First accident ever and I feel completely lost — nobody taught me what to do after a crash

Oh man, I felt this post in my chest. My first accident was almost exactly like this — tow truck came, cop handed me a paper, and I just stood on the curb not knowing what planet I was on. You are NOT alone.

For the citation: in my experience it took almost two weeks before it showed up in the online system. Just check back every few days. Don't stress about paying it immediately — there's usually a 30-day window minimum.

For the impound: call them first thing in the morning. Ask specifically what documents you need to bring (usually your license, registration, and proof of insurance) and whether your insurance card needs to be current-dated. Some lots are cash only, some take cards. Confirm before you drive over.

Impound lots charge a daily storage fee, so the longer you wait, the more it costs. Call tonight if they have an after-hours number, or be there when they open. Don't let that bill stack up.

On the totaled question — most insurers use a threshold, usually somewhere around 70-80% of the car's actual cash value. If repair estimates hit that number, they'll likely total it. Hood and quarter panel damage can look bad but sometimes comes in under the threshold; other times what looks minor ends up being a total because of structural involvement underneath.

Honestly the best thing you can do is get your OWN independent estimate from a body shop before the insurance adjuster comes out. That way you have a baseline and you're not just taking their word for it.

A few practical things worth knowing:

• The citation and any civil/insurance stuff are completely separate tracks. Paying the ticket doesn't automatically mean you've admitted liability for the insurance claim purposes, but it can be used as evidence. Something worth being aware of.
• If the other driver decides to claim injuries later (even if they seemed fine at the scene), your liability coverage is what handles that. Make sure you actually report this to your insurer ASAP if you haven't already — some policies have a short window.
• Not legal advice, just stuff I see come up constantly.

Also — and I say this as someone who's seen delayed-onset stuff in the ER — please check in with yourself physically over the next few days. Adrenaline masks a lot. Neck stiffness, headaches, back soreness that shows up 48-72 hours later is really common after even low-speed collisions. If anything feels off, get checked out and document it.

You're handling this so well for someone navigating it completely solo. Seriously. Most people your age with a full support system would be struggling with this. Take it one step at a time — impound first, then insurance call, then citation. You've got this. 💙

Quick question — did the other driver file any kind of report or say anything about claiming damages on their end? That changes the picture a bit. If it's just property damage and no injuries, it's a very different situation than if they're already talking about whiplash or whatever.

For the dealership vs. body shop question — independent shops are usually cheaper and honestly often better for cosmetic work. Dealerships make sense for mechanical/warranty stuff. For a crumpled quarter panel and a hood alignment issue, I'd go independent, get 2-3 estimates, and pick whoever has solid reviews locally. You're not stuck with whoever your insurer 'recommends' either — that's your right.