What to Do After a Car Accident: A Step-by-Step Guide
A car accident can happen in seconds, but the decisions you make afterward can affect your health, finances, and ability to recover compensation for your injuries.
In the moments following a crash, it is normal to feel confused, shaken, or unsure about what to do next. Knowing a few basic steps ahead of time can help you protect yourself and preserve important evidence if you later need to make an insurance claim or pursue compensation.
Here are some of the most important things to do after a car accident.
1. Check Yourself and Others for Injuries
Your first priority should always be safety.
Check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If anyone appears seriously injured, call 911 immediately and avoid moving the injured person unless remaining where they are presents an immediate danger.
Keep in mind that not every car accident injury is immediately obvious. Adrenaline and shock can temporarily mask pain, and symptoms involving the neck, back, head, or soft tissues may develop hours or even days later.
If you experience pain, dizziness, confusion, numbness, weakness, headaches, or other unusual symptoms after an accident, consider seeking prompt medical attention.
2. Move to a Safe Location If Possible
If your vehicle is creating a traffic hazard and can be safely moved, move it to a safe location nearby.
Turn on your hazard lights and remain aware of approaching traffic. If the vehicle cannot be safely moved, get yourself and your passengers away from traffic if you can do so safely.
Do not put yourself at risk trying to inspect vehicle damage or take photographs while standing in an active roadway.
3. Call the Police
Contact law enforcement and report the accident when appropriate.
When officers arrive, provide an accurate account of what happened without guessing about facts you do not know. Avoid arguments with the other driver about who caused the crash.
The responding officer may document the scene, identify the drivers and witnesses, and prepare an accident report.
Before leaving the scene, find out how you can obtain a copy of the police report.
4. Exchange Information With the Other Driver
Obtain important information from every driver involved in the accident.
This may include:
Full name and contact information
Driver's license information
Insurance company and policy information
License plate number
Vehicle make, model, and color
Name of the vehicle's owner if different from the driver
Employer information if a commercial or company vehicle is involved
Whenever possible, photograph the driver's license, insurance card, license plate, and vehicle rather than relying solely on handwritten notes.
5. Take Plenty of Pictures and Video
Photographs can become extremely important if there is later a disagreement about how the accident occurred.
Use your phone to document the scene before vehicles are moved if it is safe to do so.
Photograph more than just the damage to your own vehicle. Try to capture:
Damage to every vehicle
The position of the vehicles
License plates
Broken vehicle parts and debris
Skid marks
Traffic signals and stop signs
Lane markings
Intersections
Road conditions
Construction zones
Nearby businesses
Weather and visibility conditions
Any visible injuries
Take both close-up photographs and wider photographs showing the entire accident scene.
A short video walking around the scene may capture details that individual photographs miss.
6. Look for Witnesses
Independent witnesses can be extremely valuable when drivers disagree about what happened.
If someone saw the accident, ask for their name and contact information.
Do not assume the police officer has collected everyone's information. A witness may leave before speaking with an officer.
You can also look around for nearby homes, businesses, traffic cameras, security cameras, or doorbell cameras that may have recorded the collision.
7. Be Careful About Admitting Fault
After an accident, people sometimes apologize automatically.
Try to avoid making statements such as:
"I'm sorry."
"It was my fault."
"I didn't see you."
"I wasn't paying attention."
You may not have all the information necessary to determine what actually caused the collision.
There could be factors you did not observe, including another driver's speed, distraction, intoxication, traffic violation, or mechanical problem.
Cooperate with police and provide truthful information, but avoid speculating about responsibility.
8. Seek Medical Attention
If you are injured or experiencing symptoms, getting appropriate medical care should be a priority.
Some accident victims delay treatment because they hope the pain will disappear on its own. Unfortunately, certain injuries can become more noticeable after the initial shock of the accident wears off.
Medical treatment also creates documentation of your injuries and symptoms.
When speaking with medical providers, describe your symptoms accurately. Do not exaggerate your injuries, but do not minimize them either.
