Being in a collision is disorienting. Adrenaline hits, your phone becomes hard to unlock, and the moves you’d normally make on autopilot feel harder than they should. This is a straightforward, save-worthy guide to what to actually do in the minutes and days after a crash in Sherwood Park.
1. Stay safe first
Before you look at the damage, look at the people. Check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If anyone is hurt or if the collision was significant, call 911 first.
If the vehicles are drivable and you’re on a busy road, move them out of the traffic lane if it’s safe to do so. Turn on your hazard lights. If the vehicle can’t be moved, get out and stand somewhere safe — not between the vehicles.
2. Call for help if you need it
In Alberta, you’re required to report a collision to the police if:
- Anyone is injured
- Total damage looks like it’s over $2,000
- Any driver appears impaired
- A vehicle involved is uninsured or unregistered
- You need help managing the scene
If none of those apply, you can typically exchange information and continue on. But if you’re not sure whether damage is over $2,000, call the non-emergency police line — the fine for not reporting when you should have is worse than the phone call.
3. Document everything
Take photos of:
- Both vehicles from multiple angles
- License plates of every vehicle involved
- The overall scene (position of vehicles, road, weather conditions)
- Any road signs, traffic signals, or landmarks
- Any visible injuries
Get from the other driver:
- Full name
- Phone number
- Insurance company and policy number
- License plate
- Driver’s licence number if possible
If there are witnesses, ask for a name and phone number. This is huge if the other driver later changes their story.
4. Don’t admit fault at the scene
Even if you think you might have been at fault, don’t say it. Fault is determined by the insurers based on the evidence — not by whoever apologizes first. Exchange information, be polite, but skip the “I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you” statements.
5. Get an estimate
Once you’re home and settled, bring the vehicle to a local collision repair shop for a free written estimate. Most Sherwood Park shops offer walk-in estimates that take about ten minutes and cost nothing. You don’t need to commit to anything just to get the estimate.
The estimate tells you:
- Roughly how much the repair will cost
- Whether it’s worth putting through insurance
- What safety systems might need calibration
- How long the repair will take
6. File the claim (if you’re claiming)
Call your insurer. Give them the incident details, the other driver’s info, and the estimate you got. If you’re using direct billing (most Alberta shops offer it), your chosen shop will coordinate with the insurer directly from there — you drop off the vehicle, they handle the paperwork, and you pick up when it’s done.
Remember: in Alberta, YOU choose the shop. Your insurer may recommend one, but the choice is yours. Choose local, choose a shop with a lifetime workmanship warranty, and choose people you can walk in and talk to.
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Screenshot it or bookmark it. You don’t want to be Googling “what to do after a car accident” in the middle of one.