SAFETY GUIDES · PHOENIX, AZ
What Do You Do After a Car Accident? A Step-by-Step Guide for the First Hour and Beyond
Updated October 2026 · Written by the techs at The Junkie Garage
The short answer
An accident compresses a hundred decisions into a shaking five minutes — so the sequence has to be automatic. Immediate: check for injuries, get out of traffic, call 911. Then: document everything with your phone before cars move, exchange information, and report it. Afterward: see a doctor even if you feel fine, notify your insurer promptly, and get the car properly assessed. The mistakes that hurt claims most happen in the first ten minutes, so here's the whole sequence in order.
The first ten minutes: people before paperwork
Check yourself, then your passengers, for injuries — adrenaline masks pain, so move carefully even if you feel fine. If the cars are drivable and minor, Arizona law still expects you to report the crash; get out of active lanes before anything else, hazards on. If anyone is hurt, if a vehicle can't be driven, or if the other driver appears impaired, call 911 and stay put. Do not stand between the cars or in a lane while you wait — secondary collisions on highways are a leading cause of accident injuries. If the car is drivable and blocking traffic on a busy road, photograph first, then move.
Document everything before anything moves
Your phone is the claim. Photograph all vehicles from all four corners, including wide shots showing road position, skid marks, and debris; close-ups of damage on both cars; the other car's license plate; and the surrounding intersection or mile marker. Exchange: names, phone numbers, addresses, driver's license numbers, insurance company and policy number, and the vehicle's year/make/model. Get the police report number if officers respond, and note the officer's name and badge. If witnesses stop, take their names and numbers — they leave fast. Do not apologize or discuss fault at the scene; the facts in your photos speak, and 'sorry' gets quoted in claims.
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See a doctor within a day or two even if you feel fine — soft-tissue and concussion symptoms often surface 24–72 hours later, and a documented prompt visit protects both your health and any injury claim. Notify your insurance company promptly (it's usually a policy requirement, and delayed reporting is a common reason claims get complicated), even for a crash you'd rather handle privately. Then have the vehicle assessed properly: modern cars hide damage in sensors, radiators, and structural members behind straight-looking panels. Airbag deployment, wheel damage, or fluid leaks after a crash are not drive-it-home items.
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Leaving the scene without exchanging information (a crime, even in minor crashes), skipping the police report on anything with damage or injury, admitting fault at the scene, accepting a quick cash settlement at the roadside for damage not yet assessed, and posting about the accident on social media all rank among the most expensive. One more Phoenix-specific: if the other driver has no insurance, your uninsured-motorist coverage exists for exactly this — which is why photographing the plate and vehicle matters even when the driver claims they'll 'handle it themselves.'
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to call the police for a minor fender bender in Arizona?
For any accident with injury or significant damage, yes — a police report is your objective record and insurers rely on it. For the most minor no-injury contact in a parking lot, an exchange of information and photos may suffice, but when in doubt, report. A non-emergency police line covers the low-stakes cases.
Should I move my car after an accident?
If the cars are drivable and it's a minor crash on a busy roadway, photograph from several angles first, then move out of traffic — safety outranks scene purity. If there are injuries, the vehicles are undrivable, or someone may be at fault and dispute it, leave the cars where they rest unless they're creating danger.
The other driver has no insurance. What now?
Document everything (especially the plate and driver), file the police report, and open a claim with your own insurer under uninsured-motorist coverage if you carry it — in Arizona it's offered on most policies, though you can decline in writing. A lawyer consult is worthwhile if injuries are involved.
How do I know if my car is safe to drive after an accident?
Airbag deployment, leaking fluids, steering that pulls or shakes, grinding noises, or warning lights mean don't drive it — have it towed. Modern bumpers hide sensor and radiator damage, so 'looks fine' isn't an assessment. A post-accident inspection is the safe move even for minor-looking contact.
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