What to Do After
a Car Accident in Maine
Whether it happened five minutes ago or five days ago, this guide walks you through every step — from the scene to the repair shop — so you protect yourself, your claim, and your vehicle.
What to Do at the Scene and After
Follow these steps in order. What you do — and don't do — in the minutes and days after an accident directly affects your safety, your insurance claim, and your repair outcome.
Make Sure Everyone Is Safe
Before anything else — check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If anyone is hurt, do not move them unless there is an immediate safety threat (fire, oncoming traffic). Turn on your hazard lights and, if possible, move your vehicle out of the travel lane. Stay calm and focused.
Call 911 If There Are Injuries or Significant Damage
Call 911 immediately if anyone is injured, if a vehicle is blocking traffic and can't be moved, or if you suspect the other driver may be impaired. Even for accidents that seem minor, a police report creates an official record that protects you if disputes arise later.
Document Everything at the Scene
Use your phone to photograph and document as much as possible before vehicles are moved. More is always better — you can never go back and get that shot later.
- → All vehicles involved from multiple angles — wide shots and close-ups of every point of contact
- → License plates of all vehicles
- → The full accident scene — road conditions, skid marks, traffic signs, intersections
- → Any visible injuries
- → Weather and lighting conditions
- → Any dashcam footage — save it before it overwrites
Exchange Information with the Other Driver
Collect the following from everyone involved in the accident:
- ✓ Full name & contact number
- ✓ Driver's license number
- ✓ Insurance company & policy number
- ✓ Vehicle make, model, year
- ✓ License plate number
- ✓ Names of any witnesses
Notify Your Insurance Company
Call your insurer as soon as possible — ideally from the scene or within a few hours. Most policies require prompt reporting. Give them the basic facts: when, where, what happened, and who was involved. Do not speculate about fault or downplay the damage.
Seek Medical Attention — Even If You Feel Fine
Adrenaline masks pain. Whiplash, soft tissue injuries, and even minor concussions may not show symptoms until hours or days after the accident. If there's any doubt, get checked out by a medical professional and create a paper trail. This protects both your health and any potential injury claim.
Choose Your Body Shop — Before Your Insurer Does
This is the step most people don't know about. In Maine, you have the legal right to choose any licensed collision repair facility for your vehicle. Your insurer may suggest a "preferred" shop — but that preference serves the insurer's process, not necessarily your vehicle's quality.
Choose a shop based on certifications (I-CAR Gold Class), warranty terms (lifetime vs. limited), and reputation — not because your adjuster pointed you there. Once you've chosen, call the shop and let them handle the rest of the insurance process.
What NOT to Do After an Accident
These mistakes are common — and they can cost you significantly on your claim, your repair quality, or your legal standing.
Don't Admit Fault
Never say "I'm sorry" or accept blame at the scene — even if you think you were responsible. Fault involves legal and insurance determinations that happen after the fact. A casual apology can be used against you.
Don't Leave the Scene
Leaving before exchanging information and, when required, speaking with police is a criminal offense in Maine — regardless of how minor the accident seems. Stay until it's appropriate to leave.
Don't Skip the Police Report
If there's any injury, significant damage, or dispute about what happened, a police report is essential. Without one, you're relying on memories and informal accounts to resolve a claim that may become contested.
Don't Delay Reporting
Most insurance policies require prompt notification after an accident. Waiting days — or trying to handle repairs without filing a claim — can give your insurer grounds to complicate or deny coverage.
Don't Let an Insurer Pick Your Shop
An adjuster steering you to their preferred facility is not required by law and does not necessarily mean that shop is best for your vehicle. You have the right to choose — and your vehicle's repair quality depends on it.
Don't Ignore Hidden Damage
Some of the most significant damage after a collision — frame misalignment, airbag sensor issues, structural deformation — isn't visible from the outside. Get a professional assessment before concluding the damage is minor.
Don't Give a Recorded Statement Too Soon
If the other driver's insurer asks for a recorded statement before you've had a chance to fully understand what happened, you're not required to give one immediately. Consult with your own insurer first.
Don't Skip the Doctor
Even if you feel fine, get checked out after any significant collision. Injuries like whiplash and soft tissue damage often appear 24–72 hours later. Without medical documentation, an injury claim becomes nearly impossible to support.
Maine Law Protects You — Know What It Says
Maine has specific statutes that affect how your accident claim is handled and what your insurer can and cannot do. Most drivers don't know these rules — and that's exactly what insurance companies count on.
You Choose Your Repair Shop
Under Maine law, your insurance company cannot require you to use a specific collision repair facility. This applies even if the shop is on their "preferred" or "direct repair" list. The choice of where your vehicle is repaired belongs to you — and it's a legally protected right.
Maine Is an At-Fault State
Maine follows a tort (at-fault) liability system. The driver who caused the accident is responsible for covering the other party's property damage and injuries through their liability insurance. This is different from no-fault states where each driver's own policy covers their costs regardless of fault.
Accident Reporting Requirements
Maine requires you to file a crash report with the MDOT within 10 days if the accident involved injury, death, or property damage of $1,000 or more — even if police were present and filed their own report. Failure to report can result in license suspension.
Minimum Insurance Requirements
Maine requires all drivers to carry minimum liability coverage of 50/100/25 ($50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident for bodily injury / $25,000 for property damage) and uninsured motorist coverage. Optional coverages like collision and comprehensive determine whether your own vehicle damage is covered.
📝 Filing Your Maine Crash Report
If your accident meets the reporting threshold (injury, death, or $1,000+ in property damage), you can file the Maine Crash Report online through the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles at maine.gov. You have 10 days from the date of the accident. Keep a copy of everything you submit.
