The short answer
At the scene, capture identities, insurance details, positions, and conditions. In the first week, get medical evaluation and request the report. In the first month, track expenses and lost income, and find out from a local lawyer what deadline applies where the crash happened.
01
At the scene, if you are able
Safety and medical needs come first; documentation matters only once everyone is out of danger. When it is safe, photograph the vehicles where they came to rest before they are moved, then the damage close up, the road, signage, signals, weather, and lighting. Exchange identification and insurance information, and note the responding agency and any report number provided.
- Photos of positions before vehicles are moved
- Close photos of damage to every vehicle involved
- Road conditions, signage, signals, weather, and light
- Driver, vehicle, and insurance details for everyone
- Names and phone numbers of witnesses
- The responding agency and any report number
02
Witnesses evaporate quickly
People who stop to help leave within minutes and are effectively unfindable afterward. A name and a phone number captured in the moment is worth more than any amount of later investigation. If someone will not give contact details, note their description and vehicle, which occasionally allows them to be identified.
03
Get evaluated even if you feel fine
Some injuries present hours or days later, and adrenaline masks a great deal at the scene. A prompt medical evaluation is first a matter of health, and second the record that connects any injury to the crash. Gaps between the collision and the first visit are routinely used by insurers to argue that an injury was minor or unrelated.
04
The first week
Request the police or incident report and note the case number. Report the crash to your own insurer as your policy requires, even if the other driver was at fault. Photograph visible injuries as they develop, and start a simple log of symptoms, appointments, and missed work — contemporaneous notes are far more persuasive than reconstruction.
05
Be careful with recorded statements
Another driver's insurer may request a recorded statement early. Ask what is actually required of you and what is optional, and consider getting advice before describing injuries that are still being evaluated. Statements given before a diagnosis is complete are difficult to walk back later.
06
The first month
Keep every bill, explanation-of-benefits statement, and receipt, including travel to appointments and paid help at home. Document lost income with employer records. Gather your own policy's declarations page, since coverage under your own policy can matter even when someone else was at fault. Ask a lawyer licensed in that state what deadline applies, and whether any government entity is involved.
07
What not to do
Do not post about the crash, the injuries, or your activities. Do not authorize repairs or salvage disposal of a badly damaged vehicle before asking whether it should be preserved and inspected. Do not sign a release or a broad medical authorization without understanding what it releases, because a release normally ends the claim permanently.
08
When to get advice quickly
Serious injury, a death, disputed fault, a commercial or government vehicle, an uninsured driver, or pressure to sign something quickly are all reasons to consult sooner rather than later. Early advice is largely about preserving options and evidence, and a single consultation can accomplish that even if you handle the rest yourself.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Should I call my insurer if the other driver was at fault?
Usually yes, because policies commonly require prompt notice of an accident regardless of fault, and your own coverage may apply to medical costs or to a shortfall if the other driver is uninsured or underinsured. Reporting is different from making a claim, and your declarations page or agent can confirm what your policy requires.
Do I need a police report?
It is helpful and sometimes required, though its availability and content vary by agency and by the type of collision. A report is not the only evidence of what happened, and it is not a legal determination of fault — photographs, witnesses, and vehicle damage often carry substantial weight independently.
How long do I have to bring a claim?
That depends on the state and the type of claim, and separate, much earlier notice requirements can apply when a government entity is involved. Because a missed deadline generally ends a claim outright, this is the first thing to confirm with a lawyer licensed where the crash occurred.
Lawyer in Town publishes general legal information for consumers. It is not legal advice, it does not create an attorney-client relationship, and it cannot account for the facts of any individual situation. Laws, court procedures, filing deadlines, and outcomes differ by state and by court, and they change over time. Confirm anything that affects a decision with a lawyer licensed in the relevant jurisdiction.
Reporting requirements, insurance rules, fault frameworks, and filing deadlines are state law and differ substantially. Policy obligations depend on the individual contract.