Car Accident Checklist: What to Do at the Scene and in the Days After

What to do after a car accident comes down to 9 steps: stop, check for injuries and call 911, move to safety, call the police, exchange information, document the scene, avoid admitting fault, notify your car insurance company and get medical care. Some states also require a DMV report.

Covr is a car-document and quote app, not an insurer, so this guide explains what drivers and policyholders usually do; your own auto insurance policy, your state's law and your insurer's instructions always come first.

Last reviewed: October 9, 2026 · Covr editorial team

At a glance

• First 5 minutes: check for injuries, call 911 if anyone is hurt and turn on hazard lights; the car insurance call can wait until everyone is safe.
• Police: call the police after any crash with injuries, a hit-and-run or a blocked road; a police report also helps the auto insurance claim after a minor crash.
• Information: collect names, phone numbers, driver's license numbers, license plates, insurance companies and policy numbers, plus witness contacts.
• Evidence: photograph the vehicles, the damage, the road, traffic signs and any injuries before the cars are moved, if it is safe.
• Insurer and DMV: notify your car insurance company promptly, even when the crash was not your fault; in California, a crash with injuries or more than $750 of damage must be reported to the DMV within 10 days.
• Afterward: see a doctor, keep every receipt and repair estimate, and check whether your policy includes rental coverage or accident forgiveness.

What to Do After a Car Accident: The Checklist

What to do after a car accident follows the same order in the 9 top-ranking results Covr reviewed: safety first, then the police, then information, evidence and your car insurance company.

What to Do After a Car Accident, Step by Step

Steps to take after a car accident, in the order state insurance regulators and auto insurance companies usually give them, are listed below.

• Step 1: Stop and check for injuries before any car insurance call. Never leave the scene. Check yourself, your passengers and the other people involved, and call 911 if anyone is hurt.
• Step 2: Move to safety. If the cars can be driven and nobody is injured, move them out of traffic and turn on hazard lights.
• Step 3: Call the police. Report the crash and ask for the officer's name, badge number and the report number.
• Step 4: Exchange information with every driver: name, address, phone, driver's license number, plate, insurer and policy number.
• Step 5: Document the scene with photos and notes, and collect witness names and phone numbers.
• Step 6: Do not admit fault or sign anything about who caused the crash.
• Step 7: Notify your insurer and, where your state requires it, the DMV.
• Step 8: Get medical care the same day if you feel any pain or hit your head.
• Step 9: Follow up in the days after: get the police report, track medical and repair costs, and arrange a rental car if your coverage includes one.

How Often Each Step Appears in Top Results

Car insurance regulators, insurers and publishers rank among the 9 results Covr reviewed on October 9, 2026 for "what to do after a car accident": the California Department of Insurance, the Texas Department of Insurance, a North Carolina Department of Insurance video, Progressive, Allstate, WalletHub, the National Kidney Foundation, a Texas law firm and a car dealer. Covr counted each step in their result snippets and in Google's AI overview for the same search. Snippets are cut short, so each count is a minimum.

Insurance guidance from every source puts safety and the police call first and the insurer call later, so people are protected before the claim is. The step insurers care about most and results mention least is the warning not to admit fault. By Covr's count it appears in 1 of the 9 result snippets, about 11%, although the California Department of Insurance guide includes it.

At the Scene: Safety, 911 and the Police

What to do after a car accident at the scene is set out by the California Department of Insurance, the state's car insurance regulator: stop immediately, call 911 if there are injuries and move only if it is safe to do so.

Check for Injuries and Call 911

Injuries come before any car insurance question. Check yourself first, then your passengers, then the people in the other vehicle if you can reach them safely. Call 911 for anyone who is hurt, unconscious or complaining of neck, back or head pain. Do not move an injured person unless the car is on fire or in danger of being hit.

Move to Safety and Warn Other Drivers

Car insurance regulators say to move the vehicles only when the cars can be driven and nobody is injured; the Texas Department of Insurance advises moving out of the road if no one was injured. Turn on hazard lights, set out flares or triangles if you carry them, and stand well away from traffic while you wait. In Covr's October 9, 2026 review of 9 top results, the 911-or-police step appeared in 8 of 9 result snippets (about 89%), while moving the vehicles out of traffic appeared in 4 of 9 (about 44%), so the move-over advice, which car insurance regulators repeat, is easy to miss.

When to Call the Police

If involved in an accident, a driver should call the police whenever someone is injured, the other driver leaves, a driver seems impaired or the road is blocked, and a police report also supports the car insurance claim. Police may not come to every crash, especially on private property, but the California Department of Insurance still advises drivers to attempt to notify the police; when an officer responds, write down the officer's name, badge number and the report number so your insurer can request the report later.

