What to Do After a Car Accident?

The immediate crisis of a car accident is often over in minutes, but the time afterward presents a different and often more complex set of challenges.

If you are reading this, you are likely past the initial shock and are now facing the critical hours, days, and weeks that follow. This period is defined by crucial decisions about medical treatment, communication with insurance companies, and the careful documentation of your recovery.

The steps you take now can significantly influence both your physical well-being and your ability to secure fair compensation for your losses. A brief consultation with a car accident lawyer can help you prioritize care, manage insurer communications, and preserve the documentation you’ll need to support your claim.

At the Scene: The First Critical Moments

While you are likely past this point, it’s worth a quick review of the essentials for anyone who might find this article in the future. Immediately after an accident, your priorities are simple:

1. Check for Injuries: Assess yourself and your passengers.
2. Call 911: Report the accident and request medical assistance if anyone is hurt.
3. Move to Safety: If possible, move your vehicle out of traffic. If not, turn on your hazard lights.
4. Exchange Information: Get the other driver’s name, contact information, insurance details, and license plate number. Do not discuss fault.
5. Document the Scene: If you are able, take photos of the vehicles, the surrounding area, and any visible injuries.
6. Speak to the Police: Give the responding officer a factual account of what happened. Get the police report number.

With those initial steps covered, let’s focus on where you are now: dealing with the aftermath.

The First 24 Hours: Prioritizing Your Health and Well-being

The first day after a collision is a critical window. Your actions during this time can have a significant impact on both your physical recovery and your ability to be fairly compensated for your losses later on.

1. Seek Medical Attention.

This is the single most important step you can take. You might walk away from the scene feeling a little sore or shaken but otherwise okay, only to wake up the next day in severe pain.

Some of the most common and serious car accident injuries have delayed symptoms:

• Whiplash: This neck injury can take 24-48 hours to fully manifest, causing pain, stiffness, headaches, and dizziness.
• Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): A jolt to the head can cause the brain to impact the skull. Symptoms like confusion, memory problems, nausea, and sensitivity to light may not appear immediately.
• Internal Bleeding: A blunt force impact can damage internal organs, leading to dangerous bleeding that isn't externally visible. Sometimes the seatbelt itself can cause internal injuries.
• Soft Tissue Injuries: Damage to muscles, ligaments, and tendons can result in pain and limited mobility that worsens over time.

Visiting an emergency room, an urgent care clinic, or your primary care physician creates an official medical record. This record establishes a direct link between the accident and your injuries, which is important. If you wait days or weeks to see a doctor, an insurance company may later argue that your injuries were caused by something else. 

Protect your health first, and in doing so, you also protect your potential claim.

2. Report the Accident to Your Insurance Company.

You should report any car accident to your own insurer, even when the crash wasn’t your fault. When you call, stick to the basic, objective facts. Provide the date, time, and location of the accident, the names of the individuals involved, and the police report number.

Be polite and cooperative, but be cautious. You do not need to provide a detailed, minute-by-minute account of the crash. Most importantly, you are under no obligation to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company at this stage. Their goal is not to help you; it is to find reasons to minimize or deny your claim. Politely decline their request and tell them you will be in touch later.

3. Begin Your Documentation Trail.

Find a folder, a notebook, or create a digital file on your computer. This will become the central hub for everything related to your accident. From this point forward, save everything. This includes:

• The police report number.
• The other driver’s information.
• Names and contact information of any witnesses.
• Photos you took at the scene.
• Any receipts for out-of-pocket expenses, like a tow truck, rental car, or over-the-counter pain medication.

Getting organized from the start will save you a lot of stress down the road.

The First Week: Building Your Foundation for Recovery

As the days pass, the scope of the accident’s impact will become clearer. You’ll be dealing with vehicle repairs, doctor’s appointments, and potentially time away from work. This is the time to be methodical and diligent.

1. Follow All Medical Advice.

Your doctor has laid out a treatment plan for a reason. Whether you attend physical therapy sessions, see a specialist, take prescribed medication, or simply rest, it is crucial that you follow their instructions.

