A crash turns an ordinary drive into a pile of decisions, often while you're shaken and hurting. This guide covers what to do after a car accident in Atlanta, in order: at the scene, in the first 72 hours, and over the next few weeks.
It comes from Huggins Accident Injury Lawyer, the Perimeter Center office of attorney Gary D. Huggins. If you're hurt, your only job right now is getting medical care. The rest of this list can wait, or a family member can help.
What to do at the scene of a car accident in Atlanta
What happens in the first hour becomes the record of your crash. Do what you safely can.
- Call 911. Report the crash and anyone who is hurt. Depending on where you are, the Georgia State Patrol, Atlanta Police, a county police department or a city force such as Dunwoody or Sandy Springs police will respond.
- Get out of live traffic if it's safe. If no one is injured and the cars can be driven, pull onto the shoulder or into a parking lot. On the I-285 Top End or GA-400, never stand in a travel lane to look at damage.
- Stop and trade information. Georgia law requires drivers in a crash to stop, give their information and help anyone injured (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-270). Get the other driver's name, phone number, license, plate number, insurance company and policy number.
- Photograph everything. Shoot every vehicle from several angles, plus the plates, skid marks, debris, traffic lights, signs, weather and your own injuries.
- Look for details that disappear. A company name on a truck door, a rideshare sticker, a dash camera, or a store camera aimed at the intersection.
- Get witness names and numbers. A stranger who saw the light change can settle a fault dispute months later.
- Say less. Check on the other driver, but don't apologize, guess at speeds or argue. “I need to get checked out” is a complete answer.
- Ask the officer two questions: which agency they work for, and what the report number is.
- Accept medical help. If paramedics recommend the hospital, go.
If you're reading this on the shoulder of the road or in an ER, call (240) 421-5511. The line is answered 24 hours a day, and Gary can talk you through what comes next.
In the first 72 hours
The next three days are about two things: your health, and evidence that won't wait.
See a doctor, even if you feel okay
Adrenaline can hide pain for hours, and neck injuries, back injuries and concussions can take a day or more to show themselves. A prompt medical visit protects your health and creates a record linking your injuries to the crash.
Whether you're treated at Grady Memorial downtown, Wellstar Kennestone in Marietta, Northside Hospital Gwinnett in Lawrenceville or an urgent care near home, tell the staff you were in a car crash. Mention every symptom, even small ones.
Report the crash to your own insurer
Your own policy may require prompt notice and cooperation, so call your insurance company and give the basic facts. Reporting also protects your access to coverage you've paid for, such as medical payments (med-pay) and uninsured motorist (UM) coverage.
Politely decline the other insurer's recorded statement
The other driver's adjuster may call within a day, friendly and eager to record your version. No Georgia law requires you to give the other driver's insurer a recorded statement. Take the adjuster's name and claim number, and say you'll get back to them.
Here's what to know before giving a recorded statement and why it matters.
Save evidence before it's gone
- Write down what you remember while it's fresh: lanes, signals, what the other driver said.
- Photograph bruises and cuts each day as they change.
- Ask nearby businesses whether a camera caught the crash. Many record over old footage on a short cycle.
- Keep dash-cam files, texts and call logs, and stay off social media.
Request the crash report
Most metro agencies post reports on BuyCrash.com within a few days for a small fee. Our guide on how to get a crash report in metro Atlanta covers each agency and what to do about errors.
Has an adjuster already left you a voicemail? Call (240) 421-5511 before you call back, and Gary will tell you what to say and what to leave out.
In the first few weeks
Claims quietly get stronger or weaker in the weeks after a crash. These habits keep yours on solid ground.
Keep every appointment
Follow your doctor's plan and don't skip therapy. Insurers point to gaps in treatment to argue you weren't really hurt.
Georgia's 2025 tort-reform law, SB 68, makes your records matter even more. For claims arising on or after April 21, 2025, juries may hear what your health insurer actually paid, and recoverable medical expenses are limited to the reasonable value of necessary care (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-1.1).
