You’re shaken, traffic is crawling past, and your heart’s racing, what now? If you’ve just been in a car accident, those first few minutes can feel like a blur. What should you do first? Who should you call? How do you protect yourself legally and medically?
Whether you're dealing with a minor fender bender or a serious car accident injury, knowing what steps to take, right there at the scene, can make all the difference in how your car crash claims play out. In this post, we break down the five essential steps to follow after a crash, based on real legal practices, safety protocols, and what top Los Angeles car accident lawyers recommend. You’ll also find answers to common post-accident questions, what to avoid, and how to safeguard your health and insurance coverage.
Step 1: Get to Safety & Check for Injuries
The first few minutes after a car accident are about staying calm and getting yourself and others out of harm’s way. Before worrying about damage or fault, make sure no one is in immediate danger. Your safety and the safety of everyone at the accident scene comes first.
If you’re able to move, take a moment to assess your surroundings and decide if moving your vehicle is the safest option. Turning on your hazard lights lets other drivers know to steer clear, especially in busy traffic or low-visibility areas.
Here’s what to do right away to help prevent additional injuries and alert emergency services quickly:
- Move your car if it’s safe to avoid further accidents
- Turn on hazard lights, use cones/triangles if available
- Check everyone for injuries, don’t move injured persons unless necessary
- Call 911 immediately for serious injuries, airbag deployment, suspected intoxicated driver, or major damage
- Whiplash & head injuries often appear hours later
Even if you feel fine, latent injuries like concussions or soft tissue damage can show up later. Getting prompt medical attention ensures early treatment and creates a record, which helps with both recovery and documentation if a bodily injury claim follows.
Step 2: Call 911 and Make an Official Report
Once you’ve made sure everyone is as safe as possible, the next step is to alert the authorities. Calling 911 ensures that trained professionals, police officers and possibly EMTs are on their way to assess the situation and take control if needed.
This also starts a formal paper trail, which can be important later when you begin the insurance claim process or if any legal liability is disputed. Always focus on the facts, no need to guess or speculate about what happened.
Here’s how to make sure your report is clear and useful down the line:
- Provide your exact location and describe what happened clearly
- Cooperate, but don’t admit fault or speculate
- Get the report number, responding officer’s name, and badge number
- If police don’t respond (minor fender bender), use your state’s online/self-report system (e.g. California CHP)
Having an official police report helps clarify the facts of the motor vehicle accident and gives your insurer a starting point. If things escalate into legal discussions, your detailed accident report gives you protection and clarity.
Step 3: Document the Scene Thoroughly
Before vehicles are moved and memories start to fade, take a few minutes to document everything at the scene. Your photos, notes, and contact details can support your version of events and protect your side of the story.
This step is crucial when dealing with property damage, tracking costs, and preparing for insurance questions. Your phone is your best tool here, snap photos, record notes, or use apps that help with post-accident documentation.
Make sure you’re covering the basics below. These will help later if there are questions about fault, damages, or the need to exchange insurance information:
- Take photos/video of:
• All vehicle damage
• License plates/VIN stickers
• Street signs, traffic lights, road debris, skid marks
• Weather & lighting - Write down: time, date, direction of travel, estimated speeds, what each person said
- Collect witness names, contact info, and summaries
- Tip: Use your smartphone’s voice notes or a crash reporting app
- Do not admit fault or discuss injuries with the other party
Be sure to include visible photos of vehicle damage, the license plate number, driver’s license number, and the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) from inside the door. Keep the focus on facts, no blaming, no guessing, just accurate records for your own protection.
Step 4: Exchange Information the Right Way
After making sure everyone is okay and the scene is stable, it’s time to gather the details you’ll need for the insurance claim and any legal follow-up. This part matters more than most people realize, missing or incorrect information can slow down your claim or create confusion about what happened.
You’re not just exchanging phone numbers. What you're really doing is collecting the facts needed to verify insurance information, prove ownership, and help insurance companies determine property damage and legal liability. Keep things calm and focused.
Here’s what to ask for and provide when exchanging insurance information after a crash:
- Exchange the following:
• Full names, phone, email
• Driver’s license & license plate
• Vehicle make/model, VIN (door jamb)
• Insurance company and policy number - Do NOT share your Social Security Number
- If the other driver refuses, stay calm and wait for police
- For parked cars, leave a written note and file per local rules
Details like the driver’s license number, license plate number, and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) connect the vehicle to the person and the insurance provider. If the vehicle is registered to someone else, your records will help clear that up. Keeping a clear record protects you later in case your version of events is questioned.