Failing to do so not only hinders your physical recovery but also gives the insurance company an opening. It may argue that if you weren’t following medical advice, your injuries must not have been as severe as you claim. Attend every appointment. Fill every prescription. Your commitment to your recovery demonstrates the true extent of your injuries.

2. Track All Accident-Related Expenses.

Your "accident folder" should now be growing. Keep a running list of every cost you incur. This includes:

• Medical co-pays and prescription costs.
• Mileage to and from doctor’s appointments.
• The cost of medical equipment, like crutches or a brace.
• Lost wages from time taken off work for recovery or appointments.
• Any costs for services you now need, like lawn care or housekeeping, because your injuries prevent you from doing them yourself.

No expense is too small. Together, they paint a picture of the financial burden this accident has placed on you and your family.

The Weeks That Follow: Understanding the Complex Process

By this point, you are likely in regular communication with at least one insurance company. This is where the process can become intimidating and adversarial. Understanding the landscape is key to protecting yourself.

1. Be Wary of the Insurance Adjuster.

The insurance adjuster from the at-fault driver’s company will likely sound friendly and concerned, saying things like, "We just want to get this taken care of for you," or "Let's see if we can get you a check quickly." It is critical to remember their job: protecting their own company’s financial interests by paying out as little as possible.

• Decline a Recorded Statement: If you haven’t already, continue to politely decline requests to give a recorded statement. Adjusters are trained to ask questions designed to trip you up or get you to downplay your injuries. A seemingly innocent comment like, "I'm doing okay," can be twisted to mean you are not seriously hurt.
• Do Not Sign a Medical Authorization Form: They may send you a form that gives them blanket access to your entire medical history. Do not sign it. This allows them to dig for pre-existing conditions or unrelated health issues to try and blame your pain on something other than the accident.
• Beware of Quick Settlement Offers: It’s a common tactic for an adjuster to offer a quick, lump-sum payment within a few weeks of the accident. It can be tempting when bills are piling up, but you shouldn't take the first settlement offer from an insurer. These initial numbers are almost always far less than what your claim is truly worth, and accepting one means you forfeit your right to any additional compensation. If you later learn you need surgery or long-term care, those costs come out of your pocket. A fair settlement isn’t possible until you’ve reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI)—the point at which your condition has stabilized and your future medical needs can be accurately projected.

2. Understand the Full Scope of Your Damages.

Compensation in a personal injury case is not just about paying your current medical bills. It is meant to make you "whole" again, as much as money can. This compensation, known as damages, typically falls into two categories.

Economic Damages: These are the tangible, calculable financial losses.

• Past and Future Medical Expenses: This includes everything from the initial ambulance ride to projected costs for future surgeries, physical therapy, medication, and in-home care.
• Past and Future Lost Wages: If you miss work, you can be compensated for that lost income. If your injuries prevent you from returning to your job or limit your earning capacity in the future, that is also a significant, compensable loss.
• Property Damage: The cost to repair or replace your vehicle and any contents of the vehicle.
• Out-of-Pocket Costs: All of the miscellaneous expenses you’ve been tracking.

Non-Economic Damages: These are the intangible, but very real, human losses.

• Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical pain and discomfort you have endured and will continue to endure.
• Emotional Distress: This covers the anxiety, fear, depression, sleep loss, and other psychological impacts of the trauma.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: If your injuries prevent you from engaging in hobbies, activities, or relationships that brought you joy before the accident, you deserve to be compensated for that loss.
• Permanent Disfigurement or Disability: Compensation for scarring, loss of a limb, or any permanent physical limitation.

Because calculating these damages, especially future care and non-economic losses, is complex, it’s a clear signal of when to get an attorney for a car accident: an experienced lawyer can accurately value your claim and protect your recovery.

3. Be Mindful of the Statute of Limitations.

Every state has a legal deadline, called a statute of limitations