What to do after a car accident in Minnesota: a step-by-step guide.

Nobody plans to need this article. But the minutes after a crash are exactly when clear thinking is hardest — adrenaline is up, traffic is moving, and someone may be asking you questions you are not ready to answer. So here is the whole process, from the shoulder of the road to the repair shop, written the way we would talk you through it over the phone.

Save it, bookmark it, or just remember one line: get safe, get the facts, and call us. We are a Farmers Insurance agency in Owatonna, and walking clients through this moment is a regular part of the job.

What should you do at the scene, step by step?

1. Stop, and get to a safe place

   Minnesota law requires you to stop after a crash — leaving the scene is a crime. If the vehicles are drivable, move them out of traffic to the shoulder or a nearby lot. Turn on your hazard lights. On a highway, stay in the vehicle with your seat belt on if getting out is not clearly safe.

2. Check for injuries and call 911

   Check yourself, then your passengers, then the other vehicle. If anyone is hurt — or might be — call 911. When you are unsure, make the call. Emergency dispatch would rather send help that turns out to be unnecessary than the other way around.

3. Exchange information

   Get the other driver's name, phone number, insurance company and policy number, license plate, and the vehicle's make and model. Give them yours. Get names and numbers for any witnesses. Skip the debate about what happened — this step is facts only.

4. Photograph everything

   Your phone is your best adjuster. Photograph both vehicles from multiple angles, their positions on the road, skid marks, road and weather conditions, traffic signs and signals, visible injuries, and the other driver's plate and insurance card. Too many photos is the correct number.

5. Involve the police

   If there are injuries, call 911 and law enforcement will respond. For property-damage crashes, calling the non-emergency line is still usually wise: an officer's report creates an official record. Minnesota also requires crashes involving injury, death, or significant property damage to be reported.

6. Say what happened — not whose fault it was

   Answer the officer's questions honestly and stick to what you observed. Do not announce fault at the scene, even out of politeness — "I'm so sorry, I didn't see you" can follow a claim around for months. Fault is determined later, with all the evidence.

7. See a doctor, even if you feel fine

   Adrenaline is a painkiller. Soreness, whiplash, and concussion symptoms often show up hours or days later. Getting checked promptly protects your health first, and it also creates the medical record your PIP claim will rely on.

8. Call your agent and start the claim

   Call us at (507) 451-1168 — or start with our claims page — as soon as you reasonably can. Policies expect prompt notice, and early reporting means fresher evidence and a faster repair. We will tell you what happens next.

Who pays for what after a Minnesota accident?

Minnesota is a no-fault state, which changes where the first dollars come from. Your own PIP coverage pays first for your medical bills and lost wages — at least $40,000 per person per accident, split $20,000 for medical expenses and $20,000 for non-medical costs such as lost wages — no matter who caused the crash. Vehicle damage, meanwhile, still follows fault. The full system is worth understanding before you need it; we explain it in Minnesota no-fault insurance, explained. The short version:

Note what is not on your side of the table if you carry only state minimums: nothing pays for your own vehicle unless the other driver was at fault and insured. Winter slide-offs and deer strikes land on collision and comprehensive — coverage choices we walk through in Comprehensive vs. collision for Minnesota winters.

How does the claim process actually work?

Once you report the crash, your carrier assigns an adjuster who reviews the facts — the police report, your photos, the statements — and confirms which coverages apply. For vehicle damage, you will get a repair estimate, and if the claim runs through your own collision or comprehensive coverage, your deductible is subtracted from the payout. For injuries, your PIP benefits handle medical bills and lost wages as they come in.

Here is where a local agency earns its keep. When you are a William Tuttle Agency client, you are not starting the process with a stranger in a national call center — you are calling an office on Broadway in Owatonna where someone knows your policy and can tell you, plainly, what to expect. We help you file, we translate the adjuster's questions, and we stay in the loop until the car is fixed and the bills are settled.

The best time to understand your auto policy is before you need it. The second-best time is on the phone with someone who has read it.

What mistakes should you avoid after a crash?

• Leaving the scene. Even for a minor bump, stop. Leaving is a criminal matter, not just an insurance one.
• Admitting fault at the scene. Stick to facts. Let the investigation assign blame with all the evidence in hand.
• Skipping the doctor. Undocumented injuries are harder to claim, and delayed symptoms are common.
• Taking a cash deal on the spot. A driver offering to "settle this between us" leaves you with no record, no report, and no recourse when the repair costs more than the handshake.
• Waiting weeks to report. Policies expect prompt notice. Evidence fades, memories soften, and late claims invite harder questions.
• Guessing at your coverage. If you are not sure what your policy would do in this exact situation, that is a question for a licensed agent — ideally before the snow flies. Start with our auto insurance page or a free policy review.

Questions we hear after accidents