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. If the other driver leaves the scene, follow our hit and run guide immediately.

2. Call for help if you need it

In Alberta, you’re required to report a collision to the police if:

  • Anyone is injured
  • Combined damage to all vehicles and property looks like $5,000 or more
  • 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 reaches $5,000, call the non-emergency police line. The fine for not reporting when you should have is worse than the phone call.

Not sure where to go? A crash in Sherwood Park is reported to the Strathcona County RCMP, while a crash in Edmonton goes to a Collision Reporting Centre. Our guide on where to report a collision in Sherwood Park and Edmonton has the addresses and hours.

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 write estimates for free, and you can usually book one online or by phone. 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
  • Whether you need a rental car while the repair is underway

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.

7. Know what the shop will find

Depending on the type of collision, damage often extends well beyond what’s visible:

A thorough shop will catch all of this during the initial estimate and teardown. The supplement process between the shop and your insurer covers any additional damage found during disassembly.

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