What to do after a car accident in Georgia

The first five minutes

1. Turn on your hazard lights.
2. Check yourself and your passengers. If anyone is hurt, call 911.
3. If nobody is seriously hurt and the car can be driven normally, move it to the shoulder, the median or a nearby lot. Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-275) requires this when it is safe, and moving your car does not by itself make you at fault.
4. If the car cannot be driven, stay buckled in, or move well away from traffic if it is safe to get out. Then call for a tow.

When you must call the police

Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-273) says you must report a crash immediately if anyone is hurt or killed, or if property damage appears to be $500 or more. Inside city limits, call the city police. Elsewhere, call the county sheriff or the Georgia State Patrol. In an emergency, dial 911.

What to collect

• Other driver’s name, phone number, license and insurance details
• License plates of every vehicle involved
• Photos of all vehicles, the road, signs, skid marks and debris
• Names and numbers of any witnesses
• The officer’s name and the report number

Choosing your tow

If police have not already called a wrecker from their rotation list, you can usually call the company you want. Tell them where the car should go: a body shop, your home or a storage lot. Ask for the total price before they hook up, and ask the daily storage rate if the car will sit in a yard.

If police do call a rotation wrecker, that company tows the car. You can have it moved to your shop afterward.

Insurance

Georgia is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, generally pays for the damage. Georgia requires at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash in bodily-injury coverage, and $25,000 in property-damage coverage. Report the crash to your insurer the same day and keep every receipt.