Car accidents happen fast — and in the minutes and hours that follow, what you do (and what you avoid doing) can directly affect your health, your insurance claim, and any legal case that follows. More than 5.9 million police-reported crashes occur in the United States every year, with roughly 1.6 million resulting in injury. Whether your accident was a minor fender-bender or a serious collision, the steps you take at the scene and in the days afterward matter.
Here is exactly what to do after a car accident, in order.
Step 1: Stop and Stay at the Scene
No matter how minor the collision feels, stop immediately. Leaving the scene — even a low-speed one — can be a criminal offense in most states. Stay calm, turn on your hazard lights, and remain at the scene until police clear you to leave or you have exchanged all necessary information.
Step 2: Check Yourself and Others for Injuries
Before anything else, assess your condition. If you are seriously injured, do not try to move. Call 911 immediately or ask a bystander to call for you. Adrenaline can mask pain, so take injury symptoms seriously even if you feel fine at the scene.
Step 3: Move to Safety If You Can
If vehicles are driveable and the accident occurred in an active traffic lane, move them to the shoulder when it is safe. Turn on hazard lights. If you have road flares or warning triangles, use them. If vehicles cannot be moved, get yourself to a safe location off the road.
Step 4: Call the Police
Always call the police, even when there appears to be only minor damage. An official police report is one of the most important documents you will need for your insurance claim or any legal action. Tell officers exactly what you observed — nothing more. Learn more about how to get a police report after a car accident.
Step 5: Document Everything at the Scene
While you wait for police, document as much as you can with your phone:
- All vehicles involved from multiple angles, including license plates
- Visible damage to all vehicles and any visible injuries
- Road conditions, weather, skid marks, debris, and traffic signals
- Any traffic cameras or business security cameras nearby
If you have a dashcam: Preserve the footage immediately by removing the SD card or copying the file before the loop recording overwrites it. Dashcam video is among the most powerful evidence in a disputed-liability claim — it objectively captures speed, positioning, and the full sequence of events. Share footage only with your attorney before turning it over to any insurer.
Step 6: Exchange Information With the Other Driver
Collect from every driver: full name and contact information, driver’s license number and state, license plate number, insurance company name and policy number, and vehicle make and model. Get names and contacts from any witnesses too. Write it down or photograph documents — do not rely on memory.
Step 7: Do Not Admit Fault
Do not apologize, do not speculate about what happened, and do not say anything that could be interpreted as accepting responsibility. Even a casual “I’m sorry” can be used as evidence of fault. This applies to conversations with the other driver, witnesses, passengers, and anything you post on social media. Avoid posting about the accident until your claim is fully resolved.
Step 8: Seek Medical Attention — Even If You Feel Fine
See a doctor within 24 to 72 hours. Whiplash, soft tissue injuries, internal bruising, and concussions frequently do not produce immediate symptoms. A gap between the accident and medical treatment is one of the first things insurance adjusters use to dispute injury claims. Go to urgent care or the ER if needed, describe every symptom — no matter how minor — and establish a medical record linked to the accident date.
Step 9: Notify Your Insurance Company
Report the accident to your own insurer as soon as possible. Provide only basic facts: the time, location, and the other driver’s information. You are not required to give a recorded statement to your own insurer immediately, and you should never give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer without speaking to an attorney first. See how the process unfolds in our guide to how long a car insurance claim takes. If a settlement offer follows, read our breakdown of how personal injury settlements work before accepting anything.
Step 10: Keep a Running Record of All Damages and Losses
From the day of the accident forward, track everything:
- All medical bills, treatment records, and prescription receipts
- Days of work missed and wages lost
- Transportation costs to and from medical appointments
- Out-of-pocket expenses caused by the accident
- A daily journal noting your pain levels and how the injury affects your daily life
This documentation forms the foundation of your damages claim — whether you are negotiating with an adjuster or building a case with an attorney.
Step 11: Consult a Car Accident Attorney
If you have been injured, if liability is disputed, if the other driver was uninsured, or if a government vehicle was involved, consulting a car accident lawyer is one of the most important steps you can take. Most work on contingency — no fee unless they recover compensation for you. An attorney can communicate with insurers on your behalf, prevent lowball settlements, negotiate medical liens, and build the strongest possible record for your claim. Accident victims with legal representation consistently recover more — even after attorney fees — than those who negotiate alone. Your attorney will typically start by sending a personal injury demand letter outlining your injuries and damages.
Step 12: Be Aware of the Statute of Limitations
Every state sets a deadline for filing a car accident lawsuit — typically one to three years from the date of the accident. Missing this deadline means permanently losing the right to file suit, regardless of how strong your case is. Review the statute of limitations for your state as soon as possible and factor that deadline into your decision-making.
What NOT to Do After a Car Accident
Knowing what to avoid is just as important as knowing what to do. These are the most common mistakes that damage valid claims:
- Do not leave the scene before police arrive. Even in a no-fault state, leaving before officers document the scene can complicate your claim significantly.
- Do not skip medical care. Waiting days or weeks to see a doctor gives insurers the argument that your injuries were not serious. Delayed treatment is the single most common reason valid injury claims are disputed.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer. You have no legal obligation to do so. Adjusters are trained to use your words against you. Direct all insurer contact to your attorney.
- Do not accept the first settlement offer without legal review. First offers are almost always below the true value of the claim. Once you sign a release, your claim is permanently closed — even if your injuries worsen.
- Do not post about the accident on social media. Photos, updates, and check-ins can all be used to minimize your injuries or contradict your account of events.
- Do not assume you have unlimited time. The statute of limitations clock starts on the day of the accident — not when you decide to take legal action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to call the police for a minor accident?
Yes, in most cases. A police report creates an official record that insurance companies rely on. Some states also legally require reporting any accident involving injury or damage above a certain threshold. It is almost always better to have a report than to wish you had one later.
What if the other driver doesn’t have insurance?
Your uninsured motorist (UM) coverage — if you carry it — is the primary resource. An attorney can help you navigate a UM claim, which involves many of the same steps as a standard liability claim.
Should I accept the insurance company’s first offer?
Typically no. Initial offers are often significantly below the full value of a claim. Consult an attorney before accepting any settlement offer, especially if you have ongoing medical treatment. For more on this, see our guide to how long car accident settlements take.
Does dashcam footage help my car accident claim?
Yes — significantly. Dashcam video can resolve disputed-liability cases that would otherwise be a “he said / she said” standoff. Preserve footage immediately after any accident and share it only with your attorney before providing it to any insurer.
