What to Do After a Car Crash

Scene Documentation That Builds a Claim File

Before you leave the accident scene, create the photographic record that your claim will rely on. Capture every angle of vehicle damage — front, rear, sides, and close-ups of impact points. Photograph the road surface, lane markings, traffic lights, stop signs, and any debris. If weather or lighting contributed to the crash, photograph those conditions too.

Get the other driver's insurance card — policy number, company name, and contact information. Write down the names, phone numbers, and license plate numbers of every vehicle involved. If bystanders witnessed the collision, ask for their contact details before they leave. The responding officer's name and badge number go in your notes as well. Do not describe the accident to the other driver beyond exchanging required information. Statements made at the scene end up in police reports and adjuster files, where even neutral remarks can be reinterpreted to assign partial blame.

Medical Evaluation Within 24 Hours

Visit a doctor or emergency room within 24 hours of the crash. This is not optional if you plan to file a claim. The insurance adjuster's first question about your injuries will be: when did you first seek treatment? A gap of more than a day creates an opening to argue the crash was not the cause of your complaints.

Be specific with the treating physician. Report every symptom — headache, neck stiffness, back pain, dizziness, numbness, difficulty concentrating. Symptoms you dismiss as minor during the appointment may develop into conditions requiring weeks of physical therapy. The medical chart from this visit becomes the baseline for your entire injury claim. Underreporting cheats your own case. If the doctor prescribes follow-up care, imaging, or medication, comply with every instruction. Adjusters track whether patients follow prescribed treatment plans, and non-compliance is cited as evidence that injuries were not serious.

Evidence Preservation in the First Three Days

Obtain the police report as soon as it is available — many departments release reports within 48 to 72 hours. Read through it and note any factual errors about vehicle positions, directions of travel, or stated causes. Corrections can be submitted through a supplemental report.

Check for surveillance footage from nearby businesses, traffic cameras, or residential doorbell cameras. These systems overwrite recordings on short cycles. If you wait a week, the footage is almost certainly gone. Preserve your own dashcam recording if you have one — copy the file to a separate device immediately. Save text messages, call logs, and any communication related to the crash. Begin a written journal documenting daily pain levels, activities you can no longer perform, sleep disruptions, and emotional effects. This personal account fills in details that clinical records miss, and it carries weight during negotiation when specific examples of life disruption are more persuasive than general complaints.

Avoiding Common Mistakes That Undermine Your Claim

Do not post about the accident on social media. Photographs showing you at social gatherings, exercising, or appearing happy — even if taken before the crash — can be pulled from your profile and presented as evidence that your injuries are exaggerated. Set all accounts to private and refrain from posting about your daily activities until the claim is fully resolved.

Do not give a recorded statement to the at-fault driver's insurance company. You have no obligation to do so, and the adjuster will use it to search for statements that contradict your medical records or the police report. If the other insurer contacts you, say your attorney will be in touch and end the conversation. Do not sign any documents from any insurer without attorney review. Early authorization forms sometimes grant the insurer access to your full medical history — including unrelated conditions they can use to attribute your injuries to pre-existing problems rather than the crash.

This site is an independent information resource, not a law firm. Nothing here constitutes legal advice — consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance on your specific situation.