What To Do After A Minor Car Accident: 6 Steps (2026)

What Is Considered a Minor Car Accident?

A minor car accident usually refers to low-speed collisions that cause little or no property damage. These accidents don’t cause serious injuries, but you could experience bruising or other wounds that don’t require significant medical care. At the most, they could result in whiplash claims.

These accidents are typically called fender benders. Parking lot scratches fit into this category, as do minor rear-end collisions that occur when vehicles are hardly moving. These are common in high-traffic scenarios.

What to Do After a Minor Car Accident

Crash reports do not use the term minor. Instead, they categorize crashes according to the most severe outcome they produce. Specifically, the terms used to classify crashes include:

• Fatal
• Non-fatal injury
• Property damage only

What you do after a minor car crash depends on your definition of “minor.” A minor car accident could have several meanings, such as:

• Non-fatal and non-incapacitating injury
• Property damage-only
• Property damage-only valued at less than a certain amount

In all states, you must stop at the accident scene after any crash. If the accident involves a parked car, for example, it’s important to follow your state’s specific procedures for reporting and leaving your contact information. If you fail to do so, you might face charges for a hit-and-run, also called “leaving the scene of an accident.” points system for hitting parked car, and the outcome of the crash. In that case, you should consider hiring a hit-and-run lawyer.

Your steps after stopping depend not on whether the damage or injuries are minor. Instead, they depend on whether the crash only causes damage or it also causes injuries. Thus, you can divide the possible situations into the following three scenarios:

Steps to Take After a Minor Car Accident

Here’s what you should do immediately after a minor car accident:

1. Stop and Check for Injuries

No matter how minor the accident appears, you are legally required to stop your vehicle. Check yourself, your passengers, and any other people involved for injuries. Even if no injuries are visible, symptoms like whiplash or concussions might appear later. If a child was in the vehicle, also check that they were properly secured — child restraint violations can lead to both more severe injuries and legal consequences.

2. Move to a Safe Area (If Possible)

If the vehicles are blocking traffic and can be moved, relocate them to the side of the road or a nearby parking lot. This helps prevent further accidents and ensures your safety. However, leave the vehicles in their positions if they are undrivable or if someone is injured.

3. Document the Scene

Take photos of both vehicles, license plates, damage, and the surrounding area. These photos serve as evidence when filing an insurance claim or dealing with legal issues later on.

4. Exchange Information

Exchange insurance, contact, and vehicle information with the other driver(s). This should include:

• Driver’s name and contact details
• Insurance company name and policy number
• License plate number and vehicle details

Do not admit fault or apologize, as this can be used against you later. Instead, stick to factual statements.

5. Contact the Police (When Required)

Depending on your state, you may need to report the accident to law enforcement. Generally, accidents involving injuries require police involvement, even if the injuries are minor. In the case of an accident with any injuries, you should report the crash immediately, often by using police report car accident tools. If the accident is damage-only, some states only require reporting if the damage exceeds a certain monetary threshold. Always check your state’s requirements.

States like New York require that you contact the police for any accident that causes at least $1,000 in damages or results in injuries. Not all jurisdictions will send an officer to the scene of a minor accident, but you can go to the station yourself and file the report there.

In Georgia, the threshold is lower. If the accident causes property damage that exceeds $500, you must report it.

Because of the wide variety of rules regarding when to report an accident, you should consider doing so, no matter how minor it may appear to be. It can be the safest legal route.

6. Notify Your Insurance Company

Even if you and the other driver agree to handle the accident privately, your insurance policy might require you to report all accidents, even if it’s not your fault. Not doing so could result in penalties. Review your policy and follow its guidelines.

Most insurance companies require that you let them know of any accidents within two or three days of their occurrence. Failing to do this can mean that your premiums could increase or that the insurer might deny you coverage.

Should You File an Insurance Claim for Minor Damage?

You should always report the damage to the insurance company, but it may not be worth the effort to begin a claim if the losses are very minor. Keep your deductible in mind. If the repairs will cost less out-of-pocket than your deductible, then you may not benefit from filing a claim.

However, if the accident occurred in an at-fault state and the other party was responsible, then you should begin a claim against their insurance. This will protect your rights if any hidden damage appears later.

Cars these days rely significantly on electronic systems that could be damaged without you realizing it. Even if you start a diagnostic test on the vehicle right after the crash, it can be hours before problems make themselves known. Not filing a claim right away can mean that it will be much more difficult to prove causation if you need to later on.

Keep in mind that what may seem like a very minor bump on your car could be more expensive to repair than you may think.

Get Legal Help After a Minor Car Accident

Even minor car accidents can cost thousands of dollars in property damage and even injure you. If you were involved in a minor crash and need to either pursue compensation or defend yourself from legal claims, you should speak to an experienced lawyer to learn about your options. It’s a good idea even if you’re in a non-injury accident.

ConsumerShield helps people facing legal issues. We provide educational resources and connect you with a minor accident lawyer who can provide legal advice and representation. Fill out our Contact Form for your free case evaluation.