What to do After a Car Accident in Arizona 2025 (Car Accident Guide)
This is a comprehensive guide on what to do as a car accident happens, the quick and overwhelming moments at the scene of an accident, and what to do after to ensure you have everything you need to file a claim to recover injury and property damages.
🕔3 mins to read
After a car accident, things may feel overwhelming and as if it’s the last thing you need on your plate. You are probably wondering how to handle a car accident, especially if you have painful injuries and vehicle damage. The truth is, what you do after a car accident is very important, and here is a guide to ensure you do the right things to be compensated accordingly.
I. MOMENT OF ACCIDENT
Stop Safely & Stay at the Scene – This is the most important thing to do. Do not drive away from the scene of an accident, even if the accident is minor. If you leave the accident scene, you can get a ticket. If your vehicle is still drivable, turn your hazard lights on and try to pull over to the side of the road or off the road if your vehicle interferes with traffic. If the vehicle is not drivable, when getting out, be careful of ongoing traffic. If you are on a freeway and your vehicle has light damage, you should try to get off the freeway for your safety.
II. AT SCENE OF ACCIDENT
Call the Police
- Even if there are no serious injuries and you are on public property, call the police.
- Cooperate with the police and inform them of what occurred.
- Do not downplay your injuries; the police will respond quicker.
- Make sure to obtain an exchange-of-information slip from the police. If the police believe the damage to your vehicle is under $500, they may not complete a police report, however, they may still potentially do an exchange of information form.
Read here about our Police Report vs. Exchange of Information Slip Blog Post.
Take Photos and Exchange Information
- If the driver is cooperative, make sure to take photos of the other driver, their driver’s license, auto insurance card, and license plate.
- Make sure to verify the auto insurance; is it for the vehicle that caused the accident? Is the auto insurance expired?
- Be sure to take photos of the damage to your vehicle, other involved vehicles, injuries, and any damaged property, such as tools, car seats, etc.
Get Witness Information – If there are any witnesses, make sure to obtain their name, a good contact number, and/or email address.
III. AFTER ACCIDENT OCCURS
Seek Medical Attention
- If you are injured, you should seek medical attention.
- If you are concerned about a concussion, are bleeding, have broken bones, or severe pain, you should seek medical attention at your local emergency room.
- Otherwise, sustained injuries in motor vehicle accidents are not immediately apparent.
- Most of our clients report feeling pain one or a few days after the accident occurs. Pain is generally the worst 3-7 days past the accident.
Contact an Attorney
Perhaps the most important thing after an accident is to contact and consult an attorney.
- An attorney can protect your rights and advise you of valuable evidence and support along the way. It is very important to receive legal advice through this process.
- Make sure the legal advice you receive is from a licensed attorney – not an “intake specialist.”
- Most injury firms will provide a free consultation.
File an Insurance Claim
- Obtain your auto vehicle’s insurance policy number and call your auto insurance’s claim department to open a new claim.
- Information needed includes policy number, vehicle make and model, and how the accident occurred.
- If you hire an attorney, they can do this for you.
