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What should I do after a car accident?

Updated July 1, 2026United States

Short answer

First make sure everyone is safe: check for injuries, call 911 if anyone is hurt, and move out of traffic if the cars are drivable and it's safe to. Then document the scene — photos, the other driver's license, registration and insurance details, and any witnesses — and get a police report where your state or the situation calls for one. See a medical professional even if you feel fine, since some injuries show up later, and report the crash to your own insurer promptly. Avoid admitting fault at the scene; stick to the facts and let the insurers and any report sort out responsibility.

In the minutes after a crash you're rattled and it's easy to forget things. A simple order — safety, then documentation, then reporting — keeps you covered without having to think it all through on the spot.

Step by step

  1. Check for injuries and get to safety

    See if anyone is hurt and call 911 if they are. If the vehicles are drivable and it's safe, move them out of the traffic lane; otherwise turn on hazard lights and stay clear of moving traffic. Safety comes before any documentation.

  2. Call the police where it's needed

    Many situations — injuries, significant damage, a driver who won't cooperate, or a suspected DUI — warrant calling the police, and some states require a report over a certain threshold. If officers come, get the report or incident number. Whether you must report varies by state, so when unsure, check your state DMV or local police.

  3. Exchange information — but don't admit fault

    Get the other driver's name, phone, license number, plate, and insurance company and policy number, and give yours. Keep it factual and calm; avoid saying the crash was your fault or apologizing in a way that sounds like an admission. Fault is decided later, based on evidence.

  4. Photograph the whole scene

    Take wide shots showing both vehicles and their positions, close-ups of all damage, the other car's plate, skid marks, road and weather conditions, traffic signs or signals, and any visible injuries. More is better — you can't come back for the shot later.

  5. Get witnesses and the other details

    Ask anyone who saw it for their name and number before they leave. Note the date, time, exact location, direction each car was traveling, and the responding officers' names or badge numbers if police attend.

  6. See a medical professional

    Get checked even if you feel okay — adrenaline can mask pain, and injuries like whiplash or concussion can surface a day or two later. A prompt medical record also connects any injury to the crash, which matters if you make a claim.

  7. Report it to your insurer and keep everything

    Notify your own insurance company promptly — many policies require timely notice — and give them the facts. Keep your photos, the police report or number, medical records, and repair estimates together in one place from day one.

Plain-English terms

Police report
The official record an officer makes about a crash. It isn't the final word on fault, but it's an important independent account. Ask for the report or incident number so you can request a copy.
At-fault vs. no-fault state
How a state handles who pays. In 'no-fault' states, each driver's own insurer covers certain costs regardless of blame; in at-fault states, the driver responsible (or their insurer) pays. Which applies depends on your state.
Comparative / contributory negligence
State rules for splitting fault when more than one driver is partly to blame. Some states reduce your recovery by your share of fault; a few bar it entirely if you're even slightly at fault. This varies by state.
Claim
A formal request to an insurer to pay for injury or damage from the crash. You may deal with your own insurer, the other driver's, or both, depending on your state and coverage.
Statute of limitations
The legal deadline for filing a claim or lawsuit over the accident. It varies by state and by the type of claim, so check your state's limit before assuming you have time.

The tool for this

buildmyevidence

This guide tells you what to do. buildmyevidence does it with you — right at the scene, capture photos, the other driver's details, witnesses and notes into one dated case file, so you're not relying on memory later. Every entry is timestamped and located for you.

  • Guided prompts so you don't forget a key photo at the scene
  • The other driver's details, witnesses and the police number in one place
  • Export a complete, dated record for your insurer or a claim
See buildmyevidence

Related questions

This is general information to help you stay safe and keep your own records — not legal or medical advice. Reporting duties, fault rules, and claim deadlines vary by state — check your state DMV, local police, and your own insurance policy for your situation.