If you’re in a car accident, focus first on safety and medical help, then on documenting what happened and notifying the right people.

Immediate safety steps

  • Stay calm, turn on your hazard lights, and put the car in park.
  • Check yourself and passengers for injuries; call 911 if anyone may be hurt or if you are unsure.
  • If it’s a minor accident and the cars are drivable, carefully move them out of traffic to a safe spot; if not, get yourself and passengers to a safe distance if possible.
  • Do not leave the scene before exchanging information and, where required, speaking with police.

Think of this first minute as your “safety bubble”: protect people first, cars and paperwork second.

Essential steps at the scene

  • Call the police, especially if there are injuries, significant damage, or any dispute; an official report can be important later.
  • Exchange information with the other driver(s): full name, phone, address, driver’s license number, license plate, insurance company and policy number, and vehicle make/model.
  • Avoid admitting fault or saying “I’m sorry,” because it can be used against you later; stick to basic facts when speaking to others.
  • Look for witnesses and, if they’re willing, get their names and contact details.

Document everything

  • Take clear photos or video of:
    • All vehicles (close‑ups of damage and wide shots of positions)
    • Skid marks, debris, traffic lights/signs, road conditions, and weather
    • License plates and insurance cards
      These details can be crucial evidence later.
  • If you can, jot down or record a voice note describing what happened while it’s still fresh (time, location, direction of travel, what each car was doing).

After you leave the scene

  • Report the accident to your auto insurance company as soon as you can; many policies require prompt notice and a description of what happened.
  • In some places, you must file a written report with the motor vehicle department if there are injuries or certain levels of damage.
  • Get a copy of the police report and keep it with your records; it often matters for claims and any legal issues.
  • Stay off social media about the crash; posts can be misinterpreted and used against you in insurance or legal disputes.

Health and legal follow‑up

  • See a doctor soon, even if you “feel fine”; some injuries (like whiplash or internal injuries) show up hours or days later.
  • Follow through with all recommended treatment and keep records of visits, medications, and time off work.
  • If you were injured, fault is disputed, or the situation feels complicated, consider talking with a personal injury lawyer to understand your rights and next steps.

Quick-reference HTML checklist

Here’s a simple HTML table you could save on your phone as a “crash card.”

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Stage</th>
      <th>What to do</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Right after impact</td>
      <td>
        Turn on hazards, put car in park, check for injuries, call 911 if anyone may be hurt, move to a safe area if possible and legal.
      </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>At the scene</td>
      <td>
        Call police, exchange contact/insurance info, avoid admitting fault, look for witnesses.
      </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Documenting</td>
      <td>
        Take photos/video of cars, damage, scene, plates, and insurance cards; write or record what happened.
      </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>After leaving</td>
      <td>
        Notify your insurer promptly, get the police report, follow any DMV reporting rules.
      </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Later</td>
      <td>
        See a doctor, keep all records, and consult a lawyer if you’re injured or the case is disputed.
      </td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.