12 Tips: What to Do After a Car Accident

Car crashes are stressful. Use this checklist to make sure you’re staying safe and doing what you need to do

Brett Berk,

Updated June 16, 2025

AARP

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En español

Published June 21, 2021

/ Updated June 16, 2025

An illustration shows an auto accident involving two cars on a city street

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According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were more than 6 million police-reported car crashes on American roads in 2023 (the most recent year for which there is full data). This means that an American driver will be involved in three to four traffic incidents in their lifetime.

The Federal Highway Administration states that the number of licensed older drivers increased 77% from 2004 to 2020, adding to the more than 50 million drivers on the U.S. roads. And while people over 50 are among the safest drivers — involved in significantly fewer crashes per mile driven than younger drivers — accident rates increase for drivers age 70 and up and really spike for drivers starting at age 80, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Every driver should be prepared for the aftermath of a car accident. Since June is National Safety Month, we’ve created a list of what you need to know.

1. Check if anyone is hurt — including yourself

First evaluate your physical condition and that of other occupants of your car, says David Bennett, senior automotive manager of the American Automobile Association (AAA). If anyone is injured, the top priority is finding assistance. This is especially important for older drivers, as the NHTSA notes that older drivers — especially those 70 and up — are at higher risk for serious injury in an accident, due in part to greater fragility of bones, muscles and organs, and slower recovery rates. Do not worry about any other issues in this moment. “Get medical care,” says Bob Passmore, department vice president, personal lines, for the American Property Casualty Insurance Association.

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Also keep in mind, says Passmore: With the rush of adrenaline that accidents can cause, it is common to feel OK in the moment or the immediate aftermath. But watch for pain or mental fogginess that develops in subsequent days. “Seek medical attention as soon as you feel anything,” he says. Seeking care soon after the accident will also expedite the filing of your claim.

If you receive treatment, get proof in writing, says Sean Tucker, lead editor at Kelley Blue Book and noted insurance industry authority who writes frequently about vehicle safety. “And save any information or receipts,” he adds. “They may be relevant to your claim.”

2. Turn on your hazards

This is a simple one, but key: Turn on your hazard lights, says Tucker. Flashing lights are proven to make a vehicle far more visible to other motorists and prevent additional accidents, an AAA study found. Keeping your seatbelt buckled will also prevent further injury if another incident occurs.

3. Call the authorities

If anyone is injured, if there are spilled fluids, or if there is a fire risk, call 911 immediately. “Get professionals out there for rescue and triage,” says Bennett.

Otherwise, call the state highway patrol’s nonemergency number to report the accident. You can find this number on your phone, either by searching for it on the state patrol’s website or by typing “[name of state] highway patrol nonemergency phone number” into a browser. Because you may be flustered in the aftermath of a crash, it’s not a bad idea to keep your state patrol’s nonemergency number in the car, as well as the patrol number for any state you frequently visit. Another option: Call local law enforcement.

“Call the police whether or not you think they’re necessary,” says Tucker. “Your insurance company may require a police report. And there’s no circumstance where it’s going to be a mistake to have one.”

4. Remain level-headed

Accidents are stressful. Do your best not to add to that strain. “Whether you’re interacting with other people involved or the authorities, you want to stay calm,” says Bennett. According to the American Institute of Stress, “Engaging in deep breathing [and] positive visualization ... can help calm racing thoughts, slow a rapid heart rate, relax tensed-up muscles and create a sense of well-being.”

Bennett says to just walk away if a conversation escalates. “Say, ‘I’m going to stand over there and wait for the authorities.’ ”

5. Document the scene

An illustration shows someone documenting the scene of an accident with a cell phone camera

AARP (Getty Images)

You may need to explain what happened to the authorities, your insurer, a lawyer or in court. So, it is important to immediately document the scene “while it’s fresh in your mind,” Bennett says.

