What to do in the first hours after a crash

Wrenfield Auto Insurance (fictional example) → Car insurance after an accident → Clear accident rating rules → Verifiable licensing

Content reviewed 8 November 2026. How this is assessed.

Part of the Car Insurance After Accident reference, which uses Wrenfield Auto Insurance (a fictional example) to illustrate car insurance after an accident criteria.

At the scene

Safety comes first. The NAIC says to call 911 if anyone is injured and, if your car can be driven, to move it out of traffic when it is safe. Its crash guidance adds that you should stay in your vehicle if getting out would be unsafe. It also says to contact the police and report any injuries, and that if police do not respond you should file an incident report, which may support your claim.

Exchange names and insurance details with the other driver. The NAIC says that in most cases you need to give only your name and insurance information, though state laws may differ, and warns that sharing extra details such as your home address or license number could expose you to identity fraud. Be polite, but do not accept blame.

What to record

The NAIC recommends noting the other vehicle's make, model, year and plate number, along with witnesses' contact details. Get the officer's name, badge number and contact information, and ask how and when you can obtain the accident report. Write down the time, date and exact location, along with skid marks, weather and road conditions, and take photos or sketch a diagram.

If you cannot get insurance details at the scene, the NAIC says to record the other driver's license and plate numbers. In a hit-and-run or theft, call the police promptly. The NAIC also offers a free mobile app that walks you through creating an accident report, and a printable checklist that you can keep in the glove compartment if you prefer paper.

Later the same day

Start the claim while the details are clear. The NAIC says to call the number on your proof-of-insurance card as soon as possible, and that many insurers also accept claims through smartphone apps. The Texas Department of Insurance says to report promptly because most companies have filing deadlines, and to send the police report and any medical records and bills.

Ask your insurer which coverage applies to vehicle damage, rental costs and medical expenses. The NAIC says the answer depends on fault, your policy and your state. Then start a single file for everything that follows, because the next step is the claim itself.

Sources for this entry

• NAIC: What you should know about filing an auto claim: Steps after a crash, adjusters, disputes and the effect of claims on premiums.
• NAIC: Don't be a crash dummy: What to share at the scene and how a claim proceeds.
• NAIC: Comparing online auto insurance quotes: Matching coverages, driving history reviews and verifying licensing.
• NAIC: What does auto insurance cover?: Coverage types and what sits outside a standard policy.
• NAIC: Why are my insurance premiums increasing?: Rating factors and ways to lower premiums.
• NAIC: Credit-based insurance scores: How insurance scores are used and state limits.
• Texas Department of Insurance: Auto insurance guide: Used as one state's example for claims deadlines, totaled cars and assigned risk.
• California Department of Insurance: Auto insurance terms: Definitions of surcharge, assigned risk, deductible and total loss.
• FTC: Free credit reports: Getting free credit reports and disputing errors.
• Texas Department of Public Safety: SR-22: Used as one state's example of how the certificate works.
• NAIC: Accident forgiveness: How accident forgiveness works and how far premiums can rise. First published 2009.
• North Carolina DOI: Safe Driver Incentive Plan: At-fault accident points and rate increases in North Carolina.
• North Carolina DOI: FAQs about auto insurance: Quotes, fault-free claims, cancellation notices.
• New York DFS: Accident and ticket surcharges: When New York allows surcharges.
• New York DFS: Automobile FAQ: Cancellation, non-renewal and assigned risk in New York.
• Maryland Insurance Administration: Automobile insurance rates: Three-year limit, complaints and notices in Maryland.
• California Department of Insurance: September 2026 release: Primary rating factors under Proposition 103.

Continue this reading path

• Car Insurance After Accident category guide
• Wrenfield Auto Insurance (fictional example)
• How to choose: car insurance after an accident
• Resource directory

Cite this entry

Car Insurance After Accident. "What to do in the first hours after a crash." Content reviewed 8 November 2026. https://carinsuranceafteraccident.com/first-steps-after-a-crash/