The first five minutes matter more than the argument that follows
After an impact people think poorly — that is a normal reaction, not weakness. So this list starts with mechanical actions that require no judgement: stop, put the hazard lights on, place the warning triangle, check that everyone is unhurt. Decisions about fault and paperwork come later, with a cooler head.
Procedures and deadlines differ by country and change over time. What follows is the organisational sequence: what to do, what to record and what not to forget. Check your own country’s rules and your own policy separately — ideally in advance, not on the hard shoulder.
What to record while the cars are still in place
| Shot | Why |
|---|---|
| Wide view from both directions | Shows positions, lanes, signs and markings |
| Mid-range shot of each car | Shows how they stood relative to each other |
| Every area of damage, close up | Ends the “that was already there” argument |
| Both number plates | Ties the photos to the parties |
| Skid marks, debris, traces | Reconstructs the scene if it is disputed |
| The other driver’s documents | Details cannot be lost or copied down wrong |
Photograph before the cars are moved. If local rules require clearing the carriageway, take the photos first and move afterwards — otherwise there is nothing left to reconstruct the positions from.
What not to do at the scene
Do not sign anything you have not understood or do not agree with. Do not settle “without paperwork” on a promise of money later: with no documents there is nothing to claim on. Do not argue — it settles nothing at the scene, and a filmed argument is later watched by everyone. Do not leave until the process is complete under local rules.
About how you feel
Symptoms after an impact do not always appear immediately. If the collision was significant, seeing a doctor is worth it even when you feel fine — both for your own sake and because a timely medical record does not have to be proved later.
After the scene
Then the paperwork half begins: notify your insurer within the required time, gather documents, book an inspection, get repairs assessed. One simple rule helps: keep everything you are given in one place and photograph it immediately. Recovering a lost document takes far longer than taking a picture.
Knowing when the episode is closed
The formalities are complete, photos and documents are saved, the insurer has been notified in time, an inspection is booked and, if needed, a medical visit is recorded. Everything after that — repairs, payouts, disputes over amounts — are separate tasks with their own deadlines, and they are better tracked in a list than from memory.
