AUTO INSURANCE  |  ACCIDENT GUIDE

What to Do After a Car Accident in Massachusetts:

A Step-by-Step Guide for Massachusetts Drivers

Most people will never be in a serious car accident. But the ones who have been will tell you the same thing: in the moment, you forget things. The adrenaline is real. The other driver may be upset. Your hands may be shaking. The cars are in the road. Traffic is going around you.

This guide exists for that moment. Print it. Screenshot it. Bookmark it. The eight steps below are what Massachusetts drivers need to do after an accident — in the right order, with the specific details that matter in this state.

Before anything else, check yourself and all passengers for injuries. Do not move anyone who may have a neck or spinal injury — wait for emergency services. Turn on your hazard lights immediately. If you are in a dangerous position in traffic and your vehicle can be moved safely, move it to the shoulder or a nearby parking lot. Your safety and the safety of others on the road is the only priority in the first moments after an accident.

If anyone is injured — even minor injuries that may seem insignificant in the moment — call 911 immediately. Do not wait to assess the situation. Injuries from accidents can worsen rapidly, and some injuries (particularly head and neck injuries) may not be immediately apparent. Emergency services need to be called as soon as possible.

Massachusetts law requires you to call police if: anyone is injured, a vehicle cannot be driven from the scene, or property other than the vehicles is damaged. Even when not legally required, calling police to the scene creates an official accident report — a document that protects you if the other driver later disputes the facts, changes their story, or claims injuries they did not mention at the scene. When in doubt, call.

Get the following from every driver involved — and provide yours in return:

What to collect from the other driver:

●       Full name and current address

●       Phone number

●       Driver's license number and state of issue

●       License plate number and state

●       Insurance company name and policy number

●       Vehicle make, model, year, and color

If there are witnesses, get their names and contact information as well. Witness accounts can be valuable if fault is disputed.

This is the step most drivers skip or rush — and the one that makes the biggest difference when the claim is being evaluated. Take your time. Take more photos than you think you need.

What to photograph:

●       All damage to your vehicle — every angle, close-up and wide

●       All damage to the other vehicle — even if it seems minor

●       The other driver's license — the full document, clearly readable

●       The other driver's registration

●       Both license plates

●       The accident scene — road conditions, skid marks, debris, traffic signals, street signs

●       The position of the vehicles before they are moved

●       Any visible injuries, if appropriate and consented to

If you have a dashcam, this step needs to happen before you leave the scene. Most dashcam systems record on a continuous loop — older footage is overwritten by new footage as the drive fills up. If you drive away and forget, the footage of the accident may be gone within hours. Either manually save the clip to a protected folder, remove the memory card, or use your dashcam's app to back up the footage immediately. This recording can be the single most important piece of evidence in a disputed claim.

This is the rule most drivers know but still break — because in the moment, instinct takes over. Someone is upset. You feel bad. You say 'I'm sorry.' Do not.

Do not apologize. Do not say 'I didn't see you.' Do not say 'I was going too fast.' Do not say anything that could be interpreted as accepting responsibility for the accident. Fault in Massachusetts is determined by the insurance carriers — and if necessary, the courts — based on evidence: police reports, photos, witness statements, and the physical facts of the accident. What was said at the scene can be used against you, but it does not and should not determine legal fault.

Be polite. Be cooperative. Exchange information. But say nothing about fault.

Report the accident to your insurance carrier promptly — even if you were not at fault. Your policy requires timely reporting, and delayed reporting can complicate your claim or give the carrier grounds to question coverage. Your carrier needs to know about any accident in which you are involved, regardless of who caused it.

When you report, be factual and accurate. Describe what happened. Do not speculate about fault or accept blame in the call. If you have questions about what to say or how the claim process works, see our guide to auto insurance basics in Massachusetts — including how PIP, collision, and liability coverages work together after an accident.

Massachusetts law requires drivers to file a crash report with the Registry of Motor Vehicles within five days of an accident when: someone is injured or killed, or total vehicle damage exceeds $1,000. The report must be filed by the operator of every vehicle involved, regardless of fault. Failure to file when required can result in license suspension. Your insurance carrier can help you with this process, or you can file directly through the RMV website.

Massachusetts operates under the Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP), which tracks driving incidents and applies premium surcharges for surchargeable events — including at-fault accidents. Here is what every Massachusetts driver should understand:

●       Not-at-fault accidents do NOT generate SDIP surcharges for the innocent party — your premium should not increase because someone hit you

●       At-fault accidents DO generate surchargeable events that affect your premium for up to six years

●       The at-fault/not-at-fault determination is made by the carriers based on the facts — not on what was said at the scene

●       Some carriers offer first-accident forgiveness programs that waive the surcharge for a first at-fault event — ask your agent if you qualify

For more on how SDIP affects your renewal premium, see our post on why Massachusetts insurance premiums change.

Being prepared before an accident makes every step easier. Keep the following in your vehicle at all times:

●       Your current insurance ID card — required to show police and the other driver

●       A pen — for writing down information

●       This checklist — screenshot or print it

●       Your insurance company's claims phone number — find it on your ID card or policy

●       HCC Insurance: (508) 997-3321

Do I have to call police after a car accident in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts law requires you to call police if anyone is injured, if a vehicle cannot be driven from the scene, or if property other than the vehicles is damaged. Even when not legally required, a police report creates an official record that protects you if the other driver later disputes the facts. When in doubt, call.

Should I admit fault after a car accident in Massachusetts?

Never. Do not apologize, accept blame, or make any statements about fault at the scene. Fault in Massachusetts is determined by the insurance carriers based on evidence — police reports, photos, witness statements, and the physical facts. What was said at the scene can be used against you. Be cooperative and polite, but say nothing about fault.

Does a not-at-fault accident affect my Massachusetts auto insurance?

Under Massachusetts SDIP rules, a not-at-fault accident does not generate a surcharge against the innocent party. Your premium should not increase because someone else hit you. However, you should still report the accident to your carrier promptly — your policy requires timely reporting regardless of fault.

What should I photograph after a car accident in Massachusetts?

Photograph all vehicle damage (yours and the other vehicle from every angle), both license plates, the other driver's license and registration, and the accident scene — road conditions, skid marks, debris, traffic signals, street signs, and the position of the vehicles before they are moved. More photos are always better than fewer.

What if the other driver doesn't have insurance?

If the other driver is uninsured, the coverage that responds depends on the type of damage. For your bodily injuries, your Uninsured Motorist coverage pays your medical expenses and lost wages — Massachusetts requires this on every policy. For damage to your vehicle, your collision coverage responds — which is why carrying collision matters even when you own your car outright. Do not agree to a private arrangement with an uninsured driver. Get their information — name, plate number, vehicle description — and report the accident to your carrier immediately. If the driver flees the scene, note as many details as possible and call police right away.

Can HCC Insurance help me after an accident?

Yes — call us at (508) 997-3321. A live person answers every call. We help you report the claim correctly, explain what your coverage provides, and advocate for you with the carrier from the first call to the final settlement. That is what having an agent means.

Car accidents are disorienting. The steps above are designed to be followed in order, from the side of the road, by a driver who may be shaken, upset, or in pain. The most important rules to remember when nothing else sticks:

●       Safety first — check for injuries, call 911 if needed

●       Document everything — photos of damage, plates, licenses, and the scene

●       Save your dashcam footage before you drive away

●       Never admit fault — not a word

●       Never agree to handle it privately

●       Call your agent

One hundred years of SouthCoast Massachusetts drivers have called HCC after accidents. We answer the phone. We walk you through it. That is what we are here for.

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