What to Do After a Car Accident: A Step-by-Step Checklist
The minutes and days after a crash shape your health and your claim. Here is exactly what to do - from the scene to the insurance call - so you protect both.
Matthew Di Chiara, Esq. June 5, 2026 8 min read
A crash scrambles your sense of time. One moment you are driving; the next you are standing on the shoulder with your heart pounding, unsure what to do first. The decisions you make in the next few minutes - and the next few days - have an outsized effect on both your recovery and any claim you may bring later.
This checklist walks through what to do in order, from the scene itself to the first call from an insurance adjuster. None of it requires legal training. It simply helps you avoid the small, understandable mistakes that quietly weaken a valid claim.
Key takeaways
Safety and medical care come first - call 911, get checked out, and keep going to appointments even if you feel fine at first.
Document everything at the scene: photos, the other driver's information, witness names, and the police report number.
Report the crash to your own insurer promptly, but avoid giving a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer until you understand your rights.
You have limited time to act - generally two years in New Jersey and three in New York, with far shorter notice deadlines when a government vehicle is involved.
At the scene: safety first, then evidence
Before anything else, get yourself and your passengers out of harm's way and call 911 if anyone is hurt. Ask for police to respond so that an official report is created - that report becomes a cornerstone document later, even if fault seems obvious now.
Once you are safe, become a quiet documentarian. Your phone is the most valuable tool you have in these moments.
Photograph the vehicles, their positions, damage, skid marks, debris, traffic signals, and road conditions.
Exchange information: name, phone, insurance company, policy number, and license plate of every driver involved.
Get the names and contact details of any witnesses before they leave.
Write down the responding officer's name and the police report number.
Note the time, weather, and anything unusual - a malfunctioning light, an obstructed sign, a distracted driver.
Get medical care - even if you feel fine
Adrenaline masks pain. Injuries like whiplash, concussions, and soft-tissue damage often do not announce themselves until hours or days later. Getting evaluated promptly protects your health first and your claim second.
Gaps in treatment are the single most common reason insurers discount a claim. If a doctor recommends follow-up care or physical therapy, keep going. Consistent treatment records tell a clear, credible story about the harm you actually suffered.
Report the accident - carefully
Notify your own insurance company promptly; most policies require it, and in no-fault states your own coverage pays your initial medical bills. Stick to the basic facts: when, where, and who was involved.
The other driver's insurer is a different matter. Anything you say to them can be used later to argue you were not hurt or were at fault. It is reasonable to say you will follow up and to speak with an attorney first.
Build a simple file
You do not need a complicated system. A single folder - physical or on your phone - keeps the details that fade from memory but matter to your claim.
Medical bills, prescriptions, and appointment summaries.
Mileage and transportation costs to and from treatment.
Days of work missed and any income lost.
A short daily note on pain levels and how the injury affects ordinary tasks.
Correspondence from insurers - keep every letter and email.
Watch the deadlines
Every claim has an expiration date. In New Jersey you generally have two years from the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit; in New York the general window is three years. When a government vehicle or public entity is involved - a city bus, a public works truck - notice may be required in as little as 90 days.
Because these deadlines are strict and the exceptions are technical, the safest move is to understand which one applies to you early, while evidence is fresh and options are open.
You cannot control the crash, but you can control what happens next. Handling the scene, your health, and the insurance calls with a little structure keeps your options open and your claim intact.
If you are unsure about any step - especially before giving a statement or accepting an offer - a free, no-obligation case review can tell you exactly where you stand.
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This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws and deadlines change and apply differently to each situation - consult a licensed attorney about your specific circumstances. Attorney Advertising.