The first ten minutes after a car accident decide more about a later claim than the next ten weeks. That’s not because the law rewards speed. It’s because evidence disappears fast. Cars get moved, witnesses drive away, skid marks get rained on, and the other driver’s story starts to change the moment they call their insurer. What you do in those minutes doesn’t need to be clever. It needs to be in the right order.
Minute one: stop, and check for injuries
Every state requires a driver involved in a crash to stop. Leaving the scene of an accident with injuries is a crime everywhere, and leaving one with only property damage is a crime in most states. Check yourself, your passengers, and the other car. If anyone is hurt, call 911 before anything else. Don’t move an injured person unless there’s an immediate danger like fire or traffic. Turn on your hazards. If the cars can move and the crash is minor, most states allow or require moving them out of the travel lane.
Minutes two through four: call the police
Call even if the other driver suggests handling it privately. A police report is the single most useful document in a claim. It records the time, the location, the parties, the insurance information, and often the officer’s initial view of fault. Some states only require police response above a damage threshold or when there’s an injury. If the police won’t come, most states let you file a report yourself within a few days. Do that.
Minutes four through six: exchange information, and only information
Get the other driver’s name, address, phone number, license number, license plate, and insurance company and policy number. Photograph their license and insurance card rather than copying by hand. Give the same in return. Do not discuss fault. “I’m sorry” is used against people in claims constantly. “Are you okay?” is fine. “I didn’t see you” is not. If the other driver admits fault, note it, but don’t count on them repeating it later.
Minutes six through eight: photograph everything after a car accident
Use your phone. Shoot both cars from all four sides and close-ups of damage. Photograph the positions of the cars before they’re moved if you safely can. Get the intersection, traffic signals, signs, skid marks, debris, weather, and road conditions. Photograph the other driver’s plate. If there are witnesses, get names and numbers before they leave. Witnesses who leave are almost never found again. The full shot list is in our guide on what photos to take after a car accident.
Minutes eight through ten: your own insurer, and nobody else’s
Most policies require prompt notice of an accident, and delay can jeopardize coverage. Report the basics to your own company. You do not need to call the other driver’s insurer, and when they call you, you don’t owe them a recorded statement. Keep the first report factual and short. Don’t estimate your injuries. Adrenaline masks pain, and symptoms from soft-tissue and head injuries often appear a day or two later.
What happens after a car accident and after the ten minutes
See a doctor within a day or two even if you feel fine, because a gap between the crash and the first medical visit becomes an argument that the injury came from somewhere else. Keep every receipt and record. Don’t post about the accident on social media. And know your state’s filing deadline for injury claims, which runs from one to several years depending on where the crash happened. Nothing in the first ten minutes locks in a claim. Plenty in the first ten minutes can lose one.
The bottom line
What to do after a car accident comes down to preserving what will otherwise vanish: the scene, the other driver’s information, the witnesses, and your own credibility. The law requires only that you stop, help, and exchange information. The claim requires more, and it requires it before the tow truck arrives. The first ten minutes aren’t the whole case. They’re the only part you can’t redo.
Frequently asked questions
Some states only require it above a damage threshold or when someone is hurt, but a police report is the most useful document in any claim. If police won’t respond, most states let you file a report yourself within a few days.
Don’t discuss fault or apologize. “I’m sorry” and “I didn’t see you” are routinely used against people in claims. Exchange information and stick to facts.
No. Report the accident to your own insurer promptly. When the other driver’s adjuster calls, you don’t owe them a recorded statement.
Yes, within a day or two. Adrenaline masks pain, and a gap between the crash and the first medical visit becomes an argument that the injury came from somewhere else.
Most policies require prompt notice rather than a fixed number of days, and late notice can give the insurer grounds to deny coverage. Report the basics the same day if you can.
If no one is hurt and the cars can be driven, most states allow or require moving them out of traffic. Photograph where they came to rest first if it is safe to do so.
Get their name, address, phone number, license number, plate number, and insurance company and policy number. Photographing the license and insurance card avoids copying mistakes.
You don’t have to agree, and it is usually a mistake. Injuries and damage often turn out worse than they first look, and a private deal leaves you with no report and no claim.
Yes. Leaving without stopping and exchanging information is a crime in every state when someone is hurt, and in most states even when only property is damaged.
It depends on the state where the crash happened, usually somewhere between one and several years. The deadline keeps running even while you negotiate with an insurer.
Keep reading: What to do after a car accident in Phoenix · Qué hacer después de un accidente de auto en Phoenix · Talking to an insurance adjuster after an accident
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Get MatchedThis article is general information about post-accident steps and insurance claims and is not legal advice. Laws differ by state and change over time, and the facts of your situation matter. For guidance on your own circumstances, consult a licensed attorney in your state.