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

At the scene

The scene is where evidence lives and disappears fastest. Work through these in order:

• Check yourself and passengers for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt, trapped, or if there is fire, leaking fuel, or blocked traffic.
• Move to safety if the car is drivable and moving it is safe; otherwise stay put with hazard lights on.
• Call the police even for minor damage. A police report is often the single most persuasive piece of neutral evidence later.
• Do not admit fault or apologize for the crash. Stick to facts: what happened, where, and whether anyone is hurt.
• Exchange names, phone numbers, license plates, driver's license numbers, and insurance information with every driver involved.
• Photograph the vehicles, damage, license plates, intersection, road conditions, skid marks, and any visible injuries.

In the hours after

Adrenaline masks injuries. A 'minor' crash can produce symptoms hours or days later.

• Get a medical evaluation the same day if you feel any pain, stiffness, headache, or numbness — and always tell the provider the pain started with a crash.
• Report the crash to your own insurance company, but give only the facts: when, where, who was involved. Do not speculate about fault.
• Start a file: the police report number, photos, medical records, repair estimates, and every conversation about the crash.

In the days after

The other driver's insurer will call quickly. Their job is to close the claim cheaply.

• Decline recorded statements until you have spoken with an attorney. You are generally not required to give one to the other driver's insurer.
• Do not accept a quick settlement offer without understanding your full injuries — some injuries take weeks to show their real extent.
• Keep all medical appointments and document missed work, symptoms, and out-of-pocket costs in a journal.

The one call that protects everything else

A free consultation with a personal-injury attorney costs nothing and usually happens before any commitment. The attorney can tell you what your claim may be worth, what deadlines apply, and what to say — and what not to say — to the insurance company.