After a Fender Bender in Stockton: What to Do First and When You Need a Tow
Last week alone, CHP logged several minor-injury crashes around Stockton, on I-5 near French Camp Road, on Highway 99 near Highway 120, and on SR-4 and SR-120. Most crashes like these aren't dramatic. Nobody's seriously hurt, but the next half hour still matters for your safety, your insurance claim, and your car.
Here's a simple game plan for the first minutes after a minor collision, plus how to tell whether your car can be driven or needs a tow.
1. Check on People First
Before you think about the car, check yourself and your passengers, then the other driver. If anyone is hurt, complains of neck or back pain, or seems confused, call 911. Adrenaline can hide injuries, so don't brush it off.
2. Get Out of Traffic If You Safely Can
If nobody is hurt and both cars are drivable, move them to the shoulder, a side street, or a nearby parking lot. Sitting in a live lane on I-5 or Highway 99 is one of the riskiest places to be.
If your car won't move or isn't safe to drive:
- Turn on your hazard lights
- Stay buckled in if you're stuck on a freeway and it isn't safe to get out
- If you do get out, exit away from traffic and get well behind a barrier or off the roadway
- Never stand between your car and moving traffic
3. Call the Right People
- **911** if anyone is injured, a car is blocking traffic, or the other driver leaves or won't share information
- **Police or CHP** if you need a report. On the freeway, CHP usually handles it.
- **A tow company** if your car can't be driven safely. If officers are on scene, follow their direction, since in some situations they'll arrange the tow themselves.
4. Swap Information and Take Photos
Exchange names, phone numbers, driver's license numbers, insurance details, and license plates with the other driver. Then use your phone to grab:
- Both cars from several angles, including the damage up close
- The plates
- The scene: lanes, signs, skid marks, and the nearest cross street or exit
- Any witnesses' names and numbers
Stay calm and stick to facts. Don't argue about who was at fault on the side of the road.
5. Is Your Car Safe to Drive?
A car that "still runs" isn't always safe to drive. Call for a tow if you notice:
- Leaking fluids (coolant, oil, or anything puddling under the car)
- A wheel that sits at an odd angle, or steering that pulls hard
- Broken headlights or taillights, especially at night or in fog
- A bumper or panel dragging or rubbing a tire
- Warning lights, smoke, or a burning smell
- An airbag that went off
When in doubt, have it towed. Driving a damaged car home can turn a minor repair into a bigger one, or cause a second crash.
6. Tell the Tow Company What Happened
When you call, share your exact location (freeway direction and nearest exit, or a cross street), your vehicle's make and model, whether it's AWD or an EV, what's damaged, and where you want it taken, whether that's your body shop, your home, or a lot your insurer chose. That helps dispatch send the right truck the first time.
7. Report It
Let your insurance company know as soon as you can. In California, you're also required to file an SR-1 report with the DMV within 10 days if anyone was injured or property damage is over $1,000, even if police took a report.
Need a Tow After a Crash in Stockton?
Technique Towing is a family-owned towing company that has served Stockton since 2007, and we're available 24/7 for accident towing, roadside help, and getting your car to the shop of your choice. If you're dealing with a crash anywhere in Stockton or San Joaquin County, call (209) 464-1800.
