What to do after a car accident: the first hours and the first week

Last checked November 8, 2026

After a car accident, check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt. Get the other driver's details, take photos and ask the officer for the report number.1 See a doctor soon, even if you feel fine. In the first week, report the claim, keep every bill and check your state's deadlines.

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What do I do after a car accident in the first hours?

Your safety comes first. Paperwork can wait a few minutes. Do these things in order, and skip any step that would put you in danger.

  1. Check yourself and your passengers. If anyone is hurt, call 911. Do not move someone who may have a neck or back injury unless they are in immediate danger.
  2. Get out of traffic if you can do it safely. Turn on your hazard lights.
  3. Call the police if someone was injured or the other driver left.2
  4. Ask the officer when and where you can get the report, and get the report number.1
  5. Take a picture of the other driver's insurance card and license.3 Get names and numbers from anyone who saw the crash.
  6. Photograph the cars, the road, skid marks, traffic signs and your injuries, or sketch the scene.4
  7. Do not sign anything about fault, and do not promise to pay for the other driver's damage.5

Stay calm when you talk to the other driver. Stick to the facts. You may not know yet what caused the crash or how badly you are hurt, so it is fine to say only what you saw.

What to do after a minor car accident

A small crash can still cause an injury and still need a report. Exchange information and take photos, just as you would after a bad crash. Some states require a report from drivers even when police do not come. The rules below show how much this varies. If you are not sure, call your state's motor vehicle agency.

Do not agree to settle in cash at the scene. You do not know yet what the repairs will cost or whether you are hurt. Damage that looks small can hide a larger repair, and pain can show up later.

What to do after a car accident: not your fault, or your fault

The first steps are the same either way. Get care, gather facts and report the crash. If you think the other driver caused it, you can file a claim with that driver's insurer, and you can also tell your own insurer. If you think you caused it, tell your insurer quickly and do not guess about fault with anyone at the scene. Who was at fault is often not settled for weeks. How fault changes a claim also varies by state.

What to do in the first week after a car accident

  1. See a doctor if you have not already. Tell them it was a car crash and list every place that hurts. Concussion symptoms may not appear for hours or days.6
  2. Call your insurance company and report the crash. Write down the claim number and the name of the adjuster.
  3. Start a folder. Keep medical records and bills.7 Add repair estimates, tow bills and receipts.
  4. Get a copy of the police report and check it for mistakes.
  5. Ask your medical providers for copies of your records. HIPAA gives you a right to a copy,8 and a provider generally must act on your request within 30 calendar days.9
  6. Write down what you remember while it is fresh. Note your pain each day and any work you miss.
  7. If a child's car seat was in a moderate or severe crash, NHTSA recommends replacing it.10

Do I have to file my own crash report? It varies by state

A police report is not always the only report the law expects. Check your own state, because these examples do not apply everywhere.

StateRuleTime limit
CaliforniaSR-1 report to the DMV if anyone is hurt or property damage is over $1,0001110 days
OregonDrivers file a Traffic Collision and Insurance Report with the DMV1272 hours
WashingtonEach driver reports if no officer investigates134 days

Missing a report can cost more than you expect. In New York, the DMV may suspend your driving privilege until a required report is on file.14

How long after a car accident can you claim injury?

It depends on your state and on who you are claiming against. In Arizona, for example, the general deadline to file a lawsuit for injuries is two years.15 Other states set shorter or longer periods. Claims against a city, county or state agency often have much shorter notice deadlines.

Insurance benefits can have their own clocks too. In Florida, PIP medical benefits depend on getting initial care within 14 days of the crash.16 Your own policy may also tell you to report a claim promptly. Read it, or ask your insurer to tell you the time limits in writing.

Questions

What should I do first after a car accident?

Check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt. Then move out of traffic if it is safe, and call the police if someone was injured or the other driver left.2

Should I go to the doctor if I feel fine?

It is a good idea. Some concussion symptoms may not appear for hours or days.6 A doctor can check you and write down what you report.

Should I sign anything at the scene?

California regulators say not to sign statements about fault or promise to pay for the other side's damage.5

What information do I need from the other driver?

Their name, phone number, insurance company and policy number. A photo of the insurance card and license is the simplest way to get it.3

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Sources

  1. NAIC, checked 2026-11-08. “Ask the officer when and where to get the accident report and accident report number.”
  2. Texas Department of Insurance, checked 2026-11-08. “If someone was injured or the other driver drove away, call the police.”
  3. Texas Department of Insurance, checked 2026-11-08. “Take a picture of their insurance card and driver's license.”
  4. NAIC, checked 2026-11-08. “Take a photo or sketch a diagram of the accident scene.”
  5. California Department of Insurance, checked 2026-11-08. “Do not sign statements regarding fault or promise to pay for the other parties damages.”
  6. CDC, checked 2026-11-08. “Some mild TBI and concussion symptoms may appear right away, while others may not appear for hours or days after the injury.”
  7. Texas Department of Insurance, checked 2026-11-08. “If you went to a doctor, keep medical records and bills to show your insurance company.”
  8. HHS, checked 2026-11-08. “HIPAA also gives you other important rights, including the right to a copy of your medical record.”
  9. HHS, checked 2026-11-08. “a covered entity must act on an individual’s request for access no later than 30 calendar days after receipt of the request.”
  10. NHTSA, checked 2026-11-08. “NHTSA recomienda que los car seats sean reemplazados después de un choque moderado o severo”
  11. California DMV, checked 2026-11-08. “You or your insurance agent, broker, or legal representative must complete an SR-1 report and send it to DMV within 10 days if someone is injured (no matter how minor the injury) or killed, or property damage is over $1000.”
  12. Oregon DMV, checked 2026-11-08. “Within 72 hours of a motor vehicle collision, drivers involved in a collision are required to submit an Oregon Traffic Collision and Insurance Report to DMV.”
  13. Washington Department of Licensing, checked 2026-11-08. “Each driver involved in the collision must submit a report within 4 days of the collision.”
  14. New York DMV, checked 2026-11-08. “If you do not file a crash report, DMV may suspend your driving privilege until the report is on file.”
  15. A.R.S. § 12-542, checked 2026-11-08. “there shall be commenced and prosecuted within two years after the cause of action accrues”
  16. Fla. Stat. § 627.736, checked 2026-11-08. “if the individual receives initial services and care pursuant to subparagraph 1. within 14 days after the motor vehicle accident.”

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