Immediately at the Scene
Step 1: Check for Injuries — Don't Move If You're Hurt
Your health comes first. Check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If anyone is seriously injured, do not move them unless there is an immediate danger (like fire or a sinking vehicle). Moving an injured person with a spinal injury can cause paralysis.
Step 2: Call 911
Call 911 immediately, even for seemingly minor accidents. You need a police report — it documents the accident facts and is critical evidence for your insurance claim. Give the dispatcher your location and describe any injuries. Wait for police to arrive; leaving the scene is illegal.
Step 3: Move Vehicles If Safe
If the vehicles are drivable and no one is seriously injured, move them to the side of the road to avoid blocking traffic and creating additional hazards. Turn on your hazard lights.
Step 4: Document Everything
This is perhaps the most important thing you can do for your future injury claim. Use your phone to photograph and/or video:
- All vehicles involved, from multiple angles, showing damage
- The position of vehicles before they're moved
- Skid marks, debris, road conditions, weather conditions
- Traffic signals, signs, and any obstructions
- Your visible injuries
- The other driver's license plate
Step 5: Exchange Information
Get the following from every driver involved:
- Full name, address, and phone number
- Driver's license number and state
- Vehicle license plate number
- Vehicle make, model, year, and color
- Insurance company name and policy number
Step 6: Collect Witness Information
Witnesses who saw the accident happen are enormously valuable. Get names and contact information for every person who saw the crash. Ask if they're willing to make a statement.
Step 7: Get the Police Report Information
Ask the responding officer for their name, badge number, and how to obtain a copy of the accident report. Get the report number. Most police departments allow you to obtain the full report within a few days online or in person.
What NOT to Do at the Scene
- Do NOT admit fault — even saying "I'm sorry" can be used against you. Say nothing about fault at the scene.
- Do NOT sign anything from the other driver or their insurance company.
- Do NOT post about the accident on social media — anything you post can and will be used by insurance adjusters to minimize your claim.
After Leaving the Scene
Seek Medical Attention Immediately — Even If You Feel Fine
This is critical. Many serious injuries — including whiplash, concussions, internal bleeding, and spinal injuries — don't produce immediate symptoms. Adrenaline masks pain. See a doctor the same day or at minimum the next morning. Medical records created close in time to the accident are far more valuable as evidence than those created days or weeks later. Delayed treatment also gives insurance companies grounds to argue your injuries weren't serious or weren't caused by the accident.
Notify Your Insurance Company
Report the accident to your own insurance company as soon as possible. Be factual and brief. Do NOT give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company without speaking to an attorney first — their goal is to minimize what they pay you.
Keep Records of Everything
Save all documentation related to the accident and your injuries: all medical bills and records, prescription receipts, repair estimates, rental car receipts, pay stubs showing missed work, and any written correspondence with insurance companies.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
Before accepting any settlement offer, consult with a personal injury attorney. Experienced attorneys offer free consultations and case evaluations. Many car accident settlements increase dramatically with proper legal representation. Don't sign a settlement release without understanding exactly what rights you're giving up.