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What to Do After a Car Accident: Step-by-Step Guide
A car accident can happen in an instant, leaving you shaken and unsure of what to do next. Your first priority is safety—stay in your vehicle if it’s dangerous to exit, move to a safe location if possible, and call the police if needed. From there, it’s crucial to check for injuries, gather important information, contact your attorney, and start the insurance claims process.
This guide will walk you through every essential step to take after a car accident, ensuring you protect yourself, handle the situation correctly, and get the compensation you deserve after a car accident.
What to do Following an Accident
Immediately following the accident, it’s essential that you stay seated in the car. Sometimes accidents will leave your car in the middle of a busy roadway and exiting the vehicle quickly can be extremely dangerous. Instead of quickly exiting, take a moment to gather yourself, observe your surroundings, and when you feel it’s safe, move off of the roadway away from traffic.
Move to a Safe Location
If possible, move your car to a safe location away from the flow of traffic. If you’re unable to move the car safely, we recommend moving a safe distance away from your car and the roadway. But, as stated earlier, if you’re unsure about the environment outside of your car and whether other cars might be coming, stay in your vehicle until help arrives.
Call the Police
After you’ve done what you can to ensure you’re in a safe place, then your next step is to call the police. It’s important to call the police after every accident you’re in no matter the severity. Calling the police helps to ensure that you have an official accident report, which can be crucial for insurance claims and legal protection. A police report provides an objective record of the incident, helps determine fault, and ensures that all necessary details are documented accurately. Even in minor accidents, calling the police can prevent disputes and protect your rights.
What Happens if You Don’t Call the Police?
Without an official police report, it becomes your word against the other party’s, making it harder to prove what happened. Many insurance companies require a police report to process claims, and without one, you may struggle to receive compensation. Some injuries and vehicle damage aren’t immediately noticeable, and without documentation, it may be difficult to prove that they resulted from the accident. In some states, failing to report an accident can even result in fines or legal consequences, especially if there are injuries or significant property damage. Calling the police ensures that you have an accurate record of the event, protecting you from potential legal and financial headaches down the road.
Check for Injuries and Get Medical Help if Necessary
The adrenaline of an accident makes it easy to miss minor or internal injuries. Checking for bruising, tender areas, or bleeding is very important. It’s also important to check on your passengers, especially if there are young children in the car who might not be able to vocalize their pain. Proper medical care helps prevent long-term injuries and residual pain.
When you call the police for an accident, it’s common for an EMS unit to follow or be advised by the police. Paramedics will be able to assess injuries and if needed, rush you or a passenger to the nearest medical center.
Gathering Information for Insurance Claims
As the hurry and craziness of the moment begins to fade, you’ll need to start collecting what information you can from the other driver(s) and potential witnesses. If you’re quickly rushed off the scene with medical concerns, the police officers and your attorney will gather the details needed for an insurance claim.
Exchange info and Take Pictures
There are a few key pieces of information you should try to collect after a car accident. This information will be used to complete the insurance claim and help support your case if you need to go to court.
Here’s a simple list that you can use to make sure you get everything you need. It may be good to write these down and keep the list in your car, so you don’t have to try and remember on the spot.
- Full name and contact information of other driver
- Insurance company and policy number
- Driver's license and license plate number
- Type, color and model of vehicle
- Location of accident
- Pictures of the damages to all vehicles
Document the Car Accident
If you haven’t sustained serious injuries and you’re waiting on a tow truck or someone to pick you up from the accident, it’s a good idea to use that time to your advantage. Here’s another list to save with items that should be documented.
- Identify the police officers on the scene
- Obtain a copy of the accident report
- Take down names of all parties involved (if there were other cars, it can be good to get more names)
- Talk to witnesses - getting the names and contact information of a few individuals who saw what happened can be helpful for your attorney.
Don’t worry if you haven’t had the time to take care of these items while on the scene, your attorney can help to ensure these items are collected and ready in order to defend your case. In fact, this is one of the advantages of hiring an attorney early on in the process. They’ll help to remove some of the leg work that you would normally need to do on your own, allowing you to focus on recovering while your attorneys handle your case.
After Leaving the Scene of the Accident
Once you’ve left the scene of an accident, it’s time to get started on the real work of a car accident. It’s never a convenient thing–you’re going to spend some time on the phone speaking with your attorney, auto shop, and insurance company to get your claim going.
