Free tool
At the scene: crash checklist
Open this on your phone right after a crash. Tick off each step, save the time and place with one tap, and collect the details insurers ask for later.
1. Safety first
Call 9112. Time and place
Your location stays on this device. It is not sent to us.
3. The other driver
4. Photos to take
Use your phone's camera, then tick each one off.
5. Witness and police
What to say, and what not to
- Stick to facts: where you were, what you saw.
- Don't apologize or guess who was at fault.
- Don't say you're not hurt. Say you'll get checked.
- Don't agree to settle it without insurance.
Done at the scene?
Copy what you entered into your claim file, where you can add bills, photos and a contact log later.
By Serdar Arslan, editor · Last reviewed · How we research
Why a checklist helps at the scene
Most people have never been in a serious crash before the one they are standing in. Adrenaline makes it easy to forget a plate number, skip the photos or say more than you should. The details that are simple to collect in the first twenty minutes are the hardest to get a week later, when the cars have been towed and the witness has gone home.
What it saves, and where
Everything you tick or type is kept in your phone's browser and nowhere else. If you allow it, the location button reads your GPS position once and stores the coordinates with the time. When you are done, one tap copies the details into the claim file builder, where you can add bills, a contact log and photo exhibits over the following weeks.
Prepare before you need it
Add this page to your phone's home screen, and keep a printed glovebox accident card in the car for the times your battery is flat. For the full first month, follow what to do after a car accident and the evidence checklist.
Frequently asked questions
›What should I do first after a car accident?
Check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt or the road is blocked. If the cars can be driven and it is safe, move out of traffic and turn on your hazard lights. Then exchange details and take photos.
›What information should I get from the other driver?
Their name and phone number, license plate, the vehicle's make, model and color, their insurance company and policy number. A photo of their license and insurance card is the quickest way to capture it accurately.
›What photos should I take at a crash scene?
The whole scene from each direction, all four sides of every vehicle, close-ups of each damaged area, every license plate, skid marks and debris, nearby signs and signals, and any visible injuries.
›Do I have to report the crash to the police or the DMV?
It depends on the state and on whether anyone was hurt or how much damage there was. Choose your state in the checklist to see its reporting rule, with a link to the statute on the state page.
›Is my location sent anywhere?
No. If you tap the location button, your browser reads the position once and saves the coordinates on your device with the rest of the checklist. Nothing is sent to us.