It only takes a second.
You’re headed to dinner with friends or family, the sun is just starting to set, and your mind is on the weekend ahead. Then—slam. Out of nowhere, another car crashes into you. The airbag explodes. Your heart races. Your hands shake. You’re not even sure what happened, let alone what to do next.
If there’s one thing car accidents are good for, it’s their ability to leave anyone feeling overwhelmed and unsure of how to respond. This guide walks you through exactly what to do after a car accident, from the very first moments at the scene to the steps you should take to protect your health, your legal rights, and your future.
@mikerafi Everything you need to know about a car accident case, and fast! #caraccident #lawsuit #claim #insurance #carinsurance #court #lawyer #personalinjury #mikerafi ♬ original sound – Mike Rafi
Step 1: Call 911 and Stay at the Scene
Your safety, and everyone else’s, comes first. Immediately after the accident, you should call 911 so that emergency services can check you out.
If there’s even a chance someone is hurt, make the call. It’s better to be safe, and having a police report is a crucial piece of evidence for your case.
Step 2: Ensure Safety and Prevent Further Harm
If you’re physically able and it’s safe to do so:
- Turn on your hazard lights.
- Move your vehicle out of the flow of traffic.
- If you can’t safely move your vehicle out of the roadway, then set out flares or cones if available.
- Stay calm and remain inside your vehicle if you’re in a dangerous location, like a highway shoulder. When exiting your vehicle, always do so on the side opposite of oncoming traffic.
This is especially true for a car wreck in Georgia, and more specifically in metro-Atlanta, as it is consistently named one of the most dangerous places to drive in.
Step 3: Exchange Information and Document the Scene
After you have checked for any injuries and called 911, you’ll need to get critical information from the other driver at the scene. Make sure to take a photo of the other person’s license, license plate, and insurance card.
It’s also important to document the scene for further evidence, as this is a crucial step in things to do after a car accident.
Make sure to take photos and videos of:
- Vehicle damage
- Skid marks, debris, traffic signs, and road conditions
- Any visible injuries
Step 4: Ensure a Police Report Is Filed and Start Collecting Records
When thinking through what to do after a car accident, you need to make sure the responding officers document what happened at the scene. They’ll usually give you a business card or a document with the report number. A few days later, you can request the full police report. It provides a summary of the crash and may include contact details or statements from those involved, any witnesses, and other key details.
Your personal injury lawyer will use this report to determine all relevant facts and to strengthen your case, especially if the report admits the other driver is at fault.
Even if they can’t determine fault, their report will support your insurance claim and legal case. You can stay organized using this accident case checklist to track what you’ll need, from towing info to repair estimates.
Sometimes it takes days or even up to a week for the police to finalize the police report and make it available. Personal injury lawyers can still start evaluating your case even before the police report is ready, and then can obtain it so you don’t have to.
Step 5: Notify Your Insurance Company (Carefully)
You should report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible, as most policies require prompt reporting. The easiest and safest way for you to do that is to hire a personal injury lawyer and let them handle everything.
If you decide to start the claims process yourself, be careful! Insurance companies are not your friends. They make money by collecting your premiums and lose money by paying claims. When telling them about your crash, you should focus on being brief and factual, as they may try to minimize your claims.
Here are some pointers on what you should and shouldn’t do:
- You should share the time, location, and basics of the crash.
- You shouldn’t admit fault or guess about the extent of your injuries.
- You should never agree to a recorded statement without legal advice.
After a car crash, what happens in your first insurance call matters. Even your own insurer may try to minimize payout, especially in complex or partially fault-based cases.
Why You Shouldn’t Deal With Insurance Companies Alone
Insurance companies don’t work for you. Often, adjusters are not on your side. Their goal is to save their company money, and that often means minimizing the severity of your injuries or offering you a low settlement.
At Rafi Law Firm, we handle all insurance communications for our clients. If you’re partially at fault in a car accident, or if there are multiple vehicles involved, this step becomes even more important.
Adjusters may:
- Use your words against you.
- Offer you a quick settlement that’s far too low.
- Lie to you about what the law is.
- Delay payments or deny claims altogether.
We know their tactics, and we know how to shut them down.
Step 6: Go to the Hospital or See a Doctor
If you’re wondering what to do after a car accident in the hours or days that follow, this is a critical step. Even if you think you feel “fine,” always get checked out to be sure. Adrenaline can hide symptoms, and pain from injuries can take hours or days to fully set in.
Early treatment ensures your health comes first, and it also connects your injuries directly to the crash, which is essential evidence if you file a claim later.
Pro Tip: Keep a Personal Injury Journal in Your Notes App
Keeping a personal injury journal is a powerful way to document how the accident affects your daily life. You can track things like pain levels, emotional challenges, activity limitations, and missed workdays.
This kind of record helps illustrate the non-economic side of your injuries, like pain and suffering, which are harder to measure but crucial to your personal injury claim.
Our lawyers recommend that you keep a weekly or daily journal in your phone’s notes app, documenting your pain, not just physically, but emotionally as well.
Step 7: Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you’re injured, missing work, or overwhelmed by the insurance process, this is the biggest thing to do after a car accident.
Our attorneys will:
- Investigate the crash.
- Find and save evidence.
- Build a strong case for fair compensation.
- Keep you informed about the case.
- Treat you with respect and compassion.
And for transparency, before you even choose an attorney, we think you should read through these 4 questions to ask your car accident lawyer. They’ll help you make the right call for your situation.
What Should I Not Do After a Car Accident?
After a crash happens, your adrenaline and emotions are typically high, and it’s easy to make mistakes that can hurt your recovery.
Here’s what not to do:
- Don’t leave the scene: You should stay until law enforcement arrives, unless a minor accident has occurred. In that case, you should stop, exchange information, and potentially render assistance if someone is injured. The laws around when you can leave a scene are different everywhere, even down to the city you’re in, so it’s best to stay at the scene.
- Don’t admit fault: It’s okay to say you’re sorry when emotions are high, but make sure to steer clear of admitting fault, because you may not be!
These guidelines apply no matter where the crash happens, whether it’s a busy Atlanta highway, a midwestern suburb, or a street in Jacksonville, Florida.
What Kind of Compensation Could You Qualify For?
Depending on your case, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Emergency medical treatment and follow-up care
- Lost wages or future lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Property damage
- Long-term rehabilitation
Our car accident lawyer team is here to make sure no detail is overlooked and work relentlessly to get you the compensation you deserve.
What Should You Do After a Car Accident? Call Rafi Law Firm
Getting into an accident is one thing. Knowing what to do after a car accident puts the power back in your hands. Focus on your safety, gather evidence, get medical attention, and don’t let the insurance company take advantage of your vulnerability.
Rafi Law Firm helps clients after a car wreck in Georgia and throughout the U.S. to get the compensation they deserve. And if we can’t represent you directly, we’ll match you with a qualified lawyer and stay involved behind the scenes.
Ready to get on the road to recovery fast? Submit your free case evaluation below! We will get back to you within 24 hours.
