After an accident

What to do in the first 48 hours

The decisions you make in the hours after an accident materially affect your case. Here’s a clear sequence — and what to avoid.

Right after the accident

The first 60 minutes

1
Step 1
Call 911 if anyone is hurt
Even if injuries seem minor. Police reports become important documentation. EMS records become medical evidence. Refusing care at the scene is a common mistake — symptoms often emerge hours later.
2
Step 2
Get medical attention promptly
Even if you feel fine. Concussions, soft-tissue injuries, and adrenaline-masked fractures often show up later. Insurance companies use any delay in care to argue "see, you weren’t really hurt."
3
Step 3
Document the scene
Photos of vehicles, injuries, road conditions, traffic signals. Notes on what happened. Witness names + phone numbers. Photos are particularly hard to dispute later.
4
Step 4
Don’t admit fault
Even "I’m sorry" gets used against you. Stick to the facts of what happened. Don’t speculate about cause or blame.

In the first 24 hours

1
Step 5
Notify your own insurance
Most policies require prompt notification. Stick to facts. Don’t give a recorded statement until you’ve spoken to an attorney.
2
Step 6
Don’t talk to the other driver’s insurance
Their job is to minimize the payout. Anything you say will be used against you. Tell them "my attorney will be in touch" and end the call.
3
Step 7
Save everything
Medical bills, prescriptions, missed-work documentation, ER records, photos, repair estimates. Keep them in one folder.
4
Step 8
Call a personal-injury attorney
Free case reviews are universal in PI. The right time is now — before you’ve made statements you can’t take back.

Common mistakes

Refusing medical treatment at scene

"I felt fine" is the most common reason cases get devalued. Always accept evaluation.

Giving a recorded statement

Insurance companies are not your friends. Recorded statements are crafted to lock you into versions you may regret.

Posting on social media

Photos of you hiking three days after the crash will appear in court. Stay off social during the case.

Accepting an early settlement

First offers are routinely 10–30% of full case value. Insurance companies bet you’ll cash before you know better.

Waiting to call an attorney

Statutes of limitations apply. Evidence disappears. Witnesses move. Sooner is materially better.

Treating it as a small claim

What looks like a $10K case can become a $200K case once medical complications, lost wages, and pain-and-suffering are properly evaluated.

We can talk you through next steps in real time. 24/7. Free.