Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motor Vehicle Accidents: What To Do After a Crash
A motor vehicle accident happens in seconds but the impact on your life can last months, years, or even permanently. The steps you take immediately after the crash are critical for your health, your rights, and your financial recovery. Insurance companies move quickly to protect themselves. You need to move even faster to protect yourself.
Here is exactly what to do after a motor vehicle accident.
1. Put Your Health & Safety First
Your safety is the top priority. If you are:
- Hurt
- Dizzy
- Disoriented
- Unable to walk
- Experiencing severe pain
Insist on going to the hospital by ambulance.
Do not downplay your injuries at the scene. Many serious issues — concussions, internal injuries, fractures, and soft-tissue damage — do not show symptoms right away because of adrenaline.
Even if you believe your injuries are minor, go to the ER or urgent care the same day. Early medical records help prove the accident caused your injuries.
2. Document the Scene & Gather Evidence
If you are able, collect as much information as you can:
- Take photos and videos of both vehicles, showing all angles of damage.
- Capture road conditions, weather, traffic signals, skid marks, and debris.
- Exchange insurance and contact information with all involved drivers.
- Get names and numbers of witnesses — they often make or break a case.
- Insist on filing a police report and request the responding officer’s name and badge number.
This evidence becomes crucial when insurance companies try to dispute fault.
3. Do NOT Contact Any Insurance Company
This is one of the most important protections you have.
Do NOT call the insurance company. Do NOT give statements. Do NOT explain what happened.
Insurance adjusters are trained to:
- Twist your words
- Minimize your injuries
- Get you to admit fault
- Reduce your settlement
- Get you to agree to things that harm your case
If an insurance company calls you:
- Do not answer, or
- If you pick up, tell them:
“I am in the process of retaining an attorney. Please contact my attorney
directly.” - Then hang up.
Even if you believe the accident is not your fault, anything you say may be used against you.
Your attorney should be the only person communicating with the insurers.
- Keep Track of All Medical Care & Financial Losses
Accident cases are built on documentation.
You should save:
Medical-Related
- ER and urgent care visits
- Copays and deductibles
- Physical therapy, chiropractic care, pain management
- Specialist visits (ortho, neuro, etc.)
- Medications
- Medical devices (braces, crutches, boots)
Financial Losses
- Lost wages
- Missed shifts or reduced hours
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Transportation to medical appointments
Daily Life Impact
Keep notes on:
- Pain levels
- Mobility issues
- Sleep problems
- Impacts on childcare and household duties
- Emotional distress
- How your injuries affect work, intimacy, hobbies, and daily activities
All of this increases your compensation.
- Your Spouse May Also Have a Claim
A serious injury affects the entire household.
Your spouse may have a loss of consortium claim, which includes:
- Emotional distress
- Loss of companionship
- Reduced enjoyment of life
- Loss of affection or intimacy
- Increased household burdens
These damages are legally recognized and compensable.
- Contact an Attorney Immediately
An experienced motor vehicle accident attorney will:
- Open and manage your insurance claim
- Protect you from harmful statements
- Preserve evidence immediately
- Obtain the police report and witness statements
- Collect medical records and build your damages package
- Negotiate aggressively with the insurance company
- File suit if needed to maximize compensation
We handle everything while you focus on healing.
You may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Permanent injuries
- Diminished earning capacity
- Loss of consortium (spouse)
- Future medical care
- Emotional distress
- Property damage
Injured in a Crash? Call Us Today.
Insurance companies will start working against you within hours of the accident.
Let us start working for you even faster.
Call us today for a free consultation.
We don’t get paid unless we win.