What Should I Do Immediately After a Car Accident?

Your immediate priority after any car accident should be ensuring the health and safety of yourself and any other occupants of your vehicle. Move your vehicle to a safe location out of the flow of moving traffic if it is safe to do so. Then check yourself and any passengers for injuries. If you or anyone else was injured in the crash, dial 911 to request assistance from emergency medical services.

If you do not require emergency care, your next focus should be on documenting the accident scene. Request contact and insurance information from other drivers and ask any other vehicle occupants or witnesses for statements and contact details. Write down everything you can remember about the collision and take photos of any visible damage or injuries.