Car Accident Response Checklist — Report, Insurance, Photos, What Not to Do

Order Is Half the Battle

After a crash everyone panics. Knowing the order in advance limits your losses and disputes. Follow this checklist in sequence.

General guidance only. For specific handling, follow your insurer, police, and local law. Emergency numbers below are for Korea — use your country’s equivalents elsewhere.

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Step 1 — Secure Safety First

□ Turn on hazard lights
□ Move the vehicle somewhere safe (prevent a secondary crash) —
  but on serious/injury accidents, preserve the scene
□ Highway: get past the guardrail to a safe zone, place a warning triangle
□ Check for injuries → call emergency services if anyone is hurt

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Step 2 — Report (official numbers)

□ Injuries/fatalities/hit-and-run/major crash → Police, Ambulance
□ In Korea: 112 (police), 119 (fire/ambulance), 1339 (medical info)
□ File with your insurer (call center) — report from the scene
□ Korea expressway incidents: 1588-2504
□ Elsewhere: dial your local emergency number (e.g. 911, 112, 999)

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Step 3 — Secure Evidence (photos)

Photos are your key evidence. Capture multiple distances and angles.

□ Whole scene (so the vehicles' relative positions show) — from afar
□ Damage to both vehicles — close up
□ Tire direction, brake marks, signals, lane markings
□ Save dashcam footage (before it's overwritten)
□ Other party: plate number, contact, insurer, license
□ Witness contacts (if any)

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Step 4 — Insurance & Medical

□ Get the claim number and adjuster contact
□ Pain can appear later → see a doctor and get it on record if needed
□ Don't rush a settlement — wait until injuries and repairs are clear

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⚠️ What NOT to Do

✗ On-the-spot cash settlement / written waiver (later disputes, hidden injury)
✗ Casually admitting fault (fault ratio is decided by investigation)
✗ Moving the car fully before any photos (even minor crashes: evidence first)
✗ Leaving an injured person / hit-and-run (criminal offense)
✗ Hiding a DUI or unlicensed status

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Key Numbers (Korea)

Situation	Number
Police	112
Fire/Ambulance	119
Medical info	1339
Expressway	1588-2504
Insurer	your insurer’s call center

Numbers and rules change — confirm via official channels (police, fire authority, your insurer). Outside Korea, use local equivalents.

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Key Takeaways

1. Order: secure safety → report → photo evidence → insurance/medical.
2. Preventing a secondary crash comes first — on highways, get behind the guardrail.
3. Photograph far and close, plus dashcam.
4. No on-the-spot cash deal, no casual fault admission, no moving the car before photos.
5. Core numbers (Korea): 112, 119, 1339; report to your insurer immediately.