What should I do at the scene of an accident before calling my insurer?

The moments immediately after a collision can feel overwhelming, but taking a few deliberate steps will protect you and make the claims process significantly smoother.

First, check for injuries. If anyone is hurt or the vehicles are blocking traffic in a way that creates danger, call 911 right away. Even if the accident seems minor, a police report creates an official record that your insurer and the other driver’s insurer will rely on. Do not move the vehicles until law enforcement advises you to, unless leaving them in place creates an immediate safety hazard.

Once you know everyone is physically okay, document everything you can. Use your phone to photograph all vehicles from multiple angles, close-ups of any damage, the position of the vehicles, road conditions, traffic signals, and any skid marks. Take wide shots that show the surrounding environment as well. Time-stamped photos are far more useful than verbal descriptions when an adjuster is reconstructing what happened.

Exchange the following with every other driver involved: full legal name, phone number, home address, driver’s license number, license plate number, and insurance company name plus policy number. If there are witnesses, ask for their names and contact information too. Avoid discussing fault at the scene. A simple statement that you need to gather information for your insurer is enough.

If a police officer responds, ask for the incident report number so you can retrieve the full report later. Officers often will not provide a copy at the scene, but the report number lets you or your agent pull it within a few days.

Once you are safely away from the scene, contact your insurer or your agent at Olive Cover (operated by Olive Insurance Services, LLC) to open a claim. The sooner you report, the faster an adjuster can be assigned.