General information, not legal advice. Insurance policies and state laws differ. Check your own policy, and for a legal question ask a licensed attorney or your state insurance department.
After a car accident, first check whether anyone is hurt and call 911 if they are. If no one is injured and the cars can be driven, move out of traffic. Call the police, exchange names and insurance details with the other driver, photograph the scene and get witnesses' contact information. Stay polite, but don't admit fault. Then tell your insurance company as soon as you can, see a doctor if anything hurts, and don't drive the car if it isn't safe.
What should you do first at the scene?
Safety comes before paperwork. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) says not to get out of your car if it isn't safe to do so, to move a drivable car out of traffic if you can do it safely, and to call 911 if anyone is injured.
Staying in a live lane is risky for everyone. New York's driver's manual says to move your vehicle off the road if possible, and the New York State Thruway Authority notes that state law permits it. According to the Federal Highway Administration, about half of the states have "Move It" or "Steer It, Clear It" laws that require drivers in minor, injury-free crashes to move drivable cars out of the travel lanes.
Never drive away. New York's driver's manual says you must stop after any crash, whatever the damage. Under the state's Vehicle and Traffic Law, leaving is a traffic infraction when only property is damaged and a crime when someone is hurt.
Do
- Check yourself and your passengers for injuries, then check on the people in the other car.
- Call 911 right away if anyone is hurt, or if a car is smoking or leaking fuel.
- Turn on your hazard lights.
- Move a drivable car to the shoulder or a nearby lot if no one is hurt and it is safe.
Don’t
- Don't stand between cars or in a traffic lane to talk or take photos.
- Don't move an injured person unless they are in immediate danger.
- Don't leave the scene, even if the damage looks minor.
Do you need to call the police?
Calling is the safe default. In New York, the DMV says you are legally required to notify the police immediately if anyone is hurt or killed, and the NAIC recommends telling the police about any injuries. If officers aren't sent, it suggests filing an incident report, because that may help your claim. The Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) adds that you can file one at the nearest police department or on its website.
When an officer comes, write down their name and badge number, and ask for the report number and how to get a copy. Your insurer will likely ask for it. In New York, the DMV says to ask the police agency or precinct where the crash happened whether the report is available and what the fee is.
Whether you also owe a separate report to your state's motor vehicle agency depends on the state. Reporting a car accident explains the usual pattern.
What information should you exchange?
What you must share is set by state law. New York's driver's manual says that even after a property-damage-only crash, you must give your name, address, driver license number, registration and insurance information, including the policy number and effective date, and show your insurance card if asked. The NAIC notes that state laws vary, and that sharing more than you need to can put you at risk of identity fraud. Share what the law requires, and no more.
From the other driver, try to get:
- Full name and phone number
- Insurance company and policy number (a photo of their insurance card works)
- Driver's license number and license plate number
- Make, model and color of their car
- Names and phone numbers of passengers and witnesses
The Texas Department of Insurance suggests photographing the other driver's insurance card and license. If the driver can't show proof of insurance, the NAIC says to write down their license and plate numbers for your insurer. If it turns out they have no coverage, see hit by an uninsured driver.
What should you photograph and write down?
Details fade fast, so capture them before you leave. The NAIC suggests recording the time, date and exact location, along with skid marks, weather and road conditions, and taking photos or sketching a diagram of the scene. The Texas Department of Insurance adds photos of license plates, nearby street signs and the angles of the road.
Do
- Take wide shots that show where the cars ended up, then close-ups of every damaged area.
- Photograph the other car's license plate and insurance card.
- Note the street names, the direction each car was going, the weather and the lighting.
- Write a few lines about what happened, in your own words, while it is fresh.
What should you avoid saying?
Be polite and keep it short. The NAIC's advice is to be courteous but not admit fault. California's Department of Insurance advises against arguing with the other driver, says to save your account for the police and your insurance company, and warns against signing anything about fault or promising to pay for the other person's damage.
Don’t
- Don't say "it was my fault" or apologize in a way that sounds like accepting blame.
- Don't discuss your coverage limits.
- Don't agree to a cash deal or sign anything at the scene.
- Don't post about the crash online while the claim is open.
There is more on this in what to say and not say after an accident.
What should you do in the days after?
Tell your insurer. New York's Department of Financial Services (DFS) says to promptly report an accident to your insurance company and the local police department. On a collision or comprehensive claim, DFS says the insurer must inspect the car and make a good-faith offer within six business days of being notified, if the car is available. The Illinois Department of Insurance adds: protect the car from further damage, because the company could refuse to pay for damage that happens later. How to file a claim walks through the steps.