Build a claim folder
- Medical bills, records and pharmacy receipts
- Explanation-of-benefits statements from your health plan
- Pay stubs and notes on missed work
- Repair estimates, towing bills and rental receipts
- Every letter, email and claim number from any insurer
Read your declarations page
The declarations page of your auto policy lists your med-pay and UM coverage. It should also say whether your UM is “added-on,” which pays in addition to the other driver's limits, or “reduced-by.” Since January 1, 2009, Georgia policies have been added-on unless the policyholder chose reduced-by in writing.
Here's how added-on and reduced-by UM coverage work. Can't make sense of the page? Call (240) 421-5511 and read the UM line to Gary; he'll tell you which kind you have.
Don't sign anything in a hurry
A fast offer from the other insurer can feel like relief. But a signed release usually ends the claim for good, even if you later need surgery. Be just as wary of a medical authorization that opens your entire health history.
Put the deadlines on your calendar
Most Georgia injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the crash (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33), and property damage claims within four (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-31). If a city vehicle was involved, written notice is due within six months; for a county or the State, within 12 months.
Our guide to the Georgia car accident statute of limitations explains the exceptions.
When should you call a car accident lawyer?
A fender bender with no injuries may not need a lawyer. It makes sense to call when:
- You or a passenger was hurt
- The adjuster is blaming you, or fault is unclear
- The other driver had no insurance, too little, or drove away
- A truck, rideshare car, MARTA bus or government vehicle was involved
- An insurer wants a recorded statement, a signed release or your full medical history
An early call gives a lawyer time to save evidence while it still exists. See how Gary handles these cases on our Atlanta car accident lawyer page.
Talk to an Atlanta car accident lawyer today
Gary Huggins works from 1050 Crown Pointe Parkway, Suite 500, Atlanta, GA 30338, in Perimeter Center near I-285 and GA-400. He can meet you at the office, by phone or video, or at your home or hospital bed. If you hire the firm, there is no attorney's fee unless we recover compensation for you.
Call (240) 421-5511, day or night, for a free consultation. Gary speaks Spanish, too (página en español).
Free consultation. Call (240) 421-5511 any time, or send the form and Gary’s office will call you back.
Frequently asked questions
Should I call the police after a minor car accident in Atlanta?
Yes, in most cases. A police report creates a neutral record of who was involved, each driver's insurance and what witnesses saw, and an injury that seems minor at the scene can turn out to be serious. Georgia law also requires drivers in a crash to stop, exchange information and help anyone who is hurt (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-270). If no officer comes, collect the other driver's details, photograph everything and ask the police department how to report it.
Should I see a doctor if I feel fine after a car accident?
Yes. Adrenaline can mask pain, and injuries such as concussions and neck or back strains are not always obvious right away. A prompt exam protects your health and creates a medical record that connects your symptoms to the crash. Insurers often argue that someone who waited days or weeks to see a doctor wasn't really hurt. Tell the provider you were in a car accident and mention every symptom, even mild ones.
Do I need to report the accident to my own insurance company?
Usually, yes. Your own policy may require prompt notice and cooperation, and reporting protects your access to coverage you pay for, such as med-pay and uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. That duty runs to your own insurer, not to the other driver's. Give your company the basic facts: when, where and who was involved. If you're asked about injuries before you've seen a doctor, it's fine to say you're still being evaluated.
What should I avoid saying after a car accident?
Avoid apologizing, guessing and downplaying. “I'm sorry” can be treated as an admission of fault, a guess about speed or distance can be repeated as fact, and “I'm fine” can follow you even if pain starts that night. Stick to facts with the officer, skip debates with the other driver, and don't post about the crash online. Under Georgia's 50% fault rule, one careless sentence can cost you.
Should I accept a quick settlement offer from the insurance company?
Not before you know how badly you're hurt. Accepting a settlement usually means signing a release that ends your claim for good, including any surgery or therapy you didn't yet know you'd need. Most Georgia injury claims allow two years to file suit, unless a government vehicle is involved, so there is usually time to finish treatment first. Have a lawyer review any offer before you sign anything.