Essential guide
What to Do After a Car Accident
The steps you take in the first minutes and days can protect your health and your claim. Here is what to do, in order, and the mistakes to avoid, from someone looking out for you and not the insurer.
The first steps, in order
Work through these as calmly as you can. If you only remember a few, make them safety, a doctor, and not admitting fault.
- Get to safetyIf your car is drivable and it is safe, pull to the shoulder and turn on your hazards. Do not move anyone who is seriously hurt unless there is danger, like a fire.
- Check for injuries and call 911Check everyone for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt or there is significant damage. A police report creates an official record your claim will rely on.
- Exchange informationGet names, phone numbers, license and plate numbers, and insurance details. Note any witnesses, and the responding officers' names and badge numbers.
- Document the scenePhotograph the damage from several angles, the position of the vehicles, skid marks, road conditions, and any visible injuries before anything is moved.
- See a doctor the same dayAdrenaline can hide injuries like whiplash and concussions. Prompt medical care protects your health and gives your claim the records it needs.
- Report the accidentNotify your own insurer promptly. Some states also require a DMV report when there are injuries or damage over a set amount.
What not to do
When should you call a lawyer?
You do not need a lawyer for every fender bender. But if anyone was hurt, if who caused the crash is in dispute, or if an insurer is slow or offering less than your actual costs, having someone in your corner usually changes the outcome.
A free consultation costs nothing and puts you under no obligation. Most car accident attorneys work on contingency, so you pay no fee unless they recover for you. The earlier you talk to one, the more they can do to protect the value of your claim.
Car accident questions, answered
Quick answers for the moments right after a crash. For your situation, speak with a local attorney.
It is usually worth it. A police report creates an independent record of what happened, which helps if the other driver or their insurer disputes the facts later. Call 911 if anyone is hurt or there is significant damage.
Still see a doctor the same day if you can. Adrenaline and shock can mask injuries like whiplash, concussions, and internal trauma that show up days later. Prompt records also protect your claim.
It depends on your state. Many require notifying your insurer promptly and filing a DMV report within a set number of days when there are injuries or damage over a dollar threshold. Your state laws page has the specifics.
No. You are not required to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer, and it is usually smart to wait until you have spoken with a lawyer or your own insurer first.
If anyone was hurt, fault is disputed, or an insurer is slow or offering less than your costs, a lawyer usually helps. A free consultation costs nothing, and most injury attorneys work on contingency, so there is no fee unless they win.
Keep going
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