What to Do After a Car Accident (Step-by-Step)
A crash is chaos, but the aftermath is a process: secure the scene, get the official police report, notify insurers, file with the DMVDepartment of Motor Vehicles — Your state agency for driver's licenses, state IDs, and vehicle registration. Some states call it the BMV, DPS, MVD, or DDS.Click for official info ↗ if required, and track the claim to a payout. Here is the order that protects you legally and financially.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official US sources(2025-Latest).
0 of 10 steps
- Before You Go 15 min
Know the golden rules before it ever happens
Keep your insurance card in the glovebox and your registration with it. Confirm your policy today: liability limits, collision/comprehensive coverage, deductible amount, uninsured motorist coverage, and whether you have rental reimbursement. After a crash is the worst time to learn you only carry the state minimum.
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- Go 5–15 min
Stop, secure the scene, check for injuries
Never drive away — leaving the scene of an accident is a crime in every state, even for minor damage. Move vehicles out of traffic if they are drivable and it is safe (turn on hazards first). Check yourself, passengers, and the other driver. If anyone is hurt or the road is blocked, call 911 immediately. If the cars cannot move, stay inside with seatbelts on until help arrives.
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- Go 20–45 min
Call the police and get the report number
Many states require police for injury, death, or damage above a threshold (often $500–$1,000). Even in a fender-bender, an official report is powerful evidence for your claim. When officers arrive, give facts only — never admit fault or say "sorry" at the scene. Ask for: the report number, officer name and badge, and which agency (city police, county sheriff, or state patrol) so you can order the report later, usually $5–15.
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- Fill / Prepare 10 min
Document everything at the scene
Photograph: both cars from all angles, close-ups of damage, both license plates, the other driver's insurance card and driver's license, skid marks, road signs, weather, and the overall scene. Write down the other driver's name, phone, insurer, and policy number. Get names and numbers of witnesses — they disappear fast. Note the time, exact location, and direction of travel. Do not discuss who was at fault with anyone but police and your insurer.
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- Submit & Pay 30 min
Notify your insurance company — even if not at fault
Call your insurer within 24 hours (many policies require "prompt notice"). Filing a claim is not an admission of fault; your company assigns an adjuster who inspects damage and values repairs. If the other driver was at fault, you can also file a third-party claim directly with THEIR insurer — get their claim number at the scene or from the police report. Use at least one official shop estimate; you have the right to choose your repair shop.
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- Submit & Pay 20 min
File the state accident report if required
Many DMVs require YOU to file an accident report within 10–30 days if police did not respond, or if damage exceeds a threshold, or if anyone was injured or uninsured. Filing late can suspend your license. Download the form (often called an "accident report" or "FR-1"-style form) from your state DMVDepartment of Motor Vehicles — Your state agency for driver's licenses, state IDs, and vehicle registration. Some states call it the BMV, DPS, MVD, or DDS.Click for official info ↗ site and keep the stamped copy for your records.
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- Wait Days–weeks
Handle medical care and watch for late-appearing injuries
Adrenaline masks pain — whiplash and soft-tissue injuries often appear 24–72 hours later. See a doctor promptly if anything hurts, and use MedPay or personal injury protection (PIP) coverage where available. Keep every bill, record, and work-loss note: these document a bodily injury claim. Do not accept an insurer's first settlement offer for injuries until your treatment has stabilized.
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- Follow Up 2–6 weeks
Track the claim and fight a low payout
The adjuster sends a written offer with their valuation. If it is below your estimates or owes you diminished value, respond in writing with shop quotes, comparable listings, and photos. You can negotiate, request a second inspection, invoke the appraisal clause in your policy, or complain to your state insurance commissioner (free) if the insurer stalls or acts in bad faith. Keep a claim diary: every call, name, date, and promise.
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- Follow Up Varies
If the other driver was uninsured or fled
Uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage pays you through your OWN policy — check if you carry it. A hit-and-run with injuries is a crime to report to police; some states treat it like UM for claims. Collision coverage can also fix your car regardless of who was at fault. Without any of these, small-claims court against the at-fault driver is the fallback.
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- Receive 1 week
Close out: repairs, rental, and paperwork
Approve repairs at your chosen shop — the insurer pays them directly or reimburses you minus your deductible (recover it if the other insurer accepts fault). Rental reimbursement covers a car while yours is in the shop, up to your policy limit. Keep the final repair invoice, the police report, and the claim file for at least 3 years in case of lawsuits or residual problems.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The other driver asked me not to call police or insurance. Should I?
No. Offers to "handle it in cash" usually end with you paying for hidden damage or being blamed later. Unreported accidents can void coverage and, in many states, break the law if damage exceeds the reporting threshold. Always make the report and notify your insurer.
Does filing a claim raise my rates?
Not automatically. Rates mainly rise for at-fault accidents and violations; not-at-fault claims have little to no effect in most states, and several states ban surcharges for them outright. Ask your insurer about accident forgiveness if you were at fault.
How long do I have to claim or sue?
Insurance policies typically require prompt notice (days), DMVDepartment of Motor Vehicles — Your state agency for driver's licenses, state IDs, and vehicle registration. Some states call it the BMV, DPS, MVD, or DDS.Click for official info ↗ reports are due in 10–30 days, and lawsuits must start within the state statute of limitations — commonly 2–3 years for injury and 3–6 for property. Acting fast preserves evidence and your options.
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