Hit a Deer: Do You Need a Police Report?

Hitting a deer is usually paid under the comprehensive coverage of an auto insurance policy rather than collision coverage, so the claim works differently from a crash with another car. Whether you need a police report depends on your state's reporting rules and the damage; a report, or at least photos of the animal and the damage, makes the claim easier, so call the non-emergency police line if the car cannot be driven or the animal is blocking the road.

Exchange Information and Document the Scene

What to do after a car accident once everyone is safe is exchange information: the California Department of Insurance lists names, addresses, phone numbers, driver's license numbers, license plates and vehicle identification numbers, and your insurer will also need the other driver's insurance company and policy number.

What Information to Exchange

Car insurance details are the part drivers most often forget, so collect the following from every driver and ask to see the driver's license and registration to confirm them:

• Full name, address and phone number
• Driver's license number and license plate number
• Vehicle make, model, color and VIN
• Insurance company name and policy number
• Names and phone numbers of passengers and witnesses

If you hit a parked car or other property and the owner cannot be found, leave a note with your name, address and insurer, as the California Department of Insurance advises, and report it to the police.

Photos and Notes to Take

Photos taken in the first minutes are the strongest record an insurer will see of what happened. Take wide shots that show where the cars stopped, close-ups of every damaged area, all license plates, skid marks, traffic lights and signs, weather and road conditions, and any visible injuries, then write down the time, the exact location and the direction each car was traveling while the details are fresh. Scene documentation is the evidence insurers rely on, yet it is underplayed in search results: in Covr's October 9, 2026 count, exchanging information appeared in 4 of 9 result snippets (about 44%) and photographing the scene in 3 of 9 (about 33%).

What Not to Say or Sign

Admitting fault at the scene can be used against you by an insurer later, even when you only meant to be polite. The California Department of Insurance tells drivers not to argue with other drivers, to save their story for the police and their insurance company, and never to sign a statement about fault or promise to pay for the other party's damage. If the other driver offers cash to keep the car insurance companies out of it, do not sign anything. The damage may cost more than it looks.

Notify Your Car Insurance Company and the DMV

Your car insurance company should hear about the accident promptly: most auto insurance policies require you to report every accident, even one that was not your fault.

When to Call Insurance After an Accident

Call your car insurance company after an accident as soon as everyone is safe, from the scene or the same day: the California Department of Insurance tells drivers to notify their agent or insurer immediately. How long you have to report an accident to car insurance depends on the policy wording. Most auto insurance policies say "promptly" or "as soon as practicable" rather than a fixed number of days. Report the facts you know (date, place, vehicles, injuries, police report number). Avoid guessing about fault or giving a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer before you understand your coverage. For a refresher on liability, collision and the other coverages, see car insurance explained.

Do I Call My Insurance or Theirs?

Call your own auto insurance company first, even when the other driver caused the crash. Notifying the insurer appeared in only 2 of the 9 result snippets Covr reviewed on October 9, 2026, about 22% by Covr's count, even though most policies require the report. If the other driver changes their story later or files a surprise claim against you, your insurer will already have your report. You can also open a claim with the at-fault driver's insurer, but a claim under your own collision coverage is often faster, and your insurer can then recover what it paid from the other company.

Reporting the Accident to the DMV

DMV reporting rules are set by state law, separately from your car insurance policy, so a crash that needs no report in one state can require one in another. In California, for example, the California Department of Insurance says: if anyone is injured or the vehicle damage exceeds $750, you must report the accident to the Department of Motor Vehicles within 10 days; failure to notify the DMV may result in the suspension of your driver's license. Check your own state DMV or department of insurance for its threshold and deadline. The dollar amount and the number of days vary by state.

If You Are Served With a Lawsuit

A lawsuit after an accident goes straight to your car insurance company. The California Department of Insurance advises notifying your agent and insurance company immediately, sending the original papers to the company and discussing the accident only with a verified company representative. If the lawsuit arises from a covered loss, your insurer provides the legal defense.

Get Medical Care Even If You Feel Fine

Medical care, and the car insurance coverage that pays for it, should start the same day if you have any pain, because adrenaline can mask injuries such as whiplash or a concussion for hours.

Why a Doctor Visit Matters for the Claim

A doctor visit protects your health and your car insurance claim at the same time: Google's AI overview for this search notes that delaying treatment gives insurers grounds to argue that the injuries were not caused by the crash, so keep every visit summary, prescription receipt and bill, and note missed work days.

