What to do after a crash

Key points

1. Stop at once, and move your vehicle if it blocks traffic.

   Source: Handbook p. 11

   “Stop at once. If you are blocking traffic, move your vehicle out of the way if possible.”
   Alaska Driver Manual, Handbook p. 11

2. Warn other traffic; at night place flares or other signals on the road.

   Source: Handbook p. 11

   “To prevent other crashes, warn other traffic. At night place flares or other signals on the road.”
   Alaska Driver Manual, Handbook p. 11

3. Do not move an injured person unless necessary; stop serious bleeding and keep the victim warm.

   Source: Handbook p. 11

   “Do not remove an injured person unless necessary. Arrange for an ambulance if needed. Stop serious bleeding and keep the victim warm.”
   Alaska Driver Manual, Handbook p. 11

4. Exchange name, address, license, plate, phone and insurance company with the other driver.

   Source: Handbook p. 11

   “Obtain the name, address, driver’s license number, license plate number, telephone number, and name of insurance company of the other driver.”
   Alaska Driver Manual, Handbook p. 11

5. For an injury or $2000 or more in damage inside a municipality, call local police at 911 immediately.

   Source: Handbook p. 11

   “If there is an injury, or total property damage is $2000 or more, and the crash occurred within a municipality, immediately contact the local police department by dialing 911.”
   Alaska Driver Manual, Handbook p. 11

6. Report the crash to the DMV within 10 days unless a police officer investigated it.

   Source: Handbook p. 11

   “Report the crash to the Department of Administration, Division of Motor Vehicles, within 10 days.”
   Alaska Driver Manual, Handbook p. 11

7. If you hit an unattended vehicle or property and cannot find the owner, leave a note with your name, address and phone.

   Source: Handbook p. 11

   “If unable to do so leave a written note containing your name, address, and telephone number.”
   Alaska Driver Manual, Handbook p. 11

8. A Certificate of Insurance is required for any crash with $501.00 or more in damage, due to the DMV within 15 days.

   Source: Handbook p. 11

   “A Certificate of Insurance is required on all crashes with property damage of $501.00 or more and must be submitted to DMV within 15 days”
   Alaska Driver Manual, Handbook p. 11

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Alaska practice test

1. 1. When must an Alaska crash generally be reported to the DMV?

   1. Only at the next license renewal
   2. Within 24 hours in every case
   3. Within 30 days only if a vehicle was towed
   4. Within 10 days, unless police investigated it
   Show answer

   Within 10 days, unless police investigated it. The manual says to report a crash to the Division of Motor Vehicles within 10 days, but the report is not required if a police officer investigated the crash. The 24 hour choice creates a deadline the cited procedure does not give, and towing or license renewal does not determine the reporting rule. After a reportable crash, record the deadline and check whether police investigation supplies the stated exception.

2. 2. When must an Alaska crash inside a municipality be reported to local police immediately?

   1. Only when someone dies
   2. For any contact between vehicles
   3. When there is an injury or total property damage of $2,000 or more
   4. Only when the other driver leaves
   Show answer

   When there is an injury or total property damage of $2,000 or more. If there is an injury, or total property damage is $2,000 or more, and the crash occurred within a municipality, immediately contact the local police department by dialing 911. Outside a municipality the report goes to the state troopers. A written crash report may also be required, and a certificate of insurance must be filed with the DMV within 15 days for damage of $501 or more.

3. 3. For what crashes must an Alaska driver submit a certificate of insurance to the DMV, and by when?

   1. Only injury crashes, within 30 days
   2. Only crashes over $2,000, within 10 days
   3. Any crash with property damage of $501 or more, within 15 days
   4. Never, the officer handles it
   Show answer

   Any crash with property damage of $501 or more, within 15 days. A certificate of insurance is required on all crashes with property damage of $501 or more and must be submitted to the DMV within 15 days, even if you submitted proof of insurance during the law enforcement investigation. Missing the deadline or being uninsured brings a 90 day suspension for a first occurrence and one year for a second, so file promptly after any crash.

Source: the Alaska Driver Manual, Financial Responsibility, Crashes and Points. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.