Category: Quick Guide / Transportation

⚡ What to Do After a Car Accident

A car accident can make it difficult to think clearly. Do not try to solve everything at once.

Check for injuries, protect everyone from additional traffic, call for help, and document what happened.

1. Stop the Vehicle

Stop as soon as it is safe. Do not leave the scene.

Then:

Shift into park.
Set the parking brake.
Turn on the hazard lights.
Take a breath.
Check yourself and your passengers.
Look for traffic, fire, smoke, or leaking fuel.

Do not get out until you have checked whether moving traffic makes it unsafe.

2. Check for Injuries

Ask everyone in your vehicle:

Are you hurt?
Are you bleeding?
Can you move normally?
Do you feel dizzy, confused, weak, or nauseated?
Do you have pain in your head, neck, back, chest, or abdomen?
Are you having difficulty breathing?

Do not move an injured person unless fire, traffic, or another immediate danger makes staying in place unsafe.

3. Call 911 When Necessary

Call 911 if:

Anyone may be injured.
A vehicle is blocking traffic.
A pedestrian or cyclist was involved.
A vehicle is smoking, burning, or leaking fuel.
A driver may be impaired.
Someone leaves the scene.
Someone is threatening or aggressive.
Public property was damaged.
You are unsure whether emergency assistance is needed.

Tell the dispatcher:

Your location
How many vehicles are involved
Whether anyone appears injured
Whether traffic is blocked
Whether there is fire, smoke, or leaking fuel

Follow the dispatcher’s instructions.

4. Move Away From Immediate Danger

If the vehicles can be driven safely and no one is seriously injured, police or local law may allow or require you to move them out of active traffic.

Before moving:

Follow instructions from 911 or police.
Take quick photographs if it is safe.
Turn on the hazard lights.
Move only as far as needed to reach a shoulder, parking lot, or another safe location.

Do not drive a vehicle that:

Is leaking fuel
Is smoking or burning
Cannot steer or brake normally
Has a badly damaged wheel or tire
Has loose parts dragging
Blocks your view
Appears unsafe to operate

Stay out of traffic lanes and do not stand between vehicles.

Helpful Resources: Browse Visibility & Roadside Safety for products, equipment, services, or supplies related to this section.

5. Leave Immediately if There Is Fire or Fuel

If you see flames, heavy smoke, sparks, or leaking fuel:

Turn off the engine if you can do so safely.
Get everyone out.
Move far away from the vehicle and road.
Call 911.
Keep other people away.
Do not return for belongings.

Do not open the hood of a burning vehicle.

Do not touch exposed cables or battery components in a damaged hybrid or electric vehicle.

6. Stay Calm Around the Other Driver

Check whether the other person needs emergency help, but avoid arguing about who caused the accident.

You can say:

Let’s make sure everyone is safe and exchange our information.

Be polite and factual. Do not guess, threaten, argue, or agree to a version of events you do not understand.

If the other person becomes aggressive:

Return to your locked vehicle if it is safe.
Move near other people.
Call 911.
Do not physically confront the person.

7. Exchange Information

Collect:

Driver’s full name
Contact information
Driver’s-license information
Insurance-company name
Policy information
Vehicle make, model, and color
License-plate number
Vehicle owner’s name if different from the driver

Provide the same necessary information about yourself.

Do not share:

Social Security number
Bank-account information
Credit-card information
Passwords
Verification codes

Taking clear photographs of the driver’s license, insurance card, and license plate can reduce copying mistakes. Ask permission before photographing documents.

8. Take Photographs

If you can do so without entering traffic, photograph:

Damage to every vehicle
License plates
Vehicle positions
The road and intersection
Traffic lights and signs
Lane markings
Debris
Skid marks
Weather and road conditions
Damage to other property
Visible injuries when appropriate

Take both close and wide photographs.

Do not walk into traffic to get a better picture.

9. Write Down What Happened

Record:

Date and time
Exact location
Direction each vehicle was traveling
What you remember before the collision
Weather and lighting
Road conditions
Police officer’s name and badge number
Police report or incident number
Towing-company information

Write factual details before you forget them. Avoid guessing about speed, distance, or responsibility.

10. Collect Witness Information

If someone saw the accident, ask for:

Name
Phone number
Email address

Do not pressure the witness to agree with you. Ask only whether the person is willing to describe what they observed.

11. If the Other Driver Leaves

Do not chase the vehicle.

Record:

License-plate number
Vehicle description
Driver description
Direction the vehicle traveled
Time and location
Witness information

Call the police and report a possible hit-and-run.

12. Get Police Report Information

If police respond, ask for:

Officer’s name
Badge number
Incident or report number
Instructions for obtaining the report
Information about any additional report you must file

If police do not respond, ask whether you need to file a report online or at a police station.

Reporting requirements vary by state. Contact the local police department or state motor-vehicle agency if you are unsure.

13. Arrange Towing Carefully

If the vehicle cannot be driven safely:

Call roadside assistance or your insurance company.
Confirm who authorized the tow.
Ask where the vehicle will be taken.
Ask about towing and storage charges.
Remove essential belongings when safe.
Read forms before signing.
Do not sign a blank authorization.

Take with you:

Identification
Wallet
Phone
Keys
Medication
Work equipment
Mobility or communication supplies
Important documents

Verify any tow truck that appears without being requested. Police may arrange a legitimate tow, but confirm with the responding officer.

14. Contact Your Insurance Company

Report the accident according to your policy.

Have ready:

Policy number
Date, time, and location
Other driver’s information
Police report number
Photographs
Witness information
Towing location
Description of vehicle damage
Information about possible injuries

Write down:

Claim number
Representative’s name
Next required step
Documents you must submit
Any deadlines provided

Ask before assuming that towing, repairs, medical expenses, or a rental car will be covered.

15. Monitor Yourself for Injuries

Pain or other symptoms may appear after you leave the scene.

Seek medical help if you develop:

Headache
Dizziness
Confusion
Nausea
Neck or back pain
Chest or abdominal pain
Numbness or weakness
Vision changes
Difficulty breathing
Unusual tiredness

Call 911 for severe or rapidly worsening symptoms.

Tell the healthcare provider that you were involved in a car accident.

16. Keep All Records

Create one accident file containing:

Police report
Insurance claim information
Photographs
Witness information
Medical records
Repair estimates
Towing receipts
Rental-car receipts
Emails and letters
Notes from phone calls

Do not post accident details, photographs, or opinions about responsibility on social media.

Quick Accident Checklist

Before leaving the scene, confirm that you have:

Stopped in a safe location
Checked for injuries
Called 911 if needed
Moved away from fire, smoke, fuel, or traffic
Exchanged driver and insurance information
Photographed the vehicles and scene
Collected witness information
Obtained the police report number
Recorded towing information
Contacted someone you trust
Saved everything in one place

Related Guides

This guide provides general education and does not replace individualized care from a qualified healthcare or mental health professional.