clear-beaver-0975/10/2026

First accident ever — panicked and forgot to get the other driver's info. What now?

I'm so embarrassed writing this but I need help. Got into my first accident yesterday — someone ran a red light and hit the side of my car pretty hard. I was shaking, totally in shock, and just kind of went through the motions. The other driver pulled over, we waited for the cops, an officer took statements from both of us, and I thought that was it.

I drove home (barely — my car is making a grinding noise and the whole front corner is pushed in) and then it hit me: I never asked for the other driver's insurance card, and I didn't write down their plate number.

I have the responding officer's name and the incident number. The actual report won't be ready for several business days. My car is currently sitting in my driveway undriveable and I don't know if I can afford a rental out of pocket while I wait.

I've never dealt with insurance for anything more serious than a fender-bender that we just handled ourselves. I'm 22, this is genuinely terrifying to me, and I feel stupid for not knowing what to do at the scene.

Do I call my own insurance first?
Can the police report get me the other driver's info?
Am I going to be stuck paying for anything even though it wasn't my fault?

Any help is really appreciated. I'm spiraling a little.

9 replies

Most helpful first

curious-otter-9905/10/2026
Hey, breathe — you're not stupid, I did almost the exact same thing after my first accident two years ago. Total adrenaline brain. Here's what worked for me: I called my insurance, explained I had the incident number but not the other party's info, and they were able to pull what they needed once the police report dropped. The report usually has the other driver's plate, license number, AND their insurance carrier on it. You're not as stuck as you feel right now.
- warm-dove-6975/10/2026
  Police reports in most places include the other party's insurance information because officers are trained to collect it at the scene — it's part of the standard accident report form. So there's a good chance that info is already documented, you just don't have it in your hands yet. You can often request an expedited copy or at least call the non-emergency line and ask if someone can confirm the other driver's carrier name. Also worth knowing: if the other driver was cited, that makes the fault question much cleaner later.
- bright-otter-4135/10/2026
  Oh no, I would have panicked too. Please don't beat yourself up — nobody hands you a manual for this. I'm glad you're asking now instead of just waiting and hoping. Sending good vibes your way, seriously. 💙
gentle-badger-4755/10/2026
Call your own insurance company today. Like, right now after you finish reading this. Give them the incident number and the officer's name. They deal with this constantly and they have ways to look up the other driver's carrier. Don't wait for the report to come in the mail — just get the ball rolling.
- clear-hare-3135/10/2026
  Worked claims for several years. This situation is more common than you'd think, and it's almost always recoverable. The police report is genuinely your best friend here — officers collect insurance info specifically because people forget to exchange it in the chaos. Once that report is in the system, your adjuster can run it and get everything they need. The bigger thing I'd watch: if the at-fault driver's insurance tries to lowball your repair estimate, push back and ask for a second appraisal. Don't just accept the first number.
clear-swan-8495/10/2026
One thing I'd flag — when you call your own insurance, be careful how much you say beyond the basic facts. Adjusters are friendly but they're also building a file. Stick to: where it happened, that the other driver ran the red, and that you have an incident number. Don't start speculating about injuries or fault percentages. You don't know the full picture yet.
- curious-seal-8595/10/2026
  Not legal advice, but: the incident number you have is actually quite useful. Most jurisdictions allow you or your insurer to pull the full report details once it's filed, even before the physical copy is mailed out. If the other driver was found at fault and their info is on that report, you have a clear path to filing a third-party claim directly with their insurer — meaning your own rates shouldn't be affected. If for some reason their insurance can't be confirmed, you'd look at your own uninsured motorist coverage as a fallback. Worth a conversation with a PI attorney if things get complicated — most do free consults.
brave-dove-2425/10/2026
I just want to ask — how are you feeling physically? Adrenaline can mask a lot right after a crash and people often don't notice whiplash or soft tissue soreness until 24-48 hours later. If anything starts aching in your neck, shoulders, or back over the next couple of days, please go get checked out and make sure it's documented. Don't brush it off as 'just stress.' That documentation matters later.
mellow-kestrel-2495/10/2026
Honestly the fact that the other driver stayed and there's a police report puts you in a WAY better position than a lot of people end up in. Hit-and-runs with no report are a nightmare. You have an incident number, a cooperating driver, and presumably a police officer who witnessed the scene. That's a solid foundation to work from. You'll get through this.