13 Things to Know—and Do—After a Car Accident
The right moves will minimalize after-accident pain
It’s scary and we’re never prepared for it: A car crash that shakes us to the core and potentially, your car too. But knowing what to do afterward can reduce the pain and damage from a car accident, not only on site but for days and weeks afterward. Here’s our guide for handling the aftermath successfully.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
First Things First: Is Everyone OK?
Checking on the health of your passengers and those in other cars involved in an accident is the top priority. If anyone is hurt, bleeding or confused, medical attention is necessary. Call 911 and be prepared to answer questions about injuries, including type of injury, age of the injured and more. If you have a passenger who can help with this step, all the better.
Read: Protect Your Most Precious Cargo (Your Kids) With These Child Car Seat Safety Tips
Call For Help
Many cars have automatic crash response systems that immediately notify emergency response systems when airbags deploy. Still, it’s a good idea to call 911 immediately and answer questions so that emergency responders can provide the best response.
Even if damage is limited to all the involved vehicles it’s probably worth calling the police so you can get a report. Many insurance companies require a police report, and it’ll be helpful if you later discover damage that wasn’t evident at the time of the accident, such as damaged sensors or a neck injury.
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Take Photos — Lots of Photos
Getting photos of everyone and everything quickly is important and will ultimately help to sort out details about the accident as it’s investigated. It’ll also help you to better understand what happened and prevent any revisionist history that might occur afterward.
Read: Get More $$$ For Your Used Car: Photo Tips To Make it Stand Out
Exchange Information With the Other Driver
If possible, exchange drivers license and insurance information with the other driver. Be sure to actually hand over your license and insurance card to the other driver and get that driver’s license and insurance card. It’s a good idea to both take a photo of them as well as write down the information, just in case. If damage to the cars and passengers is limited and you’re able to drive away, this may be all you need to do.
Read: Do You Need to Replace Child Car Seats After an Accident?
Move Your Cars From the Road If Possible
After taking photos of the accident scene and calling 911, if all passengers and drivers are OK and the cars are drivable, move them from the roadway. This prevents other accidents and traffic slowdowns. Most states ask drivers to move cars from the road after minor accidents. When you call 911 to report the accident you should be advised about moving the cars; if you are not, this is a good time to ask for advice.
Protect Yourself, Your Passengers and Others
While waiting for emergency responders, whether you move the cars from the accident site or not, be sure to protect yourself and others. Get all passengers out of the cars and safety to the side of the road where they are out of danger. Turn on your emergency flashers and place reflectors, flares or other accident identifiers on the road behind your cars so others can see you.
Notify Your Insurance Company
While you’re waiting for the police to arrive, it’s a good time to call your insurance company—or start a claim in the insurer’s app. They can immediately begin the recovery process and even help by dispatching a tow truck and arranging a rental car (if you’re covered). They’ll also ask specific questions that you’ll probably be better able to answer since the entire event is fresh in your mind.
Don’t Admit Fault
As tempting as it is to apologize, even if the accident wasn’t your fault, don’t. Words and intentions can get twisted, especially as the insurer for the driver at fault will try to find ways to avoid paying a claim. And, you may not even yet truly understand who or what caused the accident. Just ensure that everyone is safe and all details are recorded, then let emergency responders, insurers and investigators do their jobs.
Getting Your Car Repaired or Replaced
If your car isn’t drivable, you’ll need to have it towed. Your insurance company will likely recommend a body shop and/or mechanic to assess the damage and do the repair work. Because of the cost and complexity of many modern automotive parts and systems, it’s not unheard of for a car to be deemed a total loss for what looks like minimal damage.
This process can take some time, so it’s a good idea to have a backup plan in case of an accident: an additional car you can use or a renting a car (which often insurance will pay for, especially if you are not at fault). If your car is leased or you have a loan on it, rental car insurance can be a great idea; you’re still responsible for those payments while your car is in the shop.
If it looks like the repair time may be lengthy, it might be worth buying an inexpensive used car and then selling it once you get your car back. While this will cost you the sales tax and registration fees as well as some depreciation, it can be far less than the cost of a rental car over several months.
Replace Your Child Passenger Car Seats
There’s nothing like the relief are parent feels to see their kids fared just fine after a car accident, and to see that their car seats did the job. But just like your car, which may suffer internal damage that you can’t see, so can a child car seat. Reusing your kids car seats after an accident is a bad idea; if they are damaged, even slightly, they are not prepared to protect your kids in another accident. Replace them immediately and report their loss as part of the accident report to the insurance company.
What if the Other Driver’s Insurance Delays Payment?
Sadly, this happens all the time: The insurer for the driver at fault delays the payment process. They may deny the claim, sue other involved parties or lose the paperwork. They may blame you for slow response or other red tape simply to try to wear you down to avoid making a payment.
If this happens, keep good notes, keep the lines of communication open and ask your insurer for advice. You may need to appeal their decision, an internal process that can often help. If good will efforts fail, you may need to hire a lawyer to file a lawsuit.
What If Your Car Is Totaled and Your Insurer Pays Less Than You Owe?
This is another sadly common instance. If you have a loan or a lease on your car and it costs more to repair, or the payment for a total loss is more than you owe, you are on the hook for the difference. This is mostly due to the way new cars depreciate quickly: A new car purchased in the last two years can be worth 20% less than the amount borrowed to purchase it. The longer the loan, the more that percentage can increase.
Car buyers can prevent this with gap insurance, a policy add-on you buy from your car insurer, or by putting equity in to the purchase, such as a trade-in or down payment. Gap insurance will raise your cost to insure your car while equity may be lost if your car is totaled, so it’s worth examining both to see which you feel most comfortable with.
Monitor Your Health
A car accident is a traumatic event. Health issues may crop up later in you or your passengers; the stress of dealing with the aftermath may take a toll on your mental health. It’s important to monitor your well-being for a while after an accident and to be proactive; see your doctor for any aches and pains and consult a therapist if the stress of the situation is causing additional issues.
A car accident, even a small fender-bender, can be a big pain. But knowing what to do and doing it calmly will help to limit that pain and let you get on with all the things in life that matter more.
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