What to Do After a Car Accident

A car accident is one of those moments that can leave anyone rattled, even a minor fender bender can make it hard to think clearly about what to do next. If it ever happens to you, here’s a simple order of operations to follow.

First, Make Sure Everyone Is Okay

Before anything else, check on yourself and anyone else involved. If you’re able to, and it’s safe to do so, move your vehicle out of traffic to somewhere secure. Your safety, and the safety of everyone else involved, always comes first.

If You or Someone Else Is Seriously Injured

If anyone is seriously hurt, your only priority in that moment is getting help. Call 911 right away and let the professionals take it from there.

Here’s something important to know: you don’t need to worry about the claims process in this moment. Your health and safety come first, always. The police will gather all the information they can at the scene, and that report is something we can work from later. If you’re not in a position to reach out to us right away, that’s okay. Have someone else contact us on your behalf, or reach out yourself once you’re feeling up to it. The claim will still be there when you’re ready.

Document the Scene

If you’re able to safely do so, take photos of everything, the vehicles involved, the damage, the surrounding area, and any relevant road conditions or signage. These photos can make a real difference later in the claims process.

Get a Police Report

Always call the police to the scene, even for a minor accident. Make sure you get the police report number before you leave. This report becomes an important piece of documentation for your claim.

Exchange Information

Get the other driver’s insurance information, including their name, policy number, and insurance company. It’s also helpful to grab their contact information and license plate number if you’re able to.

If Your Car Isn’t Drivable

If your vehicle can’t be driven from the scene, it will need to be towed. In some cases, this cost may need to be paid out of pocket initially and reimbursed later through the claims process. If you have roadside assistance included in your coverage, that can often help cover the towing cost directly, so it’s worth checking what your policy includes.

The Bottom Line

Accidents are stressful, and it’s easy to feel like you need to handle everything all at once. You don’t. Your safety is the priority. Everything else, the claim, the paperwork, the phone calls, can be sorted out once you’re safe and ready. We’re here to help make that part as easy as possible whenever you’re ready to reach out.

We’re Here to Help

If you’d like to check on your policy and make sure you have all the right coverages, email Liz Fox at or fill out our Contact an Agent form.