Step 5: Get Medical Care & Notify Your Insurance
Even if you feel fine right after the crash, it’s smart to get checked out. Many people walk away from an accident and only realize later that they’ve been injured in a car accident. Things like auto injury symptoms, headaches, soreness, or dizziness, can take time to develop.
Seeing a doctor right away not only protects your health, but also creates a medical report that documents your condition in case you need to file a bodily injury claim. This helps with both short-term medical treatment and long-term issues like medical expenses or missed work.
Here’s how to handle it the right way from a medical and insurance perspective:
- Seek medical attention same day, even if you feel “okay”
- Keep: visit summaries, test results, prescriptions, lost wages, all receipts
- Notify your insurer within 24 hours if possible
- Be honest but careful, avoid giving recorded statements without legal advice
- If you're injured, don’t sign any releases or settlement offers too quickly
Starting the insurance claim process early helps move things forward faster. But don’t feel rushed into decisions. Once you report the incident to your insurance company, take the time to understand your options, especially if latent injuries or ongoing care is involved in your auto insurance claim.
After the 5 Steps: What Comes Next?
Once you've taken care of the immediate steps at the scene of the accident, the next phase is about documentation, follow-through, and staying organized. These tasks might not feel urgent in the moment, but they can make a real difference in how smoothly your car accident claims are handled later.
Start by requesting a copy of the police report, especially if you plan to file a personal injury claim or need to explain what happened to your insurance company. Keeping everything in one place, medical documents, repair invoices, photos, emails, helps streamline communication with your insurance provider or lawyer if needed.
Make it a habit to track any changes in your health. If your symptoms worsen, that record could become part of your medical report or factor into how your claims process unfolds. If your case involves more serious medical expenses or questions around property damage & liability coverage, legal guidance can help protect your position.
Here’s what to do to stay organized and protected after the initial steps:
- Request a copy of the police report
- Start a digital/physical accident folder (photos, receipts, correspondence)
- Log symptoms or changes in condition
- Consult with an attorney for serious cases
- Know local deadlines for claims or lawsuits (e.g. 2-year statute of limitations in California)
When to Call a Car Accident Lawyer
Not every crash needs a lawyer, but when things get more serious, medically, legally, or financially, it’s worth talking to a personal injury attorney. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, especially with ongoing treatment or long-term effects, having a lawyer on your side can help protect your right to fair compensation.
In car accident cases where fault is unclear or the other driver isn’t cooperating, a lawyer can help handle communications, sort out legal liability, and deal with the insurance adjuster if you feel pressured or undervalued. This is especially important when the crash involves commercial vehicles, government cars, or rideshare services, where liability rules may differ.
Don’t wait if you’re being asked to sign anything or if you receive a quick settlement offer. Once you sign, you may lose your chance to pursue the full value of your car accident claim, especially if your bodily injury gets worse or you need more treatment than expected.
Here are common signs it’s time to call a lawyer:
- Serious injuries or long-term medical needs
- Fault is unclear or disputed
- Involvement of commercial, government, rideshare vehicles
- The other driver is uninsured or underinsured
- You’re pressured to settle or sign documents
- You're a pedestrian, cyclist, or motorcyclist hit by a vehicle
What Not to Do at the Scene
The scene of a crash is emotional and often chaotic, but staying calm and cautious helps protect your future. Some of the biggest mistakes drivers make happen in the first 10 minutes after a collision and they’re avoidable.
Even if you feel bad or want to help, don’t apologize or accept blame. Let the facts speak for themselves. Also, avoid getting into arguments with the other driver, everything you say could be brought up later when legal liability is in question.
Always exchange the right insurance information, including the license plate number and driver’s license number, but don’t overshare. You don’t need to explain injuries or guess who was at fault on the spot. And while it might be tempting to post photos or vent online, sharing crash details on social media could harm your claim.
Here’s what to avoid at the scene:
- Don’t apologize or admit fault
- Don’t argue with the other driver
- Don’t leave before exchanging info or speaking with police
- Don’t post photos or status updates on social media
Conclusion
Dealing with a motor vehicle accident is stressful, but knowing what to do and what not to do, can protect your health, finances, and legal rights. From securing the scene to following up with your auto insurance provider, every step plays a role in building a solid case and managing the insurance claim process.
If you’re facing serious medical expenses, complex car accident claims, or pressure from an insurer, don’t try to handle it all alone. A personal injury attorney can help guide you through the next steps and make sure your side is heard.
Bookmark this guide or share it with someone who might need it. If you have questions about your own crash, your insurance claim, or property damage, we're here to help. Every situation is different, but you're not alone in it.