Who Pays the Medical Bills: Car Insurance Coverages

Car insurance pays medical bills through several coverages, and which one pays first depends on your state:

• Personal injury protection (PIP): required in no-fault states; pays your own medical bills and some lost wages up to the limit, regardless of who caused the crash.
• Medical payments (MedPay): optional in most states; pays medical bills for you and your passengers regardless of fault.
• The at-fault driver's liability coverage: pays your injuries if the other driver caused the crash, usually after an investigation.
• Your health plan: can pay for treatment too, and may seek repayment from the auto insurer later.

No-Fault States and Your Claim

No-fault states for car accidents require every driver to carry personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, and after a crash you claim your medical bills from your own insurer first, no matter who caused it. Florida, for example, is a no-fault state, while California and Texas are at-fault states, according to the state requirement summaries in Covr's snapshot. Some no-fault states set a deadline to start treatment for PIP to pay, so check your state department of insurance rules before you delay a doctor visit. In Florida, for example, PIP pays 80% of necessary medical bills up to the $10,000 limit, and treatment must begin within 14 days of the accident, according to Mercury Insurance and Google's AI summary of Florida rules as captured by Covr on October 9, 2026.

Special Situations

Car insurance claims that involve a hit-and-run, a rental car, a borrowed car or a missing policy need a few extra steps on top of the standard checklist.

What to Do After a Car Accident Not Your Fault

What to do after a car accident not your fault is the same checklist plus one rule: still notify your own insurer. You can claim against the other driver's liability limits or use your own collision protection and let your company pursue the other side. Never accept cash at the scene in place of a claim.

Car Insurance for a Hit and Run

Car insurance for a hit and run starts with the police: the California Department of Insurance notes that most policies require you to notify the police within a specified time after a hit-and-run. Write down any part of the plate, the car's color and make, the direction it left and witness names. Collision protection can pay to repair your car after a hit-and-run, minus your deductible, and uninsured motorist protection may pay for injuries and, in some states, vehicle damage.

Crashing a Rental Car or Someone Else's Car

A rental car crash is reported like any other, to the police and the rental company, and also to your own insurer. Your personal plan may extend to the rental, depending on its wording, and the collision damage waiver you bought at the counter may pay the rest; in someone else's car driven with permission, the owner's plan usually pays first and yours may act as secondary protection.

An Accident Without Insurance

An accident without car insurance still requires you to stop, exchange information and report the crash where required. A car insurance policy bought after an accident will not pay for that accident, because protection starts only on the start date. Driving uninsured can also bring fines and license or registration suspension under state law, and you may be personally responsible for the damage you caused. In California, for example, Mercury Insurance lists a first-offense fine of $100 to $200, or up to $450 with fees, for driving without insurance.

Can You Get Car Insurance After an Accident?

Car insurance after an accident is available: you can buy a policy after a crash, but it will not pay for the crash that already happened. Insurers will see the accident on the application, because quote forms ask about accidents and claims from the last three to five years, so expect a higher quote. If you were uninsured at the time, your state may also require proof of financial responsibility before you drive again. Our page on how to get auto insurance quotes walks through comparing offers.

Car Seat Replacement After an Accident

Car seat replacement after an accident may be covered by your insurer, and a child seat that was in the vehicle during a crash may need replacing even if it looks fine, so check the seat manufacturer's instructions for crash replacement, ask the claims adjuster whether the claim includes a new seat, and keep the receipt and photos of the old one.

The Days After: Rental Car, Repairs and Your Rights

What to do after a car accident in the following days comes down to 3 follow-ups with your insurer: transportation, repairs and the claim deadlines.

Car Insurance Rental Coverage After an Accident

A rental car after an accident is paid by your own insurer only if you bought rental reimbursement coverage before the crash. According to the California Department of Insurance, rental reimbursement pays up to a specified amount per day for a specified number of days and ends when your car is repaired, the loss is paid or the period runs out, whichever comes first. If the other driver was at fault, that driver's company may pay for a rental once it accepts liability.

Choosing a Repair Shop for a Car Insurance Claim

Repair shop choice after a car insurance claim is protected by regulation in many states. California Insurance Code §758.5, as summarized by the California Department of Insurance, says an insurer cannot require you to use a specific shop, and if you use the company's recommended shop, the company must stand behind the repairs. Get a written estimate before work begins. Then check that the invoice lists each part as new, used, aftermarket or original equipment (OEM).

Claim Deadlines Insurers Must Meet

Insurers must meet claim deadlines set by state regulators. Under California's Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations, as the California Department of Insurance summarizes them, a company must acknowledge a claim within 15 days, accept or deny it within 40 days after receiving proof of claim, and pay within 30 days after a settlement is reached. Other states set their own deadlines, so check your state department of insurance if a claim stalls. If a California insurer used the full 40 days to accept a claim and the settlement was reached the same day, the 30-day payment limit means the money could arrive up to 70 days, or 10 weeks, after proof of claim, by Covr's arithmetic on the CDI's limits.

