Hour 0 to 1: At the scene
✓ Check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt, confused or having trouble breathing.
✓ Get safe. If no one is injured and your car can move, Arizona law generally asks drivers to move vehicles out of travel lanes. ADOT calls this “Steer It, Clear It.”
✓ Stay at the scene and exchange names, addresses, driver’s license, insurance and vehicle information.
✓ Take photos of all vehicles, license plates, the road, traffic signals, skid marks and any visible injuries.
✓ Get witness names and phone numbers before they leave.
✓ Ask the responding officer for the report number and, if one is offered, an exchange-of-information form. That form records both drivers’ names, insurance and vehicle details along with the report number, so keep it with your photos. The officer may be from local police, the sheriff’s office or the Arizona Department of Public Safety on the freeway.
✓ Stick to facts. Don’t argue about fault or guess about your injuries. Avoid saying things like “I’m sorry,” which can be read as admitting fault, or “I’m okay,” since many injuries don’t show up for hours or days. Describe what happened and say you’ll get checked out.
Hours 1 to 24: Get checked out and start your records
✓ Get a medical evaluation, even if you feel fine, ideally from a provider experienced in treating automobile-accident injuries. They know what to look for and how to document it. Adrenaline can hide pain for hours, and whiplash, concussion and back injuries often show up later.
✓ Tell the provider it was a car accident and describe every symptom, even minor ones.
✓ Start a symptom journal. Write down pain levels, where it hurts, sleep problems, headaches and what you can’t do normally.
✓ Notify your insurance company that an accident happened. Keep it to the basic facts.
✓ Save everything: photos, receipts, tow bills, rental costs and the other driver’s information in one folder.
Hours 24 to 72: Watch, document and follow through
✓ Watch for delayed symptoms: neck or back stiffness, headaches, dizziness, numbness, tingling or trouble concentrating. Get re-evaluated if something new appears.
✓ Follow your treatment plan and keep every follow-up appointment. Skipped visits create gaps in your records.
✓ Be careful with recorded statements to the other driver’s insurance company. You can ask to speak with an attorney first.
✓ Stay off social media about the accident, your injuries or your activities.
✓ Consider talking with a personal injury attorney if you were hurt. Many offer free consultations.
Arizona-specific tips most checklists miss
01
Summer heat
Arizona pavement can get dangerously hot in summer. If you’re waiting on the roadside, stay hydrated, find shade if it’s safe to leave your car and watch passengers, kids and pets for heat illness.
02
Monsoon and dust storms
If visibility drops, ADOT’s advice is “Pull Aside, Stay Alive”: pull off the road, turn off your lights, set the parking brake and keep your foot off the brake pedal. Crashes during storms often involve multiple vehicles, so photograph everything you can safely.
03
Freeway crashes
Crashes on I-10, I-17, Loop 101, Loop 202 and other state highways are usually handled by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. City-street crashes are usually handled by local police. Knowing which agency responded helps you get the right report later.
04
Arizona is an at-fault state
The driver who caused the crash is generally responsible for damages through their insurance. Arizona’s minimum liability coverage is $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $15,000 for property damage.
05
Deadlines exist
Arizona has time limits for injury claims, generally two years, and much shorter notice deadlines, as short as 180 days, when a city, county or state vehicle is involved. Talk with an Arizona attorney about your situation.
What to document after a car accident
Document
Why it matters
Photos of vehicles, scene and injuries
Shows what happened before anything is repaired or healed
Police report number and agency
Needed to request the official crash report
Other driver’s insurance and contact info
Required to open a claim
Witness names and phone numbers
Independent accounts fade quickly
Medical visit dates and provider names
Builds a clear timeline of care
Daily symptom journal
Captures pain and limits that records may miss
Receipts, tow bills and missed-work notes
Tracks costs connected to the accident