Seek Medical Attention and Receive a Doctors Note
Your pain may not seem pressing at the time, but we always recommend getting a workup from a medical doctor. After leaving the scene, your body may begin to ache, feeling sore and stiff from the impact. As the adrenaline wears off, pain and symptoms of whiplash may arise. A doctor’s examination and note on your condition can be used in the claims process.
You may also need to be referred to a chiropractor or physical therapist that can help you recover from the residual effects of the accident.
Contact an Attorney
Dealing with insurance companies after a car accident can be overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to recover from injuries and manage repairs. Hiring an attorney can make the process significantly easier by ensuring your claim is handled efficiently and fairly.
A personal injury attorney will take over communication with the insurance company, preventing adjusters from pressuring you into a low settlement. They will also collect and organize crucial evidence—such as medical records, accident reports, and witness statements—to strengthen your claim. Attorneys are skilled negotiators who can work with medical providers to reduce your out-of-pocket expenses and ensure that your medical bills are covered.
If the insurance company delays, undervalues, or denies your claim, your attorney can escalate the case by filing a legal demand or pursuing litigation if necessary. Having an experienced law firm like Wettermark Keith on your side not only increases the likelihood of a fair settlement but also allows you to focus on your recovery while we handle the complex details of your case.
Start the Claims Process
Before reaching out to your insurance company, it's beneficial to contact an attorney first to ensure everything is handled properly from the start. An experienced attorney can help you understand your rights, gather essential details, and prevent mistakes that could impact your claim. However, we understand that most people begin the claims process with their insurance company first, only seeking legal help when they run into roadblocks like lowball settlement offers or unnecessary delays.
If you have already started your claim, an attorney can step in at any point to take over negotiations and ensure the insurance company isn’t taking advantage of you. If you haven’t filed a claim yet, your attorney can handle the entire process on your behalf, protecting you from common pitfalls—such as insurers requesting unnecessary documents to delay or deny your claim. Some insurance companies even offer mobile apps that detect accidents and help you initiate claims at the scene, but regardless of how you start, having an attorney involved early on can help streamline the process and maximize your compensation.
Your insurance company can also assist with getting you a rental car and advising on next steps for your damaged vehicle, but before making any major decisions, such as accepting a settlement, consult an attorney to ensure you receive the full compensation you deserve.
Comprehensive Legal Support for Car Accident Claims
A skilled car accident attorney provides critical support throughout the claims process. Our team gathers and analyzes all relevant evidence, interviews key witnesses, and works with the first responders who were on the scene the day of the accident. We manage the complexities of insurance claims, negotiate on your behalf, and, if necessary, provide aggressive representation in court.
If you have been involved in a car accident, contact Wettermark Keith for a free consultation. We will protect your rights and work to secure the compensation you deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Minor incidents that deal primarily with property damage can be handled more easily with insurance companies. Be sure to gather all the needed information and take some pictures of the accident while you’re at the scene. You might not think that an attorney would be helpful after minor accidents, but soft tissue injuries, whiplash, and stress can greatly disrupt your life. Be sure to visit a doctor to get fully checked out. You’ll also want to consult an attorney to ensure that your insurance company treats you fairly.
Whenever you file an insurance claim it’s possible your rate will go up. This is especially true if you’re the driver at fault. Many insurance companies offer programs like accident forgiveness that give you a grace period without raising rates. Other companies may put you on a probationary period or simply raise your rates without explanation.
If you’re unsure of how your insurance company will handle a claim, we suggest giving them a call and talking through the consequences of filing a claim or being at fault for an accident.
If the accident is your fault, the process that we outlined above does not need to change. You need to go through the steps, gather the information, see a doctor, and get an attorney. Most states require insurance companies to help take care of your immediate needs and any medical care. Afterall, that’s a big part of the reason you pay for insurance.
When an accident is your fault it’s much more likely that your insurance rates go up. Aside from your insurance, if you happen to live in a contributory negligence state like Alabama, then you will be barred from receiving any compensation for the accident.
When you’re not at fault you won’t need to worry about insurance rates going up. If your insurance company chose to raise your rates for something that wasn’t your fault, then it’s time to consider a new insurance company.
We also recommend contacting an attorney to ensure you’re getting complete compensation for any injuries or damages you sustained from the accident.
Insurance companies determine fault by reviewing evidence from the accident, including police reports, photos, witness statements, and driver accounts. They then analyze the traffic laws and apply the principle of comparative or contributory negligence, depending on the state. Adjusters may also consider vehicle damage, surveillance footage, or expert opinions to reconstruct the incident. In some cases, fault is shared between drivers, affecting claim payouts accordingly.
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