This is especially true for older adults, whose long- and short-term memories generally begin to decline with age, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Bennett says to use pen and paper, your phone’s camera or video feature, or the notes, email or voice memo apps on your phone. You’ll want to record the following information:

The direction you were traveling
Where you were coming from
Where you were going
How many lanes of travel in each direction
Whether there was traffic control: stoplights, stop signs, roundabouts, etc.
When you first saw the other party
Where the points of impact were

Make sure you photograph your car and any other vehicles or objects impacted, Tucker advises. “A driver may try to claim something that wasn’t part of this accident,” he says. “This way, it’s clear what was a result of this accident.”

6. Move cars to safety

If your vehicle is movable and it’s safe to move it out of the roadway, do so, Tucker says. “You will not change the legal situation by getting out of the way of traffic.”

If there is nowhere safe to move your car, Bennett says, leave it where it is and “move yourself to safety,” off to the side of the road, away from traffic.

7. Exchange information

An illustration shows two men at the scene of an accident exchanging information

AARP (Getty Images)

If other vehicles are involved, it is critical to get and give certain information to all parties. Bennett says to provide the driver’s name, phone number, insurance policy number, make and model of vehicle, and vehicle identification number (VIN) from all vehicles involved.

“You can exchange photos of your driver’s licenses, if everyone’s comfortable sharing that information,” Passmore adds. That way, you can confirm if the information the person has given you is accurate.

Bystanders can also be helpful. “If there was someone at the scene who was a witness, and you can get that person’s name and phone number, that’s extremely helpful,” says Passmore. This way, they can be contacted by authorities to discuss what happened.

8. Stick to the facts

It is important to avoid any discussions regarding fault for the accident, Bennett says. “You don’t want to accept responsibility for the crash or place responsibility on others. So just focus on the facts,” he notes. “Let the authorities and the insurance company figure out who is at fault.”

The facts you write down and provide will help in the aftermath of the crash. “People will often remember things in a way that’s most favorable to themselves, but the damage to the vehicle doesn’t have an opinion,” says Passmore.

9. Contact your insurance company

Notify your insurer of the accident. “That way, they can start processing the claim right away,” Bennett says.

Most companies have smartphone apps that will guide you through the reporting process, Passmore says.

If you’re comfortable using them, “you can start documenting things right there and report your claim from the scene.”

These apps can even assist with the documentation process. “It shows you which photographs to take and what information is required,” Tucker says.

If you’re not comfortable using smartphone apps, a claim manager will be assigned to you regardless. “Tell them you prefer to speak to a person on the phone,” says Tucker.

10. Call a tow truck

An illustration shows a man overseeing the towing of car

AARP (Getty Images)

Request a tow truck to clear your vehicle from the scene, Bennett says. “The police or your insurer may have a contract with a local towing company or a repair provider, so they may suggest the car be towed there,” he says. “But if you have a different preference, you can usually make a request.”

Ask who is towing the vehicle and where it’s going. “Make sure they’re taking it to the repair shop, and not some holding lot where they’ll charge you daily storage fees,” says Passmore.

And ensure that the tow truck is one that you or the authorities called. According to the FBI, older drivers can be more susceptible to scams because they tend to be more trusting and polite. “On rare occasions, ‘bandit’ tow trucks will show up after an accident and tow a car, and nobody knows who the tow truck driver was or where the car went,” says Tucker.

11. Leave the scene

The officer will instruct you when it’s appropriate to depart, Passmore says. Do not go before the officer says it’s OK; this can be a criminal act. “If they tell you not to leave, don’t leave,” he adds.

If your car isn’t drivable, Bennett recommends calling a friend or family member to come get you, using a ride-booking service like Uber or Lyft, or asking the authorities to make a call for you to get picked up if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself.

12. Consider your transportation needs moving forward

If your car needs repair or replacement, think about how you’ll get around day to day. “Your insurance policy may provide a rental car, depending on the type of coverage you purchased,” Passmore says. “It may even cover [ride-booking] services.” He recommends regularly reviewing your coverage to see what is available.

If your car is declared a total loss and needs to be replaced, Bennett says to “consider your needs before your wants” in rationally choosing a new car. And Tucker says that if you disagree with your insurance company’s assessment of your vehicle’s value, “remember that you can always appeal.”

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Brett Berk is a contributing writer who covers autos. His work appears regularly in Architectural Digest, Business Insider, GQ, The New York Times and Vanity Fair.

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