Check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt or the road is blocked, turn on your hazard lights, move to safety if you can, document the scene, exchange information, and call a tow company once the scene is cleared.
A crash is confusing even when it is minor. Having a simple order of steps keeps you safe and protects you later with your insurance.
What should I do first after a crash?
- Check yourself and your passengers. If anyone is hurt, call 911 right away.
- Turn on your hazard lights.
- Get out of traffic if you can do it safely. If the cars still drive and nobody is hurt, move them to the shoulder or a parking lot.
- Call 911 if there are injuries, if a vehicle is blocking the road or if the other driver leaves.
What should I photograph?
Your phone is your best tool. Take pictures of:
- Both vehicles from several angles, including license plates.
- The damage up close.
- The road, traffic signs and skid marks.
- The other driver’s license and insurance card, if they agree.
What information should I exchange?
Write down the other driver’s name, phone number, insurance company, policy number, and the make, model and plate of their vehicle. Get names and numbers of witnesses too. Avoid arguing about who was at fault at the scene.
When do I call a tow truck?
Call a tow once everyone is safe and, if police came, once they say the vehicle can be moved. Tell the tow company:
- Exactly where you are.
- That it was an accident and how the car looks (leaking fluids, wheels that don’t turn, airbags deployed).
- Where you want the car taken: your home, a body shop or the place your insurance tells you.
Dala Multiservices tows vehicles after accidents in Tampa and nearby cities, 24 hours a day. Call (813) 293-3415.
What should I do in the following days?
Report the accident to your insurance company as soon as you can, keep every receipt (towing, rental, medical) and get checked by a doctor if you feel any pain, even if it seems minor.