No one expects to be in a car accident, but knowing exactly what to do when it happens can make all the difference. The moments after a collision are often confusing and stressful, but taking the right steps protects both your safety and your insurance claim. This guide walks you through exactly what to do, from the immediate aftermath to filing your claim.
1. Prioritize Safety First
Before anything else, assess the situation for injuries. Your wellbeing and that of others always comes first. If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately and request medical assistance. Even if injuries seem minor, it's better to have professionals evaluate the situation.
If you can do so safely, move your vehicle out of the flow of traffic to prevent additional collisions. Turn on your hazard lights to alert other drivers. If you have warning triangles or flares, set them up at a safe distance behind the accident scene. However, if moving the vehicles would put you at risk, or if there are serious injuries, leave everything where it is and wait for emergency responders.
2. Call the Police
Even for minor accidents, it's wise to call the police and get an official accident report. Some states require a police report for any accident involving injuries or property damage above a certain threshold. But even when it's not legally required, having an official report creates a neutral third-party record of what happened.
When the police arrive, stick to the facts. Describe what you observed and experienced, but avoid speculating about what the other driver was doing or thinking. Don't admit fault, even if you think the accident might have been your mistake. The full picture often isn't clear until later, and what you say at the scene can affect your claim.
Make sure to get the police report number before the officer leaves. You'll need this when filing your insurance claim.
3. Exchange Information with All Parties
Collect information from everyone involved in the accident. You'll need:
- Full names and contact information
- Driver's license numbers
- Insurance company names and policy numbers
- Vehicle make, model, year, and license plate numbers
- Current address for each driver
If there are passengers in any of the vehicles, get their names and contact information as well. They may be valuable witnesses later. Be courteous and cooperative, but remember that you're not required to discuss the details of the accident with other drivers. Share your insurance information, but save your account of what happened for the police and your insurance company.
4. Document Everything
Your smartphone is your most valuable tool here. Take photos from multiple angles showing:
- Damage to all vehicles involved
- The overall accident scene, including street signs and traffic signals
- Skid marks, debris, or other evidence on the road
- Weather and road conditions
- Any visible injuries
Take wide shots that show the positions of the vehicles and their relationship to the road, then take close-ups of specific damage. If your car has damage on multiple sides, photograph each side separately. The more documentation you have, the easier it will be for your insurance adjuster to understand what happened.
If there are witnesses, ask for their contact information. Independent witnesses can be crucial if there's a dispute about how the accident occurred. Write down or record their basic account of what they saw while it's still fresh in their minds.
5. Make Notes While It's Fresh
As soon as possible after the accident, write down everything you remember. Include:
- The time and date of the accident
- The exact location, including street names and direction of travel
- Weather and road conditions
- What you were doing before the impact
- What the other vehicles were doing
- The sequence of events leading to the collision
- Where each vehicle ended up after the impact
Your memory of the details will fade quickly, so capture this information while it's still clear. These notes will help you give an accurate account to your insurance company and can fill in details that might not be obvious from photos alone.
6. Seek Medical Attention
Some injuries, particularly soft tissue injuries like whiplash, don't show symptoms immediately. Adrenaline can mask pain in the moments after an accident. Even if you feel fine at the scene, it's smart to see a doctor within a day or two.
Medical records created close to the accident date are important documentation if you later discover you were injured. If you wait too long to seek treatment, insurance companies may argue that your injuries weren't caused by the accident.
Keep all medical records, bills, and receipts related to the accident. This includes emergency room visits, doctor appointments, physical therapy, prescriptions, and even over-the-counter pain medication you purchase for accident-related injuries.
7. Notify Your Insurance Company
Most insurance policies require you to report accidents promptly. Read your policy or call your agent to understand your specific notification requirements. Many insurers have 24-hour claim reporting hotlines, and some offer mobile apps that make it easy to file a claim and upload photos right from the scene.
When reporting the accident, stick to the facts. Describe what happened without assigning blame or speculating about what the other driver was thinking. Provide all the documentation you collected: photos, witness information, the police report number, and your written notes.
When to File a Claim
Not every accident requires filing an insurance claim. If the damage is minor and you were clearly not at fault, you might choose to handle it through the other driver's insurance without involving your own company. However, you should generally file a claim with your insurance company if:
- There are any injuries to you, your passengers, or others
- The damage to your vehicle exceeds your deductible
- The other driver doesn't have insurance or can't be identified
- There's any dispute about who was at fault
- The other driver's insurance company is giving you the runaround
Even if you're not sure whether to file a claim, report the accident to your insurance company. Reporting doesn't automatically mean filing a claim. Your insurance company can advise you on the best course of action based on the specifics of your situation.
What Not to Do
In the aftermath of an accident, certain actions can hurt your claim or even create legal problems:
- Don't leave the scene before exchanging information, even for minor accidents
- Don't admit fault or apologize profusely at the scene
- Don't sign anything from the other driver or their insurance company without talking to your insurer first
- Don't accept a quick settlement offer before you know the full extent of your damages
- Don't post about the accident on social media until your claim is resolved
Insurance companies and attorneys can use your social media posts against you. That photo of you smiling at a party after the accident could be used to argue your injuries aren't serious. Save the social media updates until everything is settled.
Moving Forward
The steps you take in the first hours after an accident set the stage for your entire claims process. By staying calm, documenting thoroughly, and reporting promptly, you give yourself the best chance of a smooth claim and fair settlement. Keep all your documentation organized in one place, respond promptly to requests from your insurance company, and don't hesitate to ask questions if something isn't clear.
Remember, your insurance company is there to help you through this process. That's what you've been paying premiums for. Use the resources available to you, follow the steps outlined in your policy, and you'll navigate this challenging situation successfully.