many car accident lawyers work on contingency, meaning they take a percentage of what you recover rather than charging an upfront fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to call the police if the accident is minor?
It depends on your state and the damage. Most states require a police report if anyone is injured or if damage exceeds a certain amount (usually $500 to $1,500, but this varies). Even if it is not required, calling police creates an official record that protects you if the other driver later claims you caused more damage than you actually did.
What if the other driver does not have insurance?
If the other driver has no insurance, your own uninsured motorist coverage (if you have it) will pay for your repairs and medical expenses, minus your deductible. You can also sue the other driver in small claims court or civil court to recover damages, though collecting money from someone without insurance is often difficult. Report the uninsured driver to your state's insurance commissioner.
Can I be sued after a car accident?
Yes, if the other driver or their passengers were injured, they can sue you for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. This is why you have liability insurance. Your insurance company will defend you and pay damages up to your policy limits. If the judgment exceeds your limits, you may be responsible for the rest.
How long do I have to file a claim?
Most insurance policies require you to report an accident within 30 to 60 days, though you should do it within one to three days to avoid problems. If you are injured and file a claim for medical expenses, you typically have one to three years from the date of the accident, depending on your state. Check your policy or ask your insurance company for the exact deadline.
What if I was partially at fault?
If you were partly responsible for the accident, your insurance company will still cover your damages, but the amount may be reduced based on your percentage of fault. Some states use "comparative negligence," meaning if you were 20 percent at fault, you recover 80 percent of your damages. Other states use "contributory negligence," which can bar you from recovery if you were any percentage at fault. Ask your insurance company how your state handles shared fault.