What to do
after an accident.
Eight steps · the first 72 hours. The most important: do not give a recorded statement and do not sign a settlement offer before legal review. Insurance companies move fast for a reason.
- 01RIGHT NOW
MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS SAFE
Move out of traffic if you can do so safely. Call 911 for medical attention even if you feel okay. Adrenaline masks injury — soft-tissue and internal injuries often present hours later.
- 02AT THE SCENE
CALL THE POLICE
Always file a police report, even for minor collisions. The crash report is the foundation of the insurance claim. Get the report number and the officer's badge before leaving.
- 03AT THE SCENE
PHOTOGRAPH EVERYTHING
Vehicle damage from multiple angles. License plates. Skid marks. Road debris. Traffic signs. Any visible injuries. Time-stamped phone photos are admissible — store the original files, do not edit.
- 04AT THE SCENE
GET WITNESS NAMES + NUMBERS
Witnesses leave. Their phone numbers, full names, and a one-line description of what they saw. Independent witnesses are the most powerful liability evidence in any case.
- 05WITHIN 24 HRS
DO NOT GIVE A RECORDED STATEMENT
Insurance adjusters call within hours. They will ask you to record a statement "to speed things up." You are under no obligation. Politely decline. Tell them an attorney will call them back.
- 06WITHIN 72 HRS
SEE A DOCTOR · DOCUMENT EVERYTHING
Even if you feel okay. Untreated injuries are easy for insurers to dispute later. Tell every provider that you were in an accident. Keep every receipt — pharmacy, mileage, lost wages.
- 07BEFORE LEGAL REVIEW
DO NOT SIGN A SETTLEMENT OFFER
Early offers are almost always low. Once signed, you cannot reopen the claim if your injuries worsen. We have seen $50K early offers grow to $400K+ recoveries with proper documentation.
- 08WHEN READY
CALL US · FREE CASE REVIEW
We come to you — hospital, home, or worksite. The review is free. Bilingual intake (English/Spanish). We will tell you honestly if you have a case worth filing or not.
