What to Do Immediately After a Car Accident

Last reviewed: October 2026 · How we research: How We Research

Right after a crash, adrenaline makes it hard to think clearly, and that’s exactly when the decisions that shape an insurance claim get made. This guide is organized by time: what to do in the first minutes, before leaving the scene, in the first day, the first week and the first month. There’s a printable checklist at the end you can keep in your glovebox.

In the first 10 minutes: safety first

1. Stop. Every state requires drivers involved in a crash to stop. Leaving the scene of a crash with injuries is a crime, even if it wasn’t your fault.
2. Check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt, if a driver seems impaired or if the vehicles are blocking traffic.
3. Make the scene safe. Turn on hazard lights. If the cars can be moved and nobody is injured, many states expect you to move them out of traffic lanes.
4. Don’t move an injured person unless they are in immediate danger, for example from fire.

Before you leave the scene: evidence you can’t get back later

Within hours, cars are towed, debris is swept away and witnesses go home. Use your phone:

• Exchange information with the other driver: name, phone, driver’s license number, insurance company and policy number, and the vehicle’s plate. Photograph their license and insurance card if they agree.
• Photograph everything: all vehicles from several angles, the damage up close, skid marks, traffic signs and signals, road conditions, and the wider scene showing where the cars ended up.
• Get witness details. A neutral witness is one of the strongest pieces of evidence in a disputed-fault claim.
• Ask for the police report number and the officer’s name if police come to the scene.
• Note nearby cameras: shops, gas stations and doorbell cameras often overwrite footage within days.

What not to say: be polite, but don’t apologize or say “it was my fault”. Fault is decided later from the evidence, and a casual “sorry” can be quoted back to you. Stick to facts when talking to the police.

Within 24 hours

• Get checked by a doctor, even if you feel fine. Whiplash, concussions and internal injuries often show symptoms hours or days later. A medical record made soon after the crash is also the link between the accident and your injury.
• Notify your own insurer. Most policies require prompt notice of an accident. Give the facts, but you don’t have to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer.
• Write down what happened while you remember it: time, weather, speed, what each driver did, what was said.

Within the first week: deadlines people miss

Some states require a separate report to the motor vehicle department, even if police came to the scene. A few examples:

• California: report to the DMV within 10 days (form SR-1) if anyone was injured or killed, or if property damage was over $1,000 (Vehicle Code § 16000).
• New York: file a report with the DMV within 10 days (form MV-104) if anyone was injured or killed, or if property damage to any one person was over $1,000 (Vehicle and Traffic Law § 605).
• Florida: crashes with injury, death or property damage of at least $500 must be reported to police (§ 316.065). And to use your personal injury protection (PIP) benefits, you must get initial medical treatment within 14 days of the accident (§ 627.736).

Check your state’s DMV website for its rule. Missing a reporting deadline can lead to a license suspension in some states.

The next 30 days: protecting your claim

• Follow your treatment plan and keep appointments. Gaps in treatment are the most common reason insurers reduce injury claims.
• Keep a folder with medical bills, receipts, pay stubs showing missed work, repair estimates and all letters from insurers.
• Keep a short daily journal of pain, sleep and activities you couldn’t do. It helps you describe pain and suffering months later.
• Stay off social media about the accident or your activities. Insurers look.
• Don’t sign anything from the other driver’s insurer, especially a release or a broad medical authorization, until you understand it.
• Know your deadline. The time limit to file a lawsuit is 1 to 6 years depending on the state, and much shorter if a government vehicle was involved. Check yours in our statute of limitations by state guide.

Your printable after-accident checklist

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to call the police for a minor accident?

It depends on your state’s rules and on what happened. If anyone is injured, a driver seems impaired or the other driver won’t share information, call. Even when it isn’t required, a police report is useful evidence if fault is later disputed.

What if the other driver has no insurance or leaves?

Call the police straight away and try to note the plate, car model and direction of travel. Your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage may pay for your injuries; many policies require you to report a hit-and-run to police quickly to use it.

Should I talk to the other driver’s insurance company?

You can confirm basic facts, but you’re not obliged to give a recorded statement, and it’s wise not to discuss your injuries in detail until you’ve seen a doctor. Their job is to pay as little as possible on the claim.

When should I talk to a lawyer?

If you were injured, fault is disputed or the insurer is pressing you to settle quickly, a free consultation early on costs nothing. See how much a personal injury lawyer costs.

What comes next

Once you’ve handled the first days, the claim itself begins. Read our step-by-step guide to filing a car accident claim, and when your treatment is underway, use the car accident settlement calculator to understand what your claim may be worth.

Sources

• California Vehicle Code § 16000, accident report to the DMV.
• New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 605, report of accidents.
• Florida Statutes § 316.065, crash reports.
• Florida Statutes § 627.736, personal injury protection benefits (14-day treatment rule).

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Reporting rules and deadlines vary by state and change over time. Check your state’s DMV and insurance department websites, and talk to a lawyer licensed in your state about your situation.