What to do right after a car accident
You have just been in a car accident and do not know what to do first.
Pull over safely, check for injuries, and take it one step at a time. Nothing else on this page matters until everyone involved is safe and any injury has been dealt with. Once that is settled, a short list of practical steps carries you through the rest of the day.
What to do right now
- Turn on your hazard lights and move to the roadside if your car is blocking traffic and no one is badly hurt.
- Check yourself and any passengers for injuries, and call for an ambulance if there is any doubt at all.
- Photograph both vehicles, the road, and anything nearby that helps show how the crash happened.
- Get the other driver’s name, phone number, identity card number and vehicle registration.
- Ask any bystanders who saw it happen for their name and phone number before they leave.
- Lodge a police report the same day where possible, since Malaysian law expects this within 24 hours.[1]
A full walkthrough of the police report itself, including where to go and what to bring, is covered in lodging a police report.
Why this order matters
Safety comes before evidence, and evidence comes before any conversation about a claim. A driver who starts negotiating a settlement at the roadside, before anyone has seen a doctor or made a report, often ends up with a weaker position later, simply because nothing was properly recorded.
Each step here supports the next one. The photos support the police report, the report supports the insurance claim, and the medical check protects both your health and your evidence.
What can wait until later
Detailed insurance paperwork, vehicle repair quotes and any real conversation about compensation can all wait a day or two. Rushing them before you have seen a doctor tends to create more problems than it solves.
Once the accident scene is behind you, what to do after a road accident covers the fuller sequence over the following days, and making a road accident claim explains what a claim actually involves once you are ready to think about it.
If you were not the one driving
A passenger, cyclist or pedestrian involved in the same crash follows the same safety-first order, though the details of who they exchange information with can differ. The core idea stays the same regardless of your role in the accident: get safe, get checked, get it recorded.
Common questions
Should I call the police even if the damage looks minor?
If anyone is hurt, yes, call for help straight away. For a small bump with no injury, PDRM (the police) now allows online e-reporting for minor accidents, though it is worth checking whether your situation truly qualifies before relying on it.
What if I am too shaken to think clearly?
That is a normal reaction, not a failure on your part. Work through the steps slowly, one at a time, and lean on anyone with you or a passer-by to help with photos or calls while you steady yourself.
Do I have to admit fault to keep things calm at the scene?
No. Staying calm and being cooperative does not require agreeing on who caused the accident. Fault is worked out afterward from evidence, not from what either driver says in the heat of the moment.
How soon should I see a doctor if I feel okay?
See one the same day if you can, even without obvious pain. Adrenaline often masks injury for hours, and a same-day medical record matters later if it turns out you were hurt more than it felt at the time.
Sources
- Road Transport Act 1987, s.52 (Ministry of Transport) (accessed 2026-09-22)