If the other driver was uninsured or underinsured, notify your own carrier immediately — your uninsured motorist coverage (required in Maine) may cover your damages and injuries.
Once You've Called Your Insurer, Call Us. We Handle the Rest.
The insurance process after an accident is stressful. Weirs Collision Center takes it off your plate — from the first estimate to the final pickup — so you can focus on getting back to normal.
Free Damage Assessment
We inspect all visible and hidden damage and provide a written estimate. We identify structural issues that aren't obvious from the outside — the kind that matter most for your safety and your vehicle's long-term value.
Direct Insurance Billing
As a DRP-approved facility, we submit your estimate directly to your carrier, communicate with the adjuster, and handle all billing. You pay your deductible and pick up your repaired vehicle. That's it.
Rental Coordination
We coordinate directly with Enterprise on your behalf. If your policy includes rental coverage, we confirm it with your insurer and arrange pickup so you're not making calls and managing logistics on top of everything else.
I-CAR Certified Repair
I-CAR Gold Class certified technicians perform every repair to OEM manufacturer specifications. Not approximations — the actual procedures the manufacturer published for your vehicle's make and model.
Updates Throughout
We keep you informed by phone and text throughout the repair process. You'll know where your vehicle stands — no calling in to check, no uncertainty about timelines.
Lifetime Warranty
Every collision repair and paint job leaves our shop with a written lifetime warranty — no expiration, no exclusions on our work. If something isn't right years from now, we make it right.
Ready to Get Started?
Schedule your free estimate online or call us directly. We'll assess the damage, connect with your insurer, and walk you through exactly what happens next.
Post-Accident Checklist
Save this or screenshot it. These are the steps in order — everything you need to handle an accident correctly in Maine.
- Check for injuries — call 911 if anyone is hurt
- Turn on hazards and move to safety if possible
- Do NOT leave the scene
- Call 911 for injuries, significant damage, or impaired driver
- Document the scene — photos of everything
- Exchange info: name, license, insurance, plate, vehicle
- Do NOT admit fault or apologize
- Get witness names and contact info
- Call your insurance company promptly
- Seek medical attention — even if you feel fine
- File Maine Crash Report within 10 days (if $1,000+ damage or injury)
- Choose your body shop — your legal right
- Call Weirs: (207) 604-7291 — we handle the rest
Signs Your Vehicle Needs a Professional Assessment
Not all accident damage is obvious. These signs mean you should get a professional inspection — even if the vehicle drives.
- Airbags deployed — always requires full structural assessment
- Vehicle pulls to one side when driving straight
- Unusual noises when steering, braking, or accelerating
- Hood, trunk, or doors don't close flush
- Visible frame or unibody deformation
- Dashboard warning lights are on post-accident
- Front or rear bumper damage — sensors may be affected
- Cracked or shattered windshield — ADAS may need recalibration
- Fluid leaks under the vehicle
- Any collision at speed over 10 mph — hidden damage is likely
Common Questions After a Car Accident in Maine
Honest answers to the questions Maine drivers ask most after an accident.
No. Under Maine law, your insurance company cannot require you to use a specific collision repair facility. Your adjuster may recommend a "preferred" shop — but that recommendation is not legally binding. The choice of repair shop belongs to you. Insurers often steer customers toward shops they have DRP agreements with because it streamlines their internal process; it does not guarantee better repair quality. Choose a shop based on certifications, warranty, and reputation — then call them and let them handle the insurance coordination.
Maine law gives you 6 years to file a lawsuit for property damage and personal injury after an accident, but your insurance policy almost certainly requires "prompt" or "timely" notification — often within 24–72 hours. Waiting too long to notify your insurer can give them grounds to complicate or deny coverage, regardless of the state statute of limitations. Notify your insurer as soon as possible after the accident, even if you're not yet sure whether you'll file a claim.
Maine requires all drivers to carry uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, which covers your injuries and property damage if the at-fault driver has no insurance. If you were hit by an uninsured driver, notify your own insurer immediately and file a UM claim. Your insurer will handle your damages up to your UM policy limits. If the other driver was underinsured (they have insurance but not enough to cover your damages), your underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage — if you have it — bridges the gap.
Not always — but it's almost always in your best interest. Police are required on scene if there are injuries. For accidents involving only property damage (no injuries), you're not always legally required to call police. However, a police report creates an official, objective record that protects you if the other driver later disputes what happened, exaggerates injuries, or claims the accident was your fault. Without a report, it becomes your word against theirs. When in doubt, call.
Yes — absolutely. Structural damage, frame misalignment, and suspension damage after a collision often don't produce obvious cosmetic signs on the outside of the vehicle, but they absolutely affect how the vehicle drives and how it performs in a future collision. A vehicle that pulls to one side, makes unusual noises, or has dashboard warning lights on after an accident should be professionally assessed — not driven until it "sorts itself out." Call us and we'll do a thorough inspection, even if you're not sure whether to file a claim yet.
It depends on your policy, your insurer, your history, and fault. If you were not at fault, many carriers do not raise rates — but this varies. If you were at fault, expect a rate increase at renewal. Some policies have accident forgiveness for first offenses. The best way to understand the impact is to ask your insurer directly before deciding whether to file. For minor damage where the repair cost is close to your deductible, it sometimes makes more financial sense to pay out of pocket — a conversation worth having before you file.
We Make the Repair Process Simple.
You've been through enough. Weirs Collision Center handles the insurance coordination, the rental, and the repair — so you can focus on getting back to normal. I-CAR certified, lifetime warranty, serving all of York County.