1. Check for injuries — call 911
People first, cars second. Check yourself, your passengers, and the other driver. If anyone is hurt — or you aren't sure — call 911 immediately. Don't move anyone who may have a neck or back injury unless there's an immediate danger like fire. Adrenaline is a powerful anesthetic: injuries that feel like "nothing" at the scene can announce themselves hours later, so err on the side of the call.
2. Get somewhere safe
If the cars are drivable and it's safe to move them, pull to the shoulder or the nearest parking lot — a second collision in live traffic is worse than the first. Turn on your hazards, set out flares or triangles if you have them, and stay out of the travel lanes. If the car isn't drivable, get yourself and your passengers behind a guardrail or well off the road and wait.
3. Call the police and get a report
A police report is the single most valuable document you'll have from this day. It creates an official, timestamped record: who was there, what each driver said, road conditions, and often the officer's assessment of fault. Many states legally require a report above a damage threshold (often $500–$1,000), and insurers treat claims without one with noticeably more skepticism. If police won't come out for a minor crash in your area, file a report at the station or online yourself — don't skip it.
4. Photograph everything — this is the step people skip
Before anything gets moved, repaired, or "cleaned up," document the scene with your phone:
- All four sides of every vehicle involved — wide shots showing the whole car, then close-ups of every damaged area.
- License plates and VIN plates of the other vehicle.
- The scene itself — intersection, skid marks, debris field, traffic signals, road conditions, weather.
- The other driver's license and insurance card — photograph them rather than copying by hand.
You cannot take too many photos. Memory fades, stories change, and these images are what your insurer, your lawyer, and any estimate reviewer will work from. This same photo discipline is exactly what a good repair estimate is built on — more on that in step 9.
5. Exchange information — and don't admit fault
Get names, phone numbers, addresses, driver's license numbers, plate numbers, and insurance company and policy numbers from every driver involved. Get contact info for witnesses too — they're gold if fault is disputed later. Be polite, be factual, and do not say "I'm sorry" or admit fault. Fault is a legal determination, not a roadside confession, and anything you say can be used by the other party's insurer. Stick to what happened, not who's to blame.
6. See a doctor — even if you feel fine
Whiplash, concussions, and soft-tissue injuries routinely show up 24–72 hours after a crash. A same-day or next-day medical visit creates a record linking any symptoms to the accident, which matters enormously if you need to claim medical costs later. Tell the doctor you were in a car accident and describe everything, even minor stiffness. "I felt fine so I didn't go" is the sentence that kills legitimate injury claims.
7. Notify your insurance company
Most policies require "prompt" notification — in practice, within days, not weeks. Call your insurer, give them the facts (date, location, what happened, police report number), and stick to what you know. Don't speculate about fault or injuries. If the other driver was at fault, you'll typically still notify your own insurer and let them subrogate — that's what you pay them for. Keep a log of every call: date, who you spoke with, what was said.
8. Document the damage properly for estimates
Once the dust settles, the financial phase begins — and it runs on photos. Before any shop touches the car, take a clean set of damage photos in daylight: every full-vehicle angle first, then each damaged area from wide to medium to close-up, plus the VIN plate and odometer. This is the exact photo set an independent reviewer needs to build you an accurate estimate, and it protects you if a shop later claims damage "was already there" or discovers "new" damage mid-repair.
9. Get a second opinion on the repair estimate — before you authorize work
This is where most people lose money without realizing it. The first estimate you get — whether from the insurer's preferred shop or the first shop you call — is an opening number, not a verdict. Shops vary wildly in labor rates, parts choices (OEM vs. aftermarket vs. used), and how they write supplements. An independent second opinion on that estimate, reviewed line by line by an I-CAR certified technician, routinely catches inflated labor hours, duplicate operations, and vague line items that pad the bill by hundreds of dollars.
You have the legal right to choose your own shop in most states — your insurer can suggest their network, but they can't force you. And you should never authorize a repair until you understand every line of what you're signing. Start with an independent estimate review from your photos — an I-CAR certified technician's full breakdown for $19.99 — before you commit.
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Frequently asked questions
Should I call the police for a minor car accident?
Yes, whenever possible. A police report creates an official, timestamped record of the crash that insurers and courts rely on. Many states legally require a report above a damage threshold (often $500–$1,000), and without one it becomes your word against theirs.
What if the other driver doesn't have insurance?
Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) is designed for exactly this. File through your insurer under that coverage. If you don't carry UM/UIM, you can pursue the driver personally in small claims court — which is why the police report and your photos matter so much.
How long do I have to file an insurance claim after an accident?
Most policies require "prompt" notification — in practice, within days, not weeks. The legal statute of limitations for injury or property claims is typically 2–3 years depending on your state, but waiting hurts your case: evidence fades and insurers question delays.
Do I have to use the repair shop my insurance company recommends?
No. In most states, steering laws give you the right to choose your own repair shop. An insurer can suggest their network shops, but they cannot require you to use one — and you should always get an independent second opinion on the estimate before authorizing work.