March 17, 2026 By Collision Kings

What to Do in the First 60 Minutes After a Car Accident

Step-by-step guide to protecting your safety, your claim, and your right to choose your repair facility immediately after a collision.

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What to Do in the First 60 Minutes After a Car Accident

The first hour after a collision is when you lose control of your claim. Not because insurance takes it, but because you don’t know what to do. You make reactive decisions instead of protective ones. You say things you shouldn’t say. You accept guidance from people who don’t have your interests in mind.

We’re going to walk you through the first 60 minutes step-by-step. Follow these steps exactly and you’ll protect your safety, your claim, and your right to choose your own repair facility.

Minute 0-2: Safety First

Your first job is not insurance. It’s not documentation. It’s safety.

Step 1: Turn off your vehicle. If your car is running, turn off the engine immediately. Fire is a remote but real risk in collisions.

Step 2: Check for injuries. Look at yourself. Look at your passengers. Are you injured? Is anyone bleeding? Is anyone unable to move?

Step 3: Call 911 if anyone is injured. Even minor injuries should be evaluated. Back pain, neck pain, or head trauma might not be obvious immediately. Get medical evaluation on the record. This matters for your claim later.

Step 4: Move to safety if possible. If the cars are in a traffic lane and you can move safely, move them to the shoulder. If anyone is injured or the vehicles are too damaged to move, stay put and wait for police.

Step 5: Turn on hazard lights. Alert other drivers that there’s an accident.

Minute 2-5: Call 911 and Report

Step 6: Call 911 for a police report.

You must have a police report. This is non-negotiable. Even if the accident is minor, call 911 and request a police report. The dispatcher will tell you if they’re sending officers. If it’s minor, they might not. If they don’t come, ask for a case number anyway (some jurisdictions issue case numbers even without on-scene response).

When the dispatcher asks questions:

Location: Give the exact address or intersection
Injuries: Report truthfully (no injuries, minor injuries, severe injuries)
Vehicles involved: Number of vehicles
Traffic hazard: Whether the accident is blocking traffic

Do not volunteer additional details. Just answer the dispatcher’s questions directly.

Minute 5-15: Secure the Scene and Document

Step 7: Take photos of everything—before anyone moves.

This is critical. Get your phone out and photograph:

The overall scene: Wide shot of both vehicles and the accident location
Vehicle damage: Close-ups of damage on all sides of both vehicles
Vehicle positions: Show where the vehicles are positioned relative to each other
License plates: Both vehicles’ license plates (for the report)
Road conditions: Wet pavement, skid marks, stop signs, traffic lights
Traffic control: Whether there was a traffic light or stop sign
Scene obstructions: Trees, buildings, or other things that might have blocked the other driver’s view

Take at least 20-30 photos. You can’t take too many. You can easily take too few.

Why this matters: Insurance will ask you to prove what happened. Photographs are proof. If there’s a dispute later about fault, these photos are your documentation. If the police don’t come to the scene, your photos become the police report.

Step 8: Document the other vehicle.

Photograph:

License plate and vehicle VIN (visible on the driver’s side windshield, lower left)
Make, model, year, color
Any damage to the other vehicle
The other driver’s face (if you feel safe doing so)

Step 9: Note the environmental factors.

Write down (in your phone’s notes app):

Time of day
Weather (clear, rain, fog, snow, etc.)
Traffic conditions (heavy, light, stopped)
Lighting (bright sun, shadows, dusk, night)
Any unusual factors (other vehicles involved, pedestrians, animals, road hazards)

This information will be important for understanding how the accident happened.

Minute 15-25: Exchange Information (Carefully)

Step 10: Exchange information with the other driver.

Get their:

Full name
Phone number
Address
Driver’s license number
Vehicle license plate
Insurance company name
Insurance policy number
Vehicle VIN
Employer name and address (optional, but useful)

How to ask for this information:

“I need to exchange information for the insurance claim. Can I have your driver’s license, insurance information, and phone number?”