Keep a record. The NAIC recommends taking notes during every conversation with insurers, adjusters and repair shops, including each person's name and contact information. Keep medical bills, towing receipts and rental receipts together.
See a doctor if anything hurts, even days later. MedlinePlus notes that whiplash pain may not appear right away and can take hours to weeks to develop. The Texas Department of Insurance advises keeping medical records and bills to show your insurer.
Check whether the car is safe to drive. New leaks, warning lights, broken lights, a deployed airbag or steering that pulls are reasons to have it towed instead. See is my car safe to drive and towing after an accident.
Decide where it gets fixed. In New York, Insurance Law § 2610 says an insurer can't require that repairs be made at a particular shop or recommend one unless you ask, and shops must post a sign saying you have the right to choose. Your right to choose a body shop explains how that works, and collision repair covers the repair itself.
Do
- Report the accident to your insurer promptly, even if you are not sure you will file a claim.
- Get the police or incident report number and request a copy.
- Keep every receipt, bill and note in one folder or one place on your phone.
Don’t
- Don't start repairs before your insurer has had a chance to see the damage.
- Don't keep driving a car that has new leaks, noises or warning lights.
- Don't accept a tow from a truck that showed up without you or the police calling it. The Texas Department of Insurance describes this as a towing scam that can end with a bill for thousands of dollars in storage and other fees.
What if it wasn't a typical two-car crash?
Some situations need extra steps:
- The other driver drove off: hit and run
- Someone hit your car while it was parked: car hit while parked
- You hit a deer: hit a deer
- The damage might cost less than your deductible: file a claim or pay yourself
Quick answers
Do I need to call the police if nobody is hurt?
It depends on your state and on the damage, but calling is the safer default. The NAIC suggests calling the police after a crash and filing an incident report if officers are not sent, because it may help your claim. Some states, New York among them, also require a separate report to the motor vehicle agency once damage passes a dollar amount.
Should I see a doctor if I feel fine after a crash?
Getting checked is a good idea. MedlinePlus, from the U.S. National Library of Medicine, notes that whiplash pain may not appear right away and can take hours to weeks to develop. Keep any medical records and bills for your claim.
Can I move my car before the police arrive?
If no one is hurt and the car can be driven, the NAIC says to move it out of traffic if you can do so safely. New York's driver's manual also says to move your vehicle off the road if possible. Take a few quick photos first if it is safe.
What if the other driver can't show proof of insurance?
Write down their name, address, driver's license number and license plate number and give them to your insurance company. The NAIC recommends this when you can't get the other driver's insurance details.
How soon should I tell my insurance company?
As soon as you can, even from the scene. Triple-I warns that if your insurer is not told in a timely manner, it may refuse to honor your policy.
Need collision repair?
Call the shop to set up a free estimate, or stop by. We'll look at the car in person, tell you what it needs and help you through the claim.
Sources
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), What You Should Know About Filing an Auto Claim, read October 7, 2026.
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), Don't Be a Crash Dummy, read October 7, 2026.
- Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Quick Clearance (Traffic Incident Management), read October 7, 2026.
- New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Chapter 12: If You Are in a Traffic Crash (New York State Driver's Manual), read October 8, 2026.
- New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, File a Motorist Crash (Accident) Report, read October 8, 2026.
- New York State Senate, Laws of New York, Vehicle and Traffic Law § 600 (leaving the scene of an incident without reporting), read October 8, 2026.
- New York State Thruway Authority, Emergency & Roadside Assistance, read October 8, 2026.
- New York State Department of Financial Services, Filing Claims Under Your Own Policy, read October 8, 2026.
- New York State Senate, Laws of New York, Insurance Law § 2610 (choice of repair shop), read October 8, 2026.
- New York State Senate, Laws of New York, Vehicle and Traffic Law § 398-d (repair shop sign on choosing a shop), read October 8, 2026.
- Texas Department of Insurance, Were you in a wreck? Tips for auto insurance claims, read October 7, 2026.
- Illinois Department of Insurance, Filing an Auto Claim with Your Own Insurance Company, read October 7, 2026.
- California Department of Insurance, So You've Had an Accident: What's Next?, read October 7, 2026.
- Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), What to do at the scene of an accident, read October 7, 2026.
- Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), Do auto insurance premiums go up after a claim?, read October 7, 2026.
- Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), How to file an auto insurance claim, read October 7, 2026.
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Whiplash, read October 7, 2026.
- Texas Department of Insurance, Don't fall victim to a towing scam, read October 7, 2026.