Hays Towing · Hays, KS · Updated July 2026

What to Do After a Car Accident in Hays, KS

A car accident is disorienting no matter how minor it seems. One second you are driving down Vine Street or merging onto I-70 near Exit 159, and the next you are sitting in a damaged vehicle trying to remember what you are supposed to do. The steps you take in the first few minutes matter — for your safety, for the people around you, and for the insurance claim you will almost certainly file afterward. This guide walks Hays, KS drivers through exactly what to do after a crash, in the order it should happen, so you can stay calm and protect yourself.

We wrote this because Hays Towing responds to accident scenes across Ellis County every week, from low-speed fender benders in parking lots off 27th Street to serious collisions on the US-183 and US-40 corridors. We have seen what helps drivers recover quickly and what makes a bad day worse. Keep this page bookmarked, because you will not want to be reading a long article on your phone while your hazard lights are flashing.

Step 1: Stop and Check Everyone for Injuries

Leaving the scene of an accident is a crime in Kansas, even for a minor collision. Stop your vehicle, take a breath, and check yourself and your passengers before anything else. Adrenaline masks pain, so move slowly and notice any dizziness, neck stiffness, or numbness. If anyone is hurt — in your car or the other — call 911 immediately and do not attempt to move an injured person unless there is fire or another life threat. In and around Hays, an ambulance from the local EMS network can reach most of the city quickly, so keep the line open and follow the dispatcher.

Step 2: Get to Safety Off the Roadway

If the vehicles are drivable and no one is seriously injured, move them out of the flow of traffic. On busy stretches like the I-70 interchange or the four-lane sections of US-183, a stalled car in a live lane is a genuine danger, especially at night or in the blowing Kansas wind and snow that Ellis County sees in winter. Pull onto the shoulder or into a nearby lot, turn on your hazard lights, and set out flares or reflective triangles if you carry them. If a car cannot be moved safely, leave it, get everyone behind a guardrail or well off the pavement, and wait for help there rather than standing beside the vehicle.

Step 3: Call the Police and File a Report

Kansas law requires you to report any crash involving injury, death, or property damage of $1,000 or more. Modern vehicles are expensive to repair, so even a seemingly small dent often clears that threshold. Call the Hays Police Department for accidents inside city limits, or the Ellis County Sheriff for crashes on rural roads and the interstate. Wait for an officer, and when they arrive give a factual account without guessing or admitting fault. Ask how to obtain a copy of the crash report and write down the report number — your insurer will ask for it. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notes that an official police report is one of the most valuable documents you can have when sorting out liability later.

Step 4: Exchange Information the Right Way

Trade details with every other driver involved, but keep it strictly to the facts. You need names, phone numbers, driver license numbers, license plate numbers, insurance company names, and policy numbers. Note the make, model, and color of each vehicle. If there are witnesses — other drivers who pulled over, or someone from a nearby Hays business who saw it happen — politely ask for their name and number. Do not discuss who caused the crash, do not apologize in a way that sounds like an admission, and do not agree to settle the damage privately on the spot. Emotions run high, and what feels generous at the scene can cost you badly once the full repair bill arrives.

Step 5: Document the Scene Thoroughly

Your phone is the best tool you have. Take wide shots that show the whole scene and the positions of both vehicles, then close-ups of the damage on every car, skid marks, broken glass, and any road signs or signals nearby. Photograph the other vehicle plates and the general area so the location is clear — a street sign at 13th and Main, or a mile marker on I-70, helps enormously. Jot down the time, the weather, and road conditions while they are fresh. Ellis County weather can shift fast, and a note that the pavement was icy or the sun was low can matter to your claim. The more you document now, the less you have to argue about later.

Step 6: Decide Whether Your Car Is Safe to Drive

Not every drivable car is a safe car. Before you pull back onto the road, walk around the vehicle and look for leaking fluid, a bumper or fender rubbing a tire, a cracked or shattered windshield, deployed airbags, or damage to the lights and mirrors. If the steering feels off, a warning light is on, or anything is dragging, do not risk it. A vehicle that limps home can leave you stranded on the shoulder of US-40 an hour later, turning one problem into two. When in doubt, have it towed and inspected. It is far cheaper than a second breakdown or a further collision caused by a car that was never roadworthy.

Step 7: Call for Accident Towing in Ellis County

If your car is not safe to drive, this is where we come in. Hays Towing provides 24/7 accident towing and recovery across Hays, Victoria, WaKeeney, Russell, Plainville, La Crosse, Hill City, and the whole I-70 corridor through Ellis County. Our flatbed trucks are the right choice after a collision because they carry the entire vehicle off the ground, so a car with suspension, alignment, or drivetrain damage is not dragged or stressed further on the way to the shop. When wheels are jammed or the vehicle is off the pavement, our wheel-lift and winch-out equipment gets it clear safely. Every driver is licensed and insured, our trucks are DOT compliant, and we typically reach accident scenes in the Hays area within 30 to 45 minutes. Tell us where the car needs to go — your preferred body shop, dealership, or home — and we will get it there. You can see the full range of what we handle on our towing and roadside services page.

Step 8: Notify Your Insurer and Track Follow-Up

Report the accident to your insurance company as soon as you are safe, even if you think you were not at fault. Give them the police report number, the photos, and the other driver information you collected. Ask what your policy covers for towing and a rental, and keep every receipt, including the tow. Watch yourself over the next day or two as well: whiplash and soft-tissue injuries from a crash often do not show up until hours later, and if symptoms appear you should see a doctor and mention the accident. Staying organized in these first days is what turns a stressful event into a claim that closes cleanly.

What Not to Do After a Crash

A few mistakes come up again and again. Do not leave the scene before police clear you or before you have exchanged information. Do not admit fault or sign anything the other driver hands you. Do not accept a cash offer to skip insurance unless you fully understand the damage, which you rarely do at the scene. Do not drive a car with fluid pooling under it or a tire rubbing the body. And do not let anyone rush you into a snap decision while you are still shaken. Slow, factual, and documented always beats fast and careless.