What to do after a car accident in Toledo

The first few minutes

1. Stop. Ohio law requires every driver involved in a crash on a public road to stop immediately at the scene (ORC 4549.02).
2. Check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt. Ohio’s driver handbook says not to move injured people and to keep them warm (Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, Section 10).
3. Warn other traffic. Turn on your hazard lights. The handbook says that in a minor crash, if it is possible and safe, you should move your vehicle out of the flow of traffic. If it can’t be moved, keep the hazards on and set out flares or triangles if you have them.
4. Notify police. The handbook says to notify the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the sheriff or local police. Inside Toledo that means Toledo Police; on I-75, I-475, I-280 or the Turnpike, 911 for emergencies and #677 for the Highway Patrol.
5. Stay calm and don’t argue about who was at fault. Answer the officer’s questions.

What Ohio law requires at the scene

The core rule is ORC 4549.02. A driver involved in a crash on a public road must:

• stop immediately;
• stay at the scene until giving their name and address, the vehicle owner’s name and address if different, and the vehicle’s registration number to the other driver, an injured person or a police officer;
• if an injured person can’t take the information, notify the nearest police authority and stay until an officer arrives.

Two related rules cover other situations:

• Parking lots and other non-public property: stop and exchange the same information on request. If you didn’t, give it to city police (or the county sheriff outside a city or village) within 24 hours (ORC 4549.021).
• Hitting a fence, pole, sign or other property next to the road: stop and notify the owner. If you can’t find the owner, report it to police within 24 hours (ORC 4549.03).

If you hit an unattended parked car, the state handbook says you must report it to police or leave the necessary information at the scene. Ohio also requires you to show proof of insurance at a crash scene (Ohio BMV).

These are summaries of what the statutes say, not legal advice. For questions about your situation, ask the investigating officer or a lawyer.

Information and photos to collect

Ohio’s driver handbook lists what to exchange. Use your phone’s notes app or camera:

• Names and addresses of the other drivers, passengers and any witnesses
• The owner’s name and contact details if the owner wasn’t driving
• License plate, make and model of every vehicle involved
• Insurance company name, address and policy number for each driver
• The officer’s name, the agency and the report number
• Notes on what happened, the weather, road conditions and traffic signals

Photos worth taking, if it is safe to do so:

• each vehicle from all four corners, then close-ups of the damage;
• the other vehicle’s plate and the other driver’s insurance card;
• the intersection or road, including signs, signals and skid marks;
• where the cars ended up, if they haven’t been moved yet.

Getting the crash report

When police investigate a crash involving a death, an injury or property damage over $1,000, Ohio law requires the agency to send a written report to the Ohio Department of Public Safety within 5 days (ORC 5502.11). The state form is commonly called the OH-1.

• Online: the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Crash Retrieval portal lets you search by crash number or document number, or by date range and county or agency.
• Toledo Police: the “Get a copy of an Accident Report” link on the Toledo Police website goes to that same state portal.
• Highway Patrol crashes: the OSHP Help Center has a “Request a Report” option.

Ask the officer for the report number before you leave the scene. It makes the online search much easier.

If the other driver had no insurance, Ohio lets anyone involved file a BMV report alleging an uninsured driver within 6 months of the crash. The registrar then demands proof of financial responsibility from that driver (ORC 4509.06).

Insurance: Ohio’s minimums and the call to make

Ohio requires liability coverage of at least $25,000 for injury or death of one person, $50,000 for two or more people, and $25,000 for property damage per accident (ORC 4509.51). Your own policy may carry higher limits.

The state handbook says to notify your insurance company as soon as possible. When you call, ask:

• whether your policy covers towing and storage, and up to what amount;
• whether the insurer wants the car taken to a particular repair shop or inspection site;
• whether you have rental car coverage.

Knowing where the car should go before the tow truck arrives saves paying for a second tow later.

Getting the car towed

When police control the tow. After a crash, a police officer, trooper, sheriff or fire chief may remove, or order removed, an unoccupied vehicle that blocks the road or endangers public safety, without the owner’s consent (ORC 4513.66). On the Ohio Turnpike, only a Turnpike contract garage may tow a disabled passenger car off.

When you choose. If police aren’t ordering the tow and you’re not on the Turnpike, you can usually ask for the towing company you prefer. That is general practice rather than a guarantee in Ohio law, and officers may call another wrecker when a vehicle has to be cleared quickly.

When you call for a tow, describe the damage honestly: a wheel that won’t turn, a flat tire or a bent axle all change what equipment is needed. A car that won’t roll or steer usually needs a flatbed. See accident recovery for what a crash tow involves, or emergency towing if the car is stranded on a road. Call (419) 329-4502 and your request goes to a local provider; the operator will confirm the price before hooking up.

What to take out of the car before it’s towed

Once the car is hooked up it may sit at a shop or a storage lot for days. Before it leaves, take:

• Registration and proof of insurance. The Toledo Police impound FAQ, as archived in December 2025, said lot staff would not retrieve an insurance card from a towed car.
• Phone, chargers, wallet, purse and medications
• House keys, garage door opener and any toll transponder
• Child car seats
• Work equipment, laptops and anything with personal information
• Photos of the odometer and the inside of the car

Leave the car key with the tow operator if they need it to steer or shift into neutral.

If police had the car towed

If police ordered the car towed in Toledo, it may be at the City of Toledo impound lot. The Toledo Police towed-vehicle page lists a $160 tow fee plus $20 a day for storage. Our guide to finding a towed car in Toledo explains how to find it, what to bring and how to get it back. For a sense of normal tow charges, see how much a tow costs in Toledo.