What to do after a car accident: a checklist for the scene and after

What to do at the scene of a car accident

1. Stop as soon as it is safe, turn on your hazard lights and switch off the engine.
2. Check yourself and your passengers for injuries, and call 911 if anyone is hurt or the road is blocked.
3. If the cars can be driven and no one is hurt, move them out of traffic; otherwise stay in a safe place away from moving vehicles.
4. Call the police, or follow their instructions if they do not respond to minor crashes in your area.
5. Exchange names, addresses, phone numbers, driver's license numbers, plate numbers and insurance details with every driver involved.
6. Get the names and phone numbers of passengers and witnesses.
7. Photograph every vehicle, the damage, the plates, the road, traffic signals, signs and the wider scene.
8. Write down the time, the exact location, the weather and what happened while it is fresh in your mind.
9. If you hit an unattended car or property, find the owner or leave a note with your name, address and what happened, and report it to police.
10. Stay calm and stick to facts; do not argue about who was to blame.

Moving your car out of the way does not have to hurt your case. California's law on property-damage crashes, for example, tells drivers to stop at the nearest safe location and says that moving the car this way does not affect the question of fault.

The California Department of Insurance's accident guide adds that some police agencies do not respond to every crash, such as those on private property, and that most policies require hit-and-run crashes to be reported to police within a set time.

Information to exchange after a car accident

Get the same details from every driver involved, and check them against their license and insurance card where you can.

Some of this is a legal duty, not just good practice. In California, a driver involved in a property-damage crash must give their name and address and the owner's name and address, and show their license and registration when asked.

Georgia's insurance department recommends getting the officer's name and badge number, avoiding statements about responsibility or blame, and not telling others how much liability insurance you carry.

Photos to take after a crash

Photos are some of the best evidence in an auto insurance claim. Take more than you think you need, from several angles.

• Wide shots showing all vehicles and where they came to rest
• Close-ups of damage on every car, including yours, from each corner
• The other car's license plate and, with permission, the other driver's insurance card
• Traffic lights, stop signs, lane markings and speed limit signs
• Skid marks, debris, fluid leaks and road damage
• Weather, lighting and road surface conditions
• Visible injuries, if the injured person agrees
• Nearby businesses or homes that may have security cameras

Georgia's insurance department also advises noting the exact place the vehicles collided. A rough diagram on paper or your phone, with lanes and directions of travel, helps when you describe the crash days later.

When you must report a crash to police or the DMV

There are two kinds of reports. One is calling the police to the scene. The other is a written report that some states require drivers to send to the DMV or keep on file, which is separate from your insurance claim.

Rules in other states differ, so check your state DMV's website. Even when no report is legally required, a police report makes a claim easier, especially if the other driver changes their story, has no insurance or leaves.

What to do in the days after a crash

The first few days decide how smoothly the claim goes.

• Tell your insurer. Report the crash as soon as possible, even if you were not at fault. Georgia's insurance department and California's accident guide both advise prompt notice to your insurer or agent.
• Get checked by a doctor. Some injuries show up later. Depending on your state and policy, personal injury protection or medical payments coverage may pay your bills regardless of fault.
• Get the police report. Ask the agency how to request a copy, and check it for errors.
• File any required state report before your state's deadline.
• Start the repair process. Get estimates, choose a shop and ask about a rental car. See our guide to filing a claim for the full process.
• Keep a claim file. Save receipts for towing, rentals, medical care and anything else the crash cost you.
• Be careful with the other insurer. You can give facts and documents, but do not sign a release until you know the full extent of your damage and injuries.
• If you are sued, tell your insurer right away. The NAIC explains that your insurer provides a lawyer and pays up to your policy limits.

California's accident guide also warns not to sign anything that releases the other party in exchange for payment of your deductible.

If the other driver has no insurance or drives away

If the other driver has no insurance, your uninsured motorist coverage may pay for injuries and, in some states, damage to your car, and your collision coverage can repair your car either way. If the driver leaves the scene, call police immediately. The Texas Department of Insurance warns that uninsured motorist coverage will not pay for a hit-and-run you did not report to police. Our hit-and-run guide covers the deadlines.

If you caused the crash, your liability coverage pays the other driver's damage and injuries up to your limits. After an at-fault claim, your premium may change at renewal; see rates after a claim and our guide for drivers after an accident.