Watch for Accident Fraud

Auto insurance fraud after a crash often starts with an unsolicited call or referral. The California Department of Insurance warns drivers to be cautious of any unsolicited referral to a body shop, law office or medical office after a crash. Illegally referring clients for a fee, called "capping," is a felony in California. Review every repair invoice and medical bill before you sign.

Will Your Car Insurance Go Up? Accident Forgiveness and Your Record

Car insurance rates can rise after an at-fault accident, and accident forgiveness is the feature that prevents a rate increase after a qualifying accident.

What Is Accident Forgiveness

Accident forgiveness is an add-on or loyalty benefit that keeps your premium from going up because of one at-fault accident. Each company sets its own rules, and the table below summarizes what 4 large companies say about their programs on their own pages, as captured in Covr's October 9, 2026 snapshot.

Is Accident Forgiveness Worth It?

Accident forgiveness coverage is worth the most to drivers with a clean record who want to keep their current premium, because one at-fault accident can raise the price for years. It is worth less if the add-on costs extra, if small-claim forgiveness is already included, or if you live in a state where the feature is not sold. Ask for a quote with and without the add-on before you decide.

How Long an Accident Stays on Your Record

Insurers look at two separate records, and how long a car accident stays on each depends on who keeps it. Your state driving record is kept by the DMV under state law, and the retention period varies by state, while quote forms from insurers and comparison sites in Covr's snapshot ask for accidents, tickets and claims from the last three to five years, which is why an at-fault accident usually affects the price for several renewals.

Your CLUE Accident Report

A CLUE accident report is the auto insurance claims history kept in the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) database, run by LexisNexis, and insurers check it when they price a policy. Request your own copy from LexisNexis if a quote seems high after an accident. Dispute any claim that is listed incorrectly.

How Covr Helps After an Accident

Car insurance details are easiest to find after a crash when they are already on your phone, and the Covr app keeps them in one place.

What You Can Keep in the Covr App

The Covr app helps with 4 car insurance and accident jobs:

• Store your insurance card, registration and driver's license photos on your phone, so the details you must exchange are ready at the scene.
• Save accident photos, the police report number and repair estimates with your other vehicle documents.
• Track repair, towing and rental expenses as you pay them.
• Request new quotes from partner companies in all 50 states if your rate rises after the accident.

Car insurance accident forgiveness dates are worth a reminder in the Covr app: set one for the date you reach the 3 accident-free years Farmers names, the 5 accident-free years Liberty Mutual names or 5 years as a Progressive customer, then compare quotes at that renewal.

Covr does not file claims or decide what your policy pays. Your insurer handles the claim. Covr is free to download on Google Play. If you request quotes with Covr, partner companies may contact you by phone, and Covr explains that step before you share any details; read how Covr works.

Sources and Methodology

Our methodology: every car insurance rule, deadline and dollar figure on this page was last reviewed by Covr on October 9, 2026 against the source named in the same sentence: the California Department of Insurance guide "So You've Had an Accident, What's Next?" (revised December 2024), the Texas Department of Insurance accident tips, the accident-forgiveness pages of Progressive, Liberty Mutual and Farmers, U.S. News company reviews, and Google's AI overview and result snippets for the query. Police and DMV reporting thresholds vary by state; the California figures are examples, not national rules. Accident statistics are not included because no official crash data was part of the review. Written and fact-checked by the Covr Editorial Team under our editorial policy. This page is general information, not legal advice or financial advice; what you must do and what is paid depend on your state, your contract and your company. Read our editorial policy or contact us with a correction.

Car Accident Questions

What is the first thing you should do after a car accident?

The first thing to do after a car accident is stop, check yourself and your passengers for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt. The insurer call comes after everyone is safe. Then turn on hazard lights and move to safety if the cars can be driven.

Should I call the police after a minor car accident?

A police report after a minor car accident helps the car insurance claim, so calling is a good idea even when it is not required. Police may not respond to every crash, but you should attempt to notify them.

Do I have to tell my insurer if the accident was not my fault?

Most auto policies require you to report every accident promptly, whoever caused it. Reporting early protects you if the other driver later blames you or files a claim.

How long do I have to report an accident to the DMV?

DMV reporting deadlines vary by state and are separate from your insurer's rules. In California, a crash that injures anyone or causes vehicle damage above $750, the California Department of Insurance says, must go to the DMV within 10 days.

Will a car accident raise my insurance rate?

An at-fault accident often raises your premium at renewal unless the policy includes accident forgiveness. A not-at-fault accident is less likely to raise it, but each company and state sets its own rules.