What to Do After a Car Accident: A Step-by-Step Checklist

The minutes and days after a crash shape both your recovery and any claim you make. Keep this checklist in your glove box or on your phone.

At the scene

1. Check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt. Many states also require a police report for crashes above a damage threshold.
2. Move to safety if you can, turn on hazards, and stay at the scene. Leaving can be a crime.
3. Exchange information: names, phone numbers, driver's license numbers, plate numbers, insurance companies and policy numbers.
4. Photograph everything: all vehicles from several angles, plates, the road, skid marks, traffic signals and signs, weather, and your injuries.
5. Get witness names and numbers. Independent witnesses are valuable and hard to find later.
6. Don't apologize or discuss fault. "I'm sorry" can be used to suggest you admitted blame. Stick to the facts with police.
7. Get the police report number and the officer's name.

In the first days

• See a doctor promptly, even if you feel fine. Adrenaline masks pain, and some injuries, like concussions and whiplash, show up later. A gap between the crash and your first treatment is one of the insurer's favorite arguments.
• Report the crash to your own insurer as your policy requires. Give facts, not opinions about your injuries.
• Be careful with the other driver's insurer. You don't have to give a recorded statement, and you shouldn't sign anything or accept a quick check before you know how badly you're hurt.
• Start a file: medical bills, receipts, repair estimates, missed-work records and a simple daily journal of pain and limitations.
• Stay off social media about the crash or your activities. Insurers look.

In the weeks after

• Follow your treatment plan and keep every appointment.
• Keep track of lost wages with a note from your employer.
• Check your own coverage: medical payments, PIP in no-fault states, rental, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

When to call a lawyer

Talk to a personal injury lawyer if you were seriously hurt, missed significant work, fault is disputed, a commercial vehicle or rideshare was involved, the other driver was uninsured, or the insurer is pressing you to settle fast. Most give a free consultation and work on contingency. And don't wait too long, because filing deadlines apply.

Find a personal injury lawyer near you. Related: how much your case might be worth.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Reporting and insurance rules vary by state.