Mark it once you can do it without this page open.

How to do it

Stop, switch on your hazard lights and check yourself and your passengers for injuries.
Call your local emergency number, 911 in the US, if anyone is hurt, a driver seems impaired, or the cars block traffic and cannot be moved.
If nobody is hurt and the cars can be driven, move them to the shoulder or a nearby lot where local rules allow.
Exchange names, phone numbers, insurance company and policy numbers, license plates and the make and model of each car.
Photograph both cars from several angles, the plates, the damage, the road, signs and any skid marks.
Get the names and phone numbers of any witnesses before they leave.
Describe what happened to the police, if they attend, in plain facts, and ask how to get a copy of the report.
Call your insurer or use its app the same day, and keep all photos, notes and receipts together.

Stop and call a professional if

Anyone is injured, even if it seems minor: call 911 and let medical staff decide.
The other driver refuses to share details, seems impaired, or leaves: call the police.
You are asked to sign a statement or a release you do not understand; talk to your insurer first.
Pain, dizziness or stiffness appears in the following days: get checked by a doctor.

Arguing about fault at the scene or saying sorry in a way that sounds like accepting blame.
Leaving without exchanging details, which can be treated as leaving the scene.
Standing between the cars or in the traffic lane while talking.
Agreeing to settle privately with cash before you know the real repair cost.
Waiting days before telling your insurer.

Three questions. Your last score is kept in this browser.

A one-page sheet for showing a friend, a roommate or a kid: what to say, what to show, and one question to check it landed.

Your auto insurance policy and claims guide, your current policy. Checked September 28, 2026.

Last reviewed September 28, 2026. First published September 28, 2026.