Goodland Towing · Goodland, KS · Updated July 2026

What to Do After a Car Accident in Goodland, Kansas

A car accident is disorienting no matter how minor it looks. One second you are driving down US-24 or merging onto I-70 near Exit 17, and the next you are standing on the shoulder with your heart pounding, unsure of what to do first. The steps you take in the next few minutes protect your safety, your legal position, and your insurance claim. This guide walks Goodland drivers through exactly what to do after a crash in Sherman County — in the right order — so nothing important gets missed while you are still shaken up.

Goodland Towing responds to accident scenes across the 67735 area 24 hours a day. We handle everything from a fender-bender in a parking lot off Main Street to a disabled vehicle blocking a lane of Interstate 70. Keep our number, (615) 241-0232, saved in your phone so you can reach a licensed and insured local operator the moment you need one.

Step 1: Stop, Breathe, and Check for Injuries

Kansas law requires you to stop after any collision — leaving the scene of an accident is a serious offense. Once you are stopped, take a slow breath and check yourself and your passengers for injuries before anything else. Adrenaline masks pain, so move carefully. If anyone is hurt, or if you are unsure, call 911 immediately and do not try to move injured people unless there is fire or another immediate danger.

Turn on your hazard lights right away. On a fast-moving road like I-70, an unlit vehicle is a hazard to everyone behind you, and the winter wind and blowing snow that Sherman County is known for can cut visibility to almost nothing. If you keep flares or reflective triangles in your trunk, set them out behind your vehicle to warn approaching traffic.

Step 2: Get to Safety — But Know When to Leave the Car Where It Is

If the accident is minor, everyone is uninjured, and the vehicles are drivable, move them out of the travel lanes to the shoulder or a nearby parking lot. Clearing the roadway prevents a dangerous second collision, which is a real risk on the high-speed stretches of I-70 between Kanorado and Edson.

But if a vehicle is badly damaged, leaking fluid, or simply will not steer or roll safely, leave it exactly where it is. Get yourself and your passengers to a safe spot well off the road, behind a guardrail if one is available, and wait. A car that is dragging a bumper or riding on a flat, bent wheel can cause more damage — or a fire — if you force it to move. This is exactly when a flatbed tow is the right call, because it lifts the entire vehicle off the ground without putting any load on a damaged axle or suspension.

Step 3: Call the Police and Report the Accident

In Kansas you are required to report any accident that causes injury, death, or property damage of roughly $1,000 or more. Given how quickly repair costs add up today, that threshold covers almost every real collision, so it is smart to call law enforcement to the scene even for what looks like minor damage. Within Goodland city limits, the Goodland Police Department responds; out on the highway or in the county, it is the Sherman County Sheriff or the Kansas Highway Patrol.

The responding officer will complete an official crash report, and that document becomes one of the most valuable pieces of evidence for your insurance claim. Write down the officer's name and the report number before you leave. If the police do not come to the scene for a minor crash, you can still file a report yourself — but a neutral, on-scene record almost always makes the claims process smoother.

Step 4: Document the Scene and Exchange Information

While you wait, use your phone to build your own record of what happened. Take clear photos from several angles: the damage to each vehicle, the position of the cars on the road, skid marks, debris, traffic signs, and the surrounding intersection or mile marker. Photograph the other driver's license plate and, if they will allow it, their insurance card and driver's license.

Exchange the essentials with the other driver: full name, phone number, insurance company and policy number, and vehicle make, model, and plate. Stay calm and polite, but do not admit fault or apologize — even a casual "I'm so sorry" can be used against you later. Simply gather the facts. If there are witnesses, ask for their names and numbers, because an independent account can settle a dispute weeks down the road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends keeping a small accident checklist and a pen in your glovebox for exactly this purpose.

Step 5: Call for Accident Towing in Goodland

Once safety and reporting are handled, the question becomes how to get your vehicle off the road. If your car is not drivable, do not let it sit and rack up the risk of another impact. Call a local, DOT compliant tow operator you can trust. Goodland Towing runs flatbed and wheel-lift trucks that are equipped for collision recovery, including winch-out service if your vehicle left the roadway and ended up in a ditch along K-27 or a county road.

We can tow your vehicle directly to the body shop of your choice anywhere in Sherman County, to your home, or to a secure lot while you sort out the insurance side. Because we are based right here near the giant Van Gogh easel and the Sherman County Courthouse, our response times are measured in minutes, not the hour-plus wait you often get from a regional dispatcher. Learn more about our dedicated accident removal and collision recovery service and what to expect when we arrive.

Step 6: After the Tow — Insurance and Next Steps

Report the accident to your insurance company as soon as you are safe, even if the other driver was clearly at fault. Provide the photos, the police report number, and the itemized towing receipt we give you. Keep every document together in one folder or phone album. If you were injured, see a doctor promptly — some injuries, like whiplash and concussions, do not show symptoms for a day or two, and a medical record created right away protects both your health and any claim.

Finally, do not rush back onto the road in a vehicle that has not been properly inspected. Hidden frame, suspension, or tire damage from a crash can make a car unsafe even when it looks fine. A quick inspection is cheap insurance against a breakdown a week later on the way to Colby.