5 Things NOT to Do After a Car Crash

Avoid These Common Mistakes to Protect Yourself

Car crashes are chaotic. In the heat of the moment, it’s easy to make decisions that could hurt you later—legally, financially, or physically. At CollisionCam, we provide free accident footage to help drivers prove what really happened. But we also want to help you avoid the missteps that can make a bad situation worse.

Here are 5 things you should NOT do after a car accident:

1. Leaving the Scene

Even if the crash seems minor, never drive away before speaking with law enforcement. In Utah and most states, leaving the scene of an accident is considered a hit-and-run and can carry serious criminal charges—even if no one was hurt.

What to do instead:

Pull over safely, check on everyone involved, and stay put until you’ve exchanged information and/or spoken with police.

2. Handling the Crash Privately

Some drivers assume they can “just handle it privately,” especially if the damage seems small. But skipping a police report is a huge mistake. After leaving the scene, the other driver may start a claim against you and without a report, fighting the claim becomes a lot harder.

What to do instead:

Call the police, even for minor crashes. Ask for a copy of the report once it’s filed.

3. Admit Fault

It’s human nature to apologize—even when you’re not at fault. But admitting guilt at the scene can be used against you later, even if the crash wasn’t your fault.

What to do instead:

Stick to the facts. Be respectful, but let law enforcement and insurance companies determine liability based on evidence—including video footage.

4. Failing to Gather Evidence

Many people leave the scene without taking photos or writing down witness info—especially if they’re shaken up. But the more evidence you gather, the better.

What to do instead:

Take pictures of the scene, vehicles, street signs, and any injuries. Get names and phone numbers of witnesses if you can.

5. Forgetting to Request Footage

One of the most overlooked steps after an accident? Not checking if it was caught on camera. That footage could be the key to proving what really happened.

What to do instead:

1. Go to collisioncam.com

2. Fill out our quick request form

3. We’ll review our footage and reach out with what we find

4. If our cameras didn’t catch it, we’ll even contact nearby businesses to try and track it down for you—for free.

Final Thoughts

After a crash, what you don’t do can be just as important as what you do. Avoiding these five common mistakes can protect your rights, simplify the claims process, and make sure you're not left footing the bill for something that wasn’t your fault.