What to NOT do:

Do not admit fault. Never say “I’m sorry,” “I didn’t see you,” “This is my fault,” or anything implying responsibility.
Do not make excuses. Don’t say “I was distracted” or “I didn’t see the stop sign.”
Do not argue. Don’t debate who was at fault.
Do not discuss injuries. Don’t ask if they’re injured or comment on injuries.
Do not discuss damages. Don’t estimate repair costs or comment on the damage severity.
Do not exchange personal information beyond what’s necessary. Don’t give your employer’s name or home address.
Do not sign anything. If the other driver asks you to sign anything, refuse. Sign only the police report.

Keep it transactional:

“I’m exchanging information for the claim. Here’s my information.”

That’s it. End the conversation. Don’t chat, don’t apologize, don’t explain.

Minute 25-40: Police Report and Witnesses

Step 11: Wait for police (if they’re coming) or complete a self-report.

If police arrive, cooperate fully. Answer their questions. Be honest about what happened. Refer them to your photos for evidence.

What to tell police:

The sequence of events (what you were doing, where you were going)
What happened in the collision
What you saw after the collision
Answer any questions they ask

What not to tell police:

Don’t volunteer information. Answer their questions.
Don’t speculate about fault. Describe what happened.
Don’t discuss injuries unless asked directly.

Get the police officer’s name and badge number. Ask when the report will be available and how to access it.

Step 12: Identify witnesses.

If anyone witnessed the accident, get their contact information:

Full name
Phone number
Email address
What they saw (brief note)

Witnesses are invaluable if there’s a dispute about fault later.

Minute 40-50: Call Your Insurance Company

Step 13: Call your insurance company.

Have the following information ready:

Policy number
Date and time of accident
Location
Other driver’s information
Police report number (if available)
Photos and notes

What to tell your insurance company:

“I was in an accident at [location] on [date] at [time]. The other vehicle was a [make/model/color]. There were [no/minor/significant] injuries. Here’s my policy number: [number]. I have photos and a police report number: [number].”

What NOT to tell your insurance company:

Don’t speculate about fault. Let them determine that.
Don’t discuss medical treatment. Unless you’re describing injuries you have right now.
Don’t discuss the other driver’s injuries. Stick to facts about the vehicles.
Don’t estimate repair costs. You haven’t seen the damage assessment yet.
Don’t say “I didn’t see them” or anything similar. This implies fault.
Don’t discuss any communication with the other driver’s insurance. You haven’t had any yet.

What to ask your insurance company:

“I want to request a cash settlement for this claim.”
“Can you send me a copy of the estimate once it’s available?”
“Who should I contact for questions about the claim?”
“When will you inspect the vehicle?”
“What is my next step?”

Minute 50-60: Immediate Decisions

Step 14: Do NOT let insurance steer you to their network shop.

This is the critical moment. Insurance will say something like:

“We have preferred body shops in your area. They can pick up your car immediately. Here are the phone numbers.”

Your response:

“Thank you. I’ll contact you before authorizing any repairs. I want to get a second estimate from an independent shop before I decide.”

Do NOT authorize repairs immediately. Do NOT let insurance pick up your car. Do NOT agree to their preferred shops on the spot.

Step 15: Contact an independent repair shop.

Call us: (843) 471-4076

Tell us:

“I was in an accident about [time ago].”
“The damage includes [describe the visible damage].”
“Insurance has my car at [location] or my car is at [your location].”
“I want to get an estimate and understand my options.”

We’ll:

Schedule a time to inspect your vehicle
Provide a detailed, free estimate
Explain your options (cash settlement, insurance coordination, parts choices)
Walk you through the process
Help you understand your right to choose any repair facility

This conversation happens in the first 60 minutes. Before you’re overwhelmed. Before you’ve accepted someone else’s decisions.

Post-60-Minute: The Next Steps

Seek Medical Attention (if needed)

Even if you feel fine, consider a medical evaluation if:

Any part of your body hurts
You hit your head
Your neck, back, or shoulders are sore
You have a headache or dizziness
You were hit from behind

Soft tissue injuries (whiplash, strain) can take hours or days to appear. Getting evaluated immediately creates medical records that support any future claims.

Gather Documentation

Collect:

Copy of the police report
All photos you took
Contact information for witnesses
Insurance correspondence
Medical evaluation records (if any)
Repair estimates (from multiple shops)

Request the Insurance Estimate

Call your insurance company and ask for a copy of their estimate in writing. Get it emailed to you. Compare it with independent estimates.

