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Get everyone safe, call 911 if anyone’s hurt, and photograph everything before either car moves. Exchange information but don’t admit fault, don’t sign anything from the other driver’s insurer on the spot, and don’t accept a quick cash offer at the scene. Once you’re safe and have the details, you have the right to choose your own repair shop in California.
→ send us photos: free written estimate, usually same day.A car accident is disorienting. Even a minor one. Here’s a practical step-by-step list, the same one we’d give to a friend.
At the Scene
- Make sure everyone is safe. Check yourself, your passengers, and the other driver for injuries. If anyone is hurt, call 911 immediately.
- Move to safety if you can. If the vehicles are drivable and traffic is moving, pull to the shoulder or a nearby parking lot. If not, leave them and stay safely off the roadway.
- Turn on hazards. Flashing hazards alert other drivers and help police find you.
- Call the police. California requires a police report for accidents involving injury, death, or property damage over $1,000. For most accidents with any visible damage, calling the police is the safer call, the report is invaluable for insurance later.
- Don't admit fault. Stick to facts. Don't speculate about what caused the accident. Don't apologize.
What to Collect
While you wait for police (or after the scene is safe), get:
- Other driver's name, phone number, and address
- Driver's license number, take a photo of their license if they'll let you
- License plate number and vehicle make/model
- Insurance company name and policy number, photo of their insurance card
- Photos from multiple angles: damage to both vehicles, position of the vehicles on the road, license plates, traffic signs and signals, road conditions, skid marks and debris, and any visible injuries
- Witness information, names and phone numbers if anyone saw what happened
- Time, date, weather, and road conditions
- Police officer's name and badge number, plus the report number
At Home, the Same Day
- Call your insurance to file the claim. Most carriers have 24-hour claim hotlines or apps.
- Don't sign anything from the other driver's insurance without consulting a professional. Their adjuster's job is to settle quickly and cheaply.
- See a doctor if you have any pain, even minor stiffness. Some injuries (whiplash, soft-tissue damage) don't fully present for 24–48 hours. A same-day medical visit creates a record that's important for your claim.
When You’re Ready for Repair
Bring your claim number to a body shop you trust. If you’re in the Antelope Valley, we’d love to help, we work with every insurance company.
You have the right to choose your own shop. Your insurance company cannot require you to use a specific shop, that decision is yours, not theirs.
A Word About Hit-and-Runs
If the other driver leaves the scene, do not chase them. Get the license plate if you can, write down a description of the vehicle and driver, and call the police immediately. File a hit-and-run report. Your insurance handles the repair through your uninsured motorist coverage, if you have it (highly recommended for California drivers, uninsured driver rates are some of the highest in the country).
If You’re Injured
Don’t tough it out. See a doctor. Get the records. Even for “minor” injuries, the medical documentation matters for your claim and may help support a settlement that covers more than just car repairs.
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