What to do after a car accident: a step-by-step guide

The short version

After a crash, work in order: make sure everyone is safe and call emergency services if anyone is hurt, then document the scene and exchange information, then notify your insurer — even if the other driver was clearly at fault. Don’t admit fault at the scene; describe what happened factually and let the insurers determine liability from the evidence. The steps below walk through each stage, from the first ten minutes to the claim.

At the scene: the first ten minutes

1. Check for injuries and get safe. If anyone is hurt, call emergency services immediately. If the cars are drivable and it’s legal in your situation, move them out of traffic; otherwise, turn on hazards and get people to a safe spot away from the road.
2. Call the police when it’s warranted. Rules on when a crash must be reported vary by state — many require it above certain injury or damage thresholds. When in doubt, call; a police report makes every later step easier.
3. Exchange information. Name, phone number, insurance company and policy number, driver’s license, and plate number. Photograph their insurance card and license plate rather than transcribing.
4. Document everything. Photos of all vehicles from multiple angles, the wider scene, skid marks, traffic signs, weather, and any visible injuries. If anyone saw the crash, get their name and number — witnesses evaporate fast.
5. Say what happened, not whose fault it was. Be factual and polite. Avoid statements like “I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you” — fault is determined later from evidence, and scene apologies have a way of appearing in claim files.

In the first day or two

• Notify your insurer promptly, even if the other driver seems clearly at fault, and even if you don’t plan to file a claim on your own policy. Most policies require timely notice of any accident, and your insurer will handle the other company’s adjuster for you.
• See a doctor if there’s any chance you’re hurt. Some injuries surface days later, and a prompt medical record protects both your health and any injury claim.
• Start a file. Police report number, claim number, adjuster’s contact info, repair estimates, medical visits, and every conversation with dates. Boring — and decisive if anything is disputed.

How the claim itself works

If the other driver was at fault, their liability coverage should pay for your car and injuries — you’ll deal with their insurer’s adjuster, with your own insurer’s help. If you were at fault (or fault is shared), your own collision coverage repairs your car after you pay your deductible, and your liability coverage handles the other side’s damage.

The adjuster may inspect the damage or request photos before the insurer explains its estimate. Repair-shop rights and network-shop terms vary by state and policy, so ask for them in writing. If the vehicle meets the applicable total-loss standard, the claim may move to a value-based settlement process instead of repair.

Small accidents: claim or pay out of pocket?

For minor single-car damage — a scraped bumper on a pole — it’s worth comparing the repair quote against your deductible before filing. If the repair barely exceeds it, paying out of pocket can be the better long-term deal, since claims can affect your renewal price. There’s no universal answer; just make it a decision rather than a reflex.

One caveat: if another person or their property is involved at all, notify your insurer regardless. What looks like a friendly handshake agreement can turn into an injury claim weeks later, and late notice can jeopardize your coverage.