Request a Cash Settlement

As discussed in our other posts, contact your insurance company and request a cash settlement. You have this right. They should provide it.

Coordinate Repairs

Once you’ve selected a shop (we hope it’s us), provide them with:

Copy of insurance estimate
Copy of police report
Your insurance information
Authorization to negotiate with insurance on supplemental costs

What Happens If You Do This Right

You’ll have:

Medical documentation (if injuries occurred)
Photo evidence of the accident scene
Police report documenting the incident
Witness information supporting your account
Multiple repair estimates showing fair market pricing
Control over your repair facility choice
Documentation of your insurance request for cash settlement

This protects you in disputes, claim denials, or situations where the other driver’s insurance tries to fight the claim.

What Happens If You Don’t Do This

If you skip these steps:

You’ll rely on the insurance company’s narrative (which might not match yours)
You’ll have no photographic evidence of damage
You’ll accept your insurance company’s shop recommendation
You’ll lose control of whether OEM or aftermarket parts are used
You’ll lose the option to request a cash settlement
You’ll pay whatever deductible the first shop quotes

Real Example: The 60-Minute Decision

Client: Marcus, rear-ended in Summerville

Minute 5: Called 911, waited for police.

Minute 10: Took 25 photos of both vehicles, the scene, the traffic light position.

Minute 20: Exchanged information. Didn’t admit fault. Didn’t discuss injuries.

Minute 35: Police arrived, filed report. Got officer’s name and report number.

Minute 40: Called insurance, reported the accident, requested cash settlement.

Minute 45: Called us (Collision Kings) at (843) 471-4076.

Result:

Insurance estimate came in at $4,200
Our estimate (OEM parts, comprehensive) came in at $5,100
We requested supplement with photo documentation
Insurance approved $4,900 (split the difference)
Marcus’s deductible: $1,000
Marcus’s out of pocket: $1,000 only
His car repaired with OEM parts in 5 business days
All systems tested and certified

What if Marcus hadn’t done these 60 minutes right?

He’d have accepted insurance’s preferred shop recommendation
Network shop would have used aftermarket parts
His estimate would have been $3,600 to insurance
His out of pocket would still be $1,000
But his car would be repaired with cheaper parts
And he’d have no say in the process

60 minutes of careful action saved Marcus quality and control of his repair.

Final Checklist: First 60 Minutes

Follow these steps. Protect yourself. Control your claim.

Call us at (843) 471-4076 immediately after your accident. We’ll guide you through the next steps and ensure your car is repaired right.

FAQ

Q: Do I have to call police if it’s a minor accident?

A: We recommend it even for minor accidents. A police report creates an official record of what happened. If there’s a dispute later, you have documentation. In some jurisdictions, police might not respond to minor accidents, but they’ll usually give you a case number.

Q: What if the other driver gets angry when I refuse to admit fault?

A: Stay calm, stay polite, and repeat: “I’m not discussing fault. I’m just exchanging information for the claim.” If they become aggressive, move away and wait for police.

Q: Should I accept a settlement offer from the other driver’s insurance at the scene?

A: No. Never settle anything at the accident scene. Wait for inspections, estimates, and thorough evaluation. Settlements made in the moment are almost always in the other party’s favor.

Q: What if my insurance company refuses to send a police officer?

A: If police don’t come, your documentation becomes the police report. Photos, witness information, and your written statement of what happened are your proof.

Q: Can I be forced to use my insurance company’s preferred shop?

A: No. You have the legal right to choose any licensed repair facility. Insurance can recommend their preferred shops, but they cannot force you to use them.

Q: What if I didn’t take photos at the scene?

A: Photos from the scene are ideal, but not required. You can still get estimates and file a claim. Just be aware that you won’t have scene documentation if there’s a dispute later.

Q: How long do I have to file an insurance claim?

A: Most states require claims to be filed within 30-90 days. Report it as soon as possible (within 24 hours) to meet insurance company timelines.

Q: What if there were injuries? Do I need to mention them to insurance?

A: Yes, report any injuries to your insurance company. But don’t exaggerate or speculate. “I have minor neck soreness” is accurate. “I might have whiplash” is speculation.

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