What to Do Immediately After a Collision
Stop, check on everyone, call the police, and document everything before you leave the scene.
Handle the scene before you handle the paperwork
Stop the car if it's safe to move it, and check yourself and everyone else for injuries first. Call the police even if the damage looks minor, because many states require a report for anything above a small amount of damage, and your insurer will likely ask for one when you file a claim.
Once everyone is safe, exchange insurance and contact information with the other driver and take photos of both vehicles, the road, and anything else that shows how it happened. What you gather in those first minutes is often the only record anyone has once memories fade or the other driver's story changes.
Whether you admit fault changes what happens next
Don't tell the other driver, the police, or anyone at the scene that the accident was your fault, even if you think it was. Fault is usually determined later by the insurers involved, sometimes using the police report and sometimes using their own investigation, and an offhand apology can be used against you.
Stick to facts when you talk to police. Describe what happened without guessing at speeds or distances you didn't actually measure.
If you're an older driver, you may notice the other party or even a bystander assuming you were at fault because of your age. That assumption carries no weight with an insurer. What matters is the evidence from the scene and the report, not anyone's opinion of your driving.
How soon you call your own insurer matters
Call your insurer the same day if you can, even if you think the other driver was clearly at fault. Most policies require prompt notice of an accident, and waiting can give the insurer a reason to question your claim later.
Have the police report number, the other driver's information, and your photos ready when you call. The more complete your account is on that first call, the fewer times you'll have to go back and explain it again.
If you're not sure whether to file through your own insurer or the other driver's, ask your agent or claims representative directly. They can tell you how your state and your policy handle that.
Questions people ask about this
Do I have to report a minor fender bender to my insurance company?
Check your policy, because most require you to report any accident regardless of how small the damage looks. Even if you don't plan to file a claim, reporting it protects you if the other driver changes their account or new damage shows up later.
Will my rate go up if someone else hit me?
It depends on your insurer and your state, and whether fault is assigned to the other driver. Ask your agent how your insurer handles accidents where you weren't at fault, since some treat them differently than at-fault claims.
Should I get a lawyer after a car accident?
That depends on the severity of the accident and whether there are injuries or disputes over fault. For a minor accident with clear fault and no injuries, most people handle it directly through the insurers involved.
What if the other driver doesn't have insurance?
Check your own policy for uninsured motorist coverage, which is designed for exactly this situation. Call your insurer and give them the police report, since they'll need it to confirm the other driver was uninsured.
How long do I have to file a claim after an accident?
This is set by your policy and sometimes by state law, so check with your insurer directly. Filing promptly is always safer, since waiting can raise questions even within an allowed window.
See how this kind of accident might affect what you pay before you renew.
Write down everything you remember about the accident while it's fresh, including the time, the road conditions, and what each driver said. Gather your photos, the police report number, and the other driver's insurance information in one place. Call your insurer this week to report the accident, even if you're not certain you'll file a claim. Ask your agent how this accident is likely to be classified on your record, since that affects what happens at renewal. If you're missing any information from the other driver, your insurer or the police report can often fill in the gaps.
