AFTER AN ACCIDENT
What to Do After an Accident
A collision leaves you shaken, suddenly without a car, and staring down a process you never chose to learn — the insurer, the estimate, the repair, all at once. You do not have to manage that maze alone, and you do not have to figure out the order it happens in. This page walks through the first few minutes at the scene, and then exactly how we take the rest off your hands.
That is the whole idea behind how we work: your car fixed, your life back. From the moment you call, one team handles the tow, the rental, the claim and the repair — and keeps you moving while it happens.
In the First Few Minutes
At the scene, the basics matter most: get safe, put out a warning if you have one, then gather photos and the other driver’s details.
If you are reading this at the scene, start here. None of it requires you to know anything about collision repair:
- Get to safety. If the vehicle is drivable and it is safe to do so, move out of the lane of traffic and turn on your hazard lights. If it is not drivable, leave it and get yourself to a safe spot away from traffic.
- Check for injuries and call 911 if needed. If anyone is hurt or the scene is dangerous, call 911 first. In Ohio you are required to report an accident that involves injury or significant property damage, and a police report also helps your claim later.
- Exchange information. Get the other driver’s name, phone number, insurance company and policy number, and their license plate. Note the make, model and colour of the other vehicle.
- Photograph everything. Take pictures of all the vehicles, the damage on each, the license plates, the position of the cars, and the surrounding area. More photos are always better than fewer.
- Stick to the facts. Share what happened plainly with the police and, later, with the adjusters — but there is no need to speculate about fault at the scene. Let the claim sort that out.
- Then call us. Once you are safe, reach out — a call, a text, or a few photos is enough. We open your case and, if the car is not drivable, get a truck headed your way.
Not Drivable? We’ll Come and Get It.
Free local towing is available to qualified customers based on location, and rental vehicles are available so you are not stranded. Open your case and we take it from there.
Start Your RepairHow We Handle the Rest — in Four Steps
Open your case
Call, text, or send photos. In a few minutes we capture your contact details, the vehicle, where it is, and your insurance — and from that point you have one team handling everything rather than a list of numbers to call yourself.
We manage the claim and blueprint the repair
We work directly with your insurer, write a complete estimate including any supplements, and plan the repair to the manufacturer’s procedures and calibrations. The whole claim side is covered on insurance claims — and the standard we hold to is on OEM repair standards.
Track progress, then a road-ready return
You get clear updates and up-front ETAs along the way. Before the car comes back, safety systems are verified and calibrated where required, the work is documented for your records, and the vehicle is cleaned inside and out.
The Choice of Shop Is Yours
In Ohio, an insurer can recommend a repairer, but it cannot require you to use one. Wherever your claim starts, you are free to bring the vehicle to us — and we will work with whatever coverage you have.
Quick Questions After an Accident
The questions we hear most in the first day or two after a collision. If yours isn’t here, call the shop at (614) 930-6103 — we’re glad to walk you through it.
What should I do first after a car accident?
Get yourself and any passengers to safety and out of traffic, and call 911 if anyone is injured or the scene is unsafe. Then exchange information with the other driver, photograph everything, and once you are safe, reach out to us so we can open your case and arrange a tow if the car is not drivable. You do not have to have any of the repair details figured out to start.
Do I need to call the police?
If anyone is injured or there is significant property damage, yes — in Ohio those accidents are required to be reported, and calling 911 from the scene is the simplest way. Even for smaller collisions, a police report creates an independent record of what happened, which tends to make the insurance side go more smoothly. When in doubt, report it.
My car isn’t drivable. What now?
Leave it where it is safe and reach out to us — free local towing is available to qualified customers based on location, and we bring the vehicle straight to our shop rather than an outside lot. The details are on our towing page, and we can set you up with a rental so you are not stranded while we work.
Should I call my insurance company or the shop first?
Either order works. You can open a claim with your insurer, or you can start with us and we will help you get the claim moving — we work directly with carriers every day. What matters is that once your case is open, you are not the one chasing estimates and approvals. More on that on our insurance claims page.
Do I have to use the shop my insurance recommends?
No. In Ohio, an insurer can suggest a shop, but the choice of who repairs your vehicle is yours. A recommendation is not a requirement — you are free to bring the car to us, and we will work with your coverage the same way. If you feel pushed toward a specific repairer, that is worth pausing on.
How do I stay mobile without my car?
A rental is available so you are not stuck while your vehicle is with us — and because our rental operation runs from the same location, picking one up and dropping your car off can be a single stop. Keeping you moving is part of the promise, not an add-on. See our rentals page for how it works.
What information should I get from the other driver?
Their name and phone number, their insurance company and policy number, and their license plate, along with the make, model and colour of the vehicle. If there are witnesses, their contact details help too. Photos of the other car’s plate and insurance card save you copying anything down by hand.
The car looks okay — do I still need it checked?
Yes, and this is the one most people underestimate. Modern vehicles can hide structural damage behind panels that still look fine, and safety systems like automatic braking or blind-spot monitoring can be knocked out of alignment with no warning light to tell you. A quick assessment confirms whether what you can see is the whole story — more on why that matters on our ADAS calibration page.
How soon should I bring my car in?
Sooner is better — the earlier we see the vehicle, the earlier we can spot hidden damage, get the claim moving, and give you a real timeline. You do not need to wait for your insurer to tell you where to go. Request an appointment or send photos and we will take it from there.
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