Insurance Simplified: What to Do After a Car Accident (Step-by-Step Guide)

Do You Know What to Do After a Car Accident? 

Be Ready for Anything with This Step-by-Step Guide!

Accidents happen—whether it’s a minor fender bender or a serious collision, knowing what to do next can make a huge difference in how smoothly things go with insurance, repairs, and potential costs. No matter who’s at fault, following the right steps after an accident can help protect you financially and legally. Here’s what to do immediately after an accident and how insurance applies in different situations.

Step 1: Stay Calm & Check for Injuries
Your safety comes first. Take a deep breath and follow these steps:
✅ Check yourself and passengers for injuries. If anyone is hurt, call 911 immediately.
✅ Turn on hazard lights to warn other drivers.
✅ Call the police to report the accident, even for minor collisions.

🚨 Why call the police? A police report can help determine fault and serve as official documentation for insurance claims.

Step 2: Collect and Provide Necessary Information
Regardless of who’s at fault, it’s important to gather key details from the other driver while providing only what's necessary on your end. Here’s what to do:

🔹 From the other driver (if they are at fault): Obtain their name, contact details, insurance company name, policy number, vehicle make/model, and license plate number.
🔹 From both drivers: Note the location of the accident and gather any witness information if available.

📸 Take pictures! Document the damage to all vehicles, license plates, road conditions, and any relevant signs or signals. If you’re at fault, provide your insurance details to the other driver, as the claim will be filed under your policy. However, you are not required to share your insurance information if you are not at fault.

Step 3: Contact Your Insurance Company
🚨 Should you call your insurance if the accident wasn’t your fault? 
🔹 If you’re at fault: Yes, you need to file a claim with your insurance.
🔹 If you’re NOT at fault: No! File a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance instead. 

⚠️ Big Mistake to Avoid: Never file a claim on your own insurance if the accident wasn’t your fault—it could increase your rates unnecessarily. 

Limited Circumstances Where You Might Need to Contact Your Own Insurance 
There are some situations where you may need to involve your own insurance, even if you weren’t at fault: The other driver is uninsured or underinsured without enough coverage to cover the accident.

🚨Pro Tip: Before using your own insurance in a not-at-fault accident, call your agent to discuss your options and ensure it’s the best decision for your situation.

Step 4: How Insurance Covers the Damages
Once insurance is involved, here’s how coverage applies based on who caused the accident:

Scenario 1: If the Other Driver Is at Fault If another driver caused the accident, their insurance should pay for:
✅ Your vehicle repairs (covered under their liability property damage)
✅ Your medical bills (if their liability coverage includes bodily injury)
✅ A rental car while your car is being repaired (depending on their policy) 


🚨 What If the Other Driver Has No Insurance?
If they’re uninsured or underinsured, your own uninsured motorist coverage (if you have it) may cover your expenses.

Scenario 2: If YOU Are at Fault
If you caused the accident, your own insurance will cover the damages as follows: 
🔹 Liability Coverage – Pays for the other driver’s car repairs and medical expenses, up to your policy limits.
🔹 Collision Coverage (if you have it) – Pays for your own car repairs, but you’ll need to pay a deductible first. 


Example: Your repair bill = $3,000 Your deductible = $500 Insurance covers the remaining $2,500 Without collision coverage, you’d have to pay for your own car repairs out of pocket. Choosing a higher deductible lowers your monthly premium, but it also means you’ll have to pay more out of pocket if you get in an accident.

Step 5: Will Your Insurance Rates Go Up?
🚨 If you were at fault, your insurance premium will likely increase. The exact amount depends on:
✔️ Your driving history (First accident or repeated claims?)
✔️ Your insurance company’s policies
✔️ Whether you have accident forgiveness (Some insurers won’t raise rates for your first accident.)

Final Thoughts: Be Prepared Before an Accident Happens
Accidents are stressful, but following the right steps protects you legally and financially. 


💡 Key Takeaways: ✔️ Always call the police and exchange information after an accident.
✔️ Only file a claim with your insurance if you’re at fault—otherwise, use the at-fault driver’s insurance.
✔️ Liability insurance pays for the other driver’s damages if you caused the accident.
✔️ Collision coverage (if you have it) helps repair your car, minus your selected deductible. ✔️ If the accident wasn’t your fault, avoid filing a claim on your own insurance to prevent unnecessary rate increases.


🚗💨 Stay safe, drive smart, and know your insurance coverage! 
📌 Follow for more Insurance Simplified blogs! -Madalyn Sanford