Follow your doctor's recommendations, attend scheduled appointments, and keep records related to your treatment.
9. Notify Your Insurance Company
Your insurance policy may require you to promptly report an accident.
Provide accurate basic information about the collision.
However, remember that reporting an accident is different from agreeing to every request made by an insurance company.
Be particularly cautious when an insurance representative asks you to provide a detailed recorded statement, sign broad medical authorizations, or accept a settlement shortly after an accident involving injuries.
10. Be Careful When Talking to the Other Driver's Insurance Company
The other driver's insurance adjuster may contact you shortly after the accident.
The conversation may seem routine or friendly, but the insurance company is investigating the claim and determining how much, if anything, it is responsible for paying.
Be careful about speculating regarding your injuries, saying that you are "fine," guessing about what happened, or providing information you are unsure about.
You should also understand what you are agreeing to before signing documents or authorizations.
11. Don't Rush Into a Settlement
An early settlement offer can be tempting, especially when medical bills are arriving and you are missing work.
But accepting a settlement generally resolves the claim covered by the agreement.
That can become a serious problem if you later discover that your injuries require additional treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, or extended time away from work.
Before accepting a settlement, make sure you understand the extent of your injuries, your anticipated medical treatment, your financial losses, and exactly which rights you are giving up.
12. Keep Everything Related to the Accident
Create a folder—physical, digital, or both—for everything associated with the crash.
Keep copies of:
Police reports
Photographs and videos
Medical bills
Medical records
Prescription receipts
Insurance correspondence
Repair estimates
Towing bills
Rental-car expenses
Pay stubs
Documentation of missed work
Receipts for accident-related expenses
Emails and letters from insurance companies
You may also want to keep notes describing your symptoms, medical appointments, missed activities, and how your injuries are affecting your daily life.
13. Be Careful About Social Media
Think carefully before posting about your accident or injuries on social media.
Photos, videos, comments, location information, and other posts can potentially be reviewed during an insurance claim or lawsuit.
Even an innocent photograph showing you attending a family event or going on vacation could be presented without context in an attempt to question the seriousness of an injury.
When in doubt, keep details about your accident and recovery private.
14. Document Lost Income
If your injuries cause you to miss work, keep detailed records.
Save pay stubs and other documentation showing your normal income. Keep track of the dates and hours you missed because of the accident, medical appointments, or physical limitations.
If your injuries affect overtime, bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, or your future ability to work, additional documentation may be important.
15. Don't Ignore Minor Accidents
A vehicle does not have to be destroyed for someone to be injured.
Likewise, what initially appears to be a minor accident can become more complicated if injuries develop later or the other driver changes their version of what happened.
Document the accident carefully even if the damage initially appears minor.
16. Consider Speaking With a Car Accident Attorney
Not every car accident requires an attorney. However, legal advice may be worth considering when an accident involves significant injuries, disputed fault, substantial medical expenses, lost income, an uninsured or underinsured driver, a commercial vehicle, multiple vehicles, or an insurance company that is disputing or undervaluing the claim.
An attorney can investigate the accident, preserve evidence, communicate with insurance companies, evaluate available insurance coverage, document damages, negotiate a settlement, and, when necessary, pursue a lawsuit.
It can be especially important to understand your options before signing a settlement agreement or giving up legal rights.
What You Do After a Car Accident Matters
The hours and days following a car accident can have lasting consequences.
Focus first on your health and safety. Report and document the accident, preserve evidence, follow through with appropriate medical treatment, keep records of your losses, and be cautious about statements or agreements that could affect your rights.
You cannot undo the accident, but taking the right steps afterward can put you in a much better position to protect your health, finances, and potential legal claim.
Injured in a Car Accident?
If you were injured because of another driver's actions, you may have questions about medical bills, insurance coverage, lost wages, or whether you are entitled to compensation.
Speaking with a personal injury attorney can help you understand your options before making important decisions about your claim.
Contact our office to schedule a consultation and learn more about your rights after a car accident.
This article is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Every accident and personal injury claim is different.
Comments