What to Do After a Car Accident FAQs
What are the first things to do after a car accident?
1) Check for injuries and call 911, 2) Move vehicles to safety if possible, 3) Document the scene (photos, video, plate numbers), 4) Exchange information with other driver (name, insurance, license plate), 5) Get witness contact info, 6) Notify police for report, 7) Seek medical attention even if you feel fine.
Should I go to the ER after a car accident?
Yes if: severe pain, head impact, loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, chest pain, numbness/tingling, or any obvious injury. Urgent care or PCP within 24-72 hours for milder symptoms. Delayed care hurts both your health AND your case — some injuries have delayed onset.
What should I NOT do after a car accident?
Don’t: admit fault, apologize, say ‘I’m fine’ (injuries develop over 24-72 hours), give recorded statements to the OTHER driver’s insurance, refuse medical care to ‘tough it out,’ post about the accident on social media, sign any releases without attorney review, or accept quick settlement offers.
How long do I have to report a car accident?
Police report: immediately for injury or major property damage. Own insurance: within 24-72 hours per most policies. State DMV: within 10 days in most states for accidents with injury or over $1,000 property damage. Missing these deadlines can hurt your claim.
Do I need a police report for my car accident?
Highly recommended for any accident with: injuries, property damage over $1,000, disputed liability, hit-and-run, DUI suspected, or commercial vehicle involvement. Police reports are critical evidence and are required in most jurisdictions.
When should I contact a lawyer after a car accident?
As soon as possible — ideally within 7-14 days. Early representation preserves evidence, prevents insurance mistakes, coordinates medical care, and sends preservation letters to defendants. Most personal injury lawyers offer free consultations.
What to do in the first 7 days after a car accident
The decisions you make in the first week after a car accident have a bigger impact on your settlement than almost any other factor — including the severity of your injuries. Here is exactly what to do, day by day.
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Day 1 — At the scene
Your priorities, in order:
- Check for injuries. Yourself, your passengers, the other driver. Call 911 for any injury, no matter how minor it seems.
- Get to safety. If vehicles are drivable and obstructing traffic, move to the shoulder. Otherwise stay put.
- Call the police. Always. Even for minor crashes. The police report is your single most important piece of liability evidence.
- Photograph everything. Every angle of every vehicle. License plates. Driver’s licenses. Insurance cards. Road conditions. Skid marks. Traffic signals. Any visible injuries on yourself.
- Get witness contacts. Anyone who saw what happened. Name and phone number.
- Exchange information. Driver’s license, insurance, registration with the other driver. Don’t discuss fault. Don’t apologize.
- Note the police report number before leaving.
Police accident reconstruction relies on the position of vehicles at the moment of impact. If injuries are involved, leave the vehicles where they are until officers arrive.
Day 1-2 — Get medical attention
Even if you “feel fine.” Adrenaline and shock mask pain. Concussions, soft-tissue injuries, and disc damage commonly present 24-72 hours after the crash. The first 48 hours are the medical-record window that anchors your entire claim.
If symptoms appear, go to the ER, urgent care, or your primary care doctor. Document every symptom, however minor. “I feel fine” in your medical record will be used against you later if symptoms develop.
Day 2-3 — Notify your insurance
You’re contractually required to notify your own insurance promptly. Stick to the basic facts: when, where, who. Don’t speculate about fault. Don’t downplay injuries. Don’t agree to a recorded statement until you’ve talked to a lawyer.
Day 2-7 — Don’t talk to the other driver’s insurance
Their adjuster will call within 24-48 hours and ask for “just a quick statement.” You’re under no obligation. Politely decline. Tell them to talk to your lawyer (even if you don’t have one yet — they don’t need to know).
Adjusters are trained to ask leading questions that make you contradict yourself or downplay injuries. Anything you say in that call can — and will — be used to deny or reduce your claim. Just say no.
Day 3-7 — Keep documentation
Save every receipt and bill: medical, prescriptions, transportation to appointments, mileage, household help, lost work documentation. The “minor” stuff adds up to real money in your settlement.
Day 5-7 — Talk to a personal injury lawyer
The consultation is free. The lawyer evaluates whether your case is worth pursuing, what it might be worth, and whether you should retain them. Most cases settle within 6-18 months when handled properly.
You don’t have to retain the lawyer immediately — even just talking through your case with one helps you understand what to expect. Use our free case review tool to get matched with a vetted attorney in your state.
What NOT to do in the first 7 days
- Don’t post about the accident on social media. Insurance adjusters check your social. Photos of you “doing fine” while you’re claiming injuries kill cases.
- Don’t sign anything from the other driver’s insurance. Especially medical authorization forms — they’ll fish through your entire medical history looking for pre-existing conditions to blame.
- Don’t accept a quick settlement offer. Once you sign a release, you can’t reopen the claim, ever. Even if symptoms get worse.
- Don’t gap your medical treatment. Skipping appointments or going long stretches without care will be used as evidence you “weren’t really hurt.”
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