What to Do After a Car Accident: A Step-by-Step Checklist

Your hands are shaking, the airbag dust is still in the air, and someone is already asking for your insurance card. Almost nobody thinks clearly in the first minutes after a crash. So we've split the job into three parts: the scene itself, the first 24 hours, and the weeks after. You won't get every item right, and that's fine. Stay safe, get checked out, and write things down.

Stage 1: At the scene

1. Check for injuries and get to safety

Paperwork can wait. If anyone is hurt, call 911 right away. If your car can still be driven and it's safe to move, consumer guidance from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and state insurance regulators suggests moving it out of traffic. If it isn't safe to get out of the car, stay put with your seat belt on and your hazard lights flashing until help arrives.

2. Call the police

Call the police even if the crash seems minor. An officer's report creates an independent record of the date, time, place, people involved, and often the officer's observations. The NAIC notes that if police don't come to the scene, filing an incident report yourself afterward may still help your claim. Every state has its own crash-reporting rules, and some require a report to a state agency as well (more on that below).

3. Exchange information

Get the following from every other driver involved:

• Full name and contact information
• Insurance company and policy number (from their insurance card)
• Driver's license number and license plate number
• Vehicle make, model, year, and color

Share your own name and insurance information too. The NAIC suggests being careful about giving more personal details than needed.

4. Be polite, but don't argue about fault

"I'm so sorry" slips out of most people, but whatever you say at the scene can be repeated later. The NAIC's advice: be courteous, but do not admit fault. Fault is usually decided later, based on evidence, the police report, and state law. Many states use comparative fault rules, which can split responsibility between drivers. You can learn more in our guide to comparative fault.

5. Document everything you can

Use your phone. Take photos and video of:

• All vehicles, from several angles, including license plates
• Damage close up and from a distance
• Skid marks, debris, traffic signs, and signals
• Road and weather conditions
• Any visible injuries

Write down the names and phone numbers of witnesses. Note the responding officer's name, badge number, and the report or incident number. Ask how and when you can get a copy of the report.

Stage 2: The first 24 hours

6. Get a medical evaluation

Some injuries, like whiplash, concussions, and internal injuries, don't show symptoms right away. Getting checked by a doctor, urgent care clinic, or emergency room protects your health and creates a medical record that links your injuries to the crash. Waiting weeks to see a doctor can make it harder to show that the crash caused your injuries.

In some no-fault states, timing matters even more. For example, Florida's personal injury protection (PIP) law generally requires that you receive initial care within 14 days of the crash to qualify for PIP medical benefits.

7. Notify your insurance company

Call your insurer as soon as you reasonably can. Most policies require prompt notice, and many insurers let you start a claim through an app. The NAIC and the Maryland Insurance Administration both recommend reporting quickly and keeping copies of everything you send or receive.

Stick to the basic facts when you report: when, where, who was involved, and what damage and injuries you know about. You don't have to guess about things you're unsure of.

8. Check whether you must report the crash to the state

Some states require drivers to file their own crash report with the DMV or another agency, separate from the police report. California is one example: if anyone was injured (even slightly) or killed, or if property damage is over $1,000, each driver must file form SR-1 with the DMV within 10 days. The California DMV states that this is required in addition to any report made to the police or your insurer. Look up your state's rules on our state law pages.

9. Start a crash file

Create a folder (paper or digital) and put everything in it: photos, the other driver's information, witness contacts, medical paperwork, receipts, and notes. Write your own account of what happened while your memory is fresh. Our evidence checklist lists what to collect.

Stage 3: The first few weeks

10. Follow your treatment plan

Go to follow-up appointments, physical therapy, and specialist visits. Gaps in treatment are a common reason insurers question whether injuries were serious. Keep every bill, receipt, and explanation of benefits.

11. Track your losses

Keep a simple log of:

• Missed work days and lost pay
• Out-of-pocket costs (prescriptions, travel to appointments, rental cars)
• Daily pain levels and activities you can't do
• Property damage estimates and repair bills

When it's time to put a value on the claim, this log is what you'll work from.

12. Get the police report

Request a copy once it's ready. Check it for errors, like a wrong name, plate number, or location. See our guide on how to get a police accident report.

13. Be careful with the other driver's insurer

The other driver's insurance company may call you quickly. You can give basic facts, but you generally don't have to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer. Read recorded statements to insurance and dealing with insurance adjusters before you agree to one.

14. Don't settle too fast

Early offers may come before you know the full extent of your injuries. Once you sign a release, you usually can't reopen the claim. The Texas Department of Insurance and other regulators encourage you to ask the adjuster to explain how an offer was calculated and to provide documents that support a higher value if you disagree.

15. Know your deadlines

Every state has a statute of limitations for injury lawsuits, and claims against government agencies often have much shorter notice deadlines. Use our statute of limitations calculator as a starting point, then confirm with the statute or a licensed attorney.

Quick reference checklist

When	What to do	Done?
At the scene	Call 911 if anyone is hurt; move to safety if possible	☐
At the scene	Call police; get the officer's name and report number	☐
At the scene	Exchange names, insurance, plates, license numbers	☐
At the scene	Photograph vehicles, scene, and injuries	☐
At the scene	Get witness names and phone numbers	☐
First 24 hours	See a doctor, even if you feel okay	☐
First 24 hours	Notify your own insurer	☐
First 24 hours	Check state DMV reporting rules	☐
First weeks	Follow treatment; keep all bills	☐
First weeks	Log lost wages and expenses	☐
First weeks	Get and review the police report	☐
First weeks	Note your filing deadlines	☐

When to think about getting help

Many minor property-damage claims can be handled without a lawyer. But if you were seriously hurt, if fault is disputed, if a commercial vehicle was involved, or if an insurer denies or delays your claim, it may make sense to talk to a licensed attorney. Our guide on whether you need a lawyer walks through the factors. If you have a dispute with your own insurer about how a claim is handled, the NAIC suggests contacting your state insurance department's consumer services staff.

Keep this on your phone

If you only save one thing from this page, save the table above. At the scene: 911 if anyone's hurt, police and a report number even for a minor bump, photos, the other driver's details, and witness phone numbers. Be polite and don't argue fault. Within a day, see a doctor (Florida's 14-day PIP window is a good reason not to wait), call your insurer, and find out whether your state wants a separate DMV report like California's SR-1. After that, it's mostly record-keeping: one folder for every bill and note, and no signature on a release until you know how your recovery is going.