What to Do After a Car Accident

Tips on Handling a Car Accident

Print out this handy PDF with our tips on what to do after an accident, and keep it in your glove box.

What to Document After an Accident

In addition to contacting first-responders and ensuring the safety of yourself and others involved in the accident, it’s now time to get the details you’ll need in order to file a claim, if necessary:

Exchange Information with the Other Driver

Share your name and insurance company with the other driver and ask that they share the same with you. Make it easy by taking a picture of each other’s driver’s licenses and insurance cards. And if the other driver doesn’t have insurance, call the police if you haven’t already.

Take Pictures of the Accident

If you can, snap a photo of any other drivers involved, their license plates and any damage done to all vehicles. Take photos of the scene, the roads, traffic signs and the direction each vehicle was traveling. It can be hard to remember these details even a few hours later, and the photos can be useful to both your insurance company and police.

Write Down the Details

Try and take down as many details as you can as soon as possible after the accident. Stressful events like car accidents can distort your memory, making it very difficult to remember important details later on. The details you might need include:

Year, make, model and color of any other cars — as well as any other distinguishing features
Driver and passenger names and ages
Exact location
Your speed
Date and time of the incident
Weather conditions
Time police arrived, their name(s) and their badge number(s)
Road conditions
Names and contact information of any witnesses

Get a Copy of the Accident Report

Make sure it includes all officers’ names and contact information. This information is especially helpful for your potential insurance claim and can help back up the sequence of events after the accident if you end up in court.

Call a Tow Truck

If your vehicle is unsafe to drive, call a tow truck or professional mechanic to get your car checked out and back home safely. And if you have American Family's Emergency Roadside Service, all it'll take is a quick phone call to get professionals on the scene as soon as possible.

Call Your American Family Insurance Agent

The sooner your agent is aware of the accident, the sooner they can help you get your car repaired and your life back to normal.

Am I required to file a police report after an accident?

Because each state has unique rules that trigger when a police report should be filed, it’s important to know the laws where you are so you’ll know what to do after a car accident. Most states base their requirements on the cost for repairs and damage done to the vehicles involved. And if the accident involves a serious injury, fatality or property damage over a certain threshold, you’ll need to file a police report.

When it comes to what to do after a minor car accident, you may need to file a police report even if it doesn’t seem necessary — because seemingly small dents and dings can sometimes cost a lot to repair. If you’re wondering, “What should I do after a car accident,” take a look at this table to help you better understand state requirements on when you should file a police report:

States	Property Damage Cost Range*
Arizona, District of Columbia, Tennessee	$50 - $300
Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Washington	$500 - $750
Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming	$1,000
Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, New York, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont	$1,500 - $3,000
Colorado, Nevada, Ohio	All accidents
Maryland, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Virginia	In the event of death, injury or disabled vehicle

What Should I Do After a Car Accident?