What To Do After a Car Accident: A Checklist From Someone Who’s Been There (2025)
I’ve been rear-ended twice. 2019—some guy texting at a red light. 2021—different guy, no insurance, totaled my Camry. Both times that initial moment was the same: confusion, adrenaline, that weird ringing in my ears, and absolutely zero ability to think clearly about what I should be doing.
And I worked in insurance for six years at that point! I processed thousands of claims! I KNEW what steps to take and I still froze up and had to actively remind myself what to do.
So now I keep a literal checklist in my glove box. Laminated and everything. Because when you’re standing on the side of the road with your heart pounding and your neck starting to hurt, you’re not gonna remember all this stuff unless it’s written down in front of you.
Here’s what’s on my checklist. Print this out if you want. I’m serious.
Step 1: Stop your car and stay
Don’t leave the scene. Even if it’s a minor fender bender. Even if you think nobody’s hurt. Even if you’re running late. In most states, leaving the scene of an accident is a crime. Just stay.
Pull over to somewhere safe if you can—the shoulder, a parking lot, off the road. Turn on your hazards. If it’s dark, turn on your interior lights too so other drivers can see people are in the car.
Step 2: Check for injuries
Yourself first. Take a breath. Move your neck slowly. Wiggle your fingers and toes. Ask yourself if anything hurts. Remember that adrenaline masks pain—you might feel fine now and feel very not fine in an hour.
Then check your passengers. Then, if you can do so safely, check on the other driver and their passengers.
If anyone is seriously hurt—unconscious, bleeding badly, can’t move, trouble breathing—call 911 immediately. Don’t try to move them unless they’re in immediate danger (like the car is on fire). Let paramedics handle it.
Step 3: Call the police
Yes, even for minor accidents. I know some people think you only need to call police if there are injuries or if the damage is above some threshold. Call anyway.
A police report is the single most useful piece of documentation you can have for your insurance claim. It’s an independent third party recording what happened. Without it, it’s your word against the other driver’s, and that makes everything harder.
If the police say they won’t come out for a minor accident (this happens sometimes), go to the police station later and file a report yourself. Better than nothing.
Step 4: Document EVERYTHING
Take out your phone. Start taking pictures. Way more pictures than you think you need.
Photos of both cars—every angle, close-ups of damage, wide shots showing positions
Photos of the scene—the intersection, street signs, traffic lights, road conditions, skid marks if there are any
Photos of the other driver’s license, registration, and insurance card (don’t just write it down—you might write it wrong)
Photos of any visible injuries on anyone
Photos of the weather and lighting conditions
I took maybe 60 photos after my 2021 accident. Felt excessive at the time. Turned out to be incredibly useful when the other driver’s story changed later.
Step 5: Exchange information
Get from the other driver:
Full name
Phone number
Address
Insurance company and policy number
License plate number
Driver’s license number
Take photos of their documents if they’ll let you. Give them your information too.
Be polite. Be calm. Don’t argue about whose fault it was. Just exchange info and let insurance sort it out.
Step 6: Get witness information
If anyone saw what happened—other drivers who stopped, pedestrians, people in nearby businesses—get their name and phone number. Witnesses are incredibly valuable. They’re neutral parties with no reason to lie.
Just walk up and say “Hey, did you see what happened? Would you mind giving me your contact info in case my insurance needs to talk to you?” Most people will help.
Step 7: Don’t say these things
Look, I’m gonna be real with you—this part feels gross to me. But it’s important.
Don’t say “I’m sorry” or “This was my fault” or “I didn’t see you.” Even if you feel terrible. Even if you think it might have been your fault. In the moment, you don’t actually know the full picture. Maybe the other driver was texting. Maybe their brake lights were out. Maybe there’s something you couldn’t see.
Anything you say at the scene can be used against you later. If you apologize and it turns out the other driver was actually at fault, your apology is on record and makes your claim harder.
This doesn’t mean be rude. Be polite. Check if they’re okay. Exchange information. Just don’t discuss fault or apologize profusely.
And for the love of everything, don’t post about it on social media until your claim is settled. I’ve seen claims get complicated because someone posted “lol I totally wasn’t paying attention” on Twitter. Just don’t.
Step 8: Get medical attention
Even if you feel fine. This is important.
Some injuries don’t show up right away. Whiplash, soft tissue damage, internal stuff—you might feel okay at the scene and wake up the next morning unable to turn your head. That’s what happened to me after 2021. I felt “fine” at the scene. Two days later I could barely move my neck.
According to Mayo Clinic, whiplash symptoms can be delayed by 24 hours or more. Go to urgent care or your doctor within 24-48 hours. Get checked out. Get it documented. If you wait two weeks to see a doctor, the insurance company might argue your injuries aren’t related to the accident.
Step 9: Report to your insurance
Call your insurance company as soon as possible. Same day or next morning. Most have 24/7 claims lines.
Don’t wait because you think the other driver’s insurance should handle it. Don’t wait until you “feel better.” Don’t wait until Monday. Report it immediately.
They’ll give you a claim number and assign an adjuster. Write down both.
Step 10: Don’t sign anything from the other driver’s insurance
The other driver’s insurance company is not on your side. They want to settle quickly and cheaply. They might call you and try to get you to accept a settlement before you even know the full extent of your damages.
Don’t sign anything. Don’t accept any settlement offers. Don’t give recorded statements to the other driver’s insurance without talking to your own insurance first.
Let your insurance company handle communication with their insurance company. That’s literally what you’re paying for.
Keep records of everything
Start a folder—physical or digital—for your accident. Put everything in it:
Police report
Photos from the scene
Other driver’s information
Witness contact info
Medical records and bills
Repair estimates
Correspondence with insurance companies
Receipts for anything related—prescriptions, Uber rides while your car was in the shop, whatever
Keep notes of every phone call—who you talked to, when, what they said. Ask for things in writing whenever possible. Create a paper trail. It protects you if anything gets disputed later.
The printable checklist
Okay here’s the condensed version. This is what I have laminated in my glove box:
1. Stop and stay at scene. Turn on hazards.
2. Check for injuries—call 911 if serious.
3. Call police for report.
4. Take 50+ photos: damage, scene, documents, injuries.
5. Exchange info: name, phone, insurance, license, plate.
6. Get witness names and numbers.
7. Don’t admit fault or apologize. Don’t post on social media.
8. Get medical attention within 24-48 hours.
9. Call your insurance immediately.
10. Don’t sign anything from other driver’s insurance.
11. Keep all documents in one folder.
One more thing
Take a breath. Car accidents are stressful and scary and even minor ones can shake you up for days. It’s okay to feel rattled. It’s okay to call someone you trust and just talk about it. It’s okay to take a day off work if you need to.
I was a mess after both my accidents even though I “knew what I was doing.” The 2021 one especially—watching my paid-off Camry get towed away, dealing with the physical therapy, the whole filing your insurance claim with the uninsured motorist coverage. It sucked. But I got through it because I documented everything and followed the process and eventually things got resolved.
You’ll get through it too. Just follow the steps, take care of yourself, and don’t let anyone rush you into decisions before you’re ready.
Collision just knocked the laminated checklist off my desk actually—she likes shiny things—but the point stands. Keep a checklist in your car. When your brain stops working from adrenaline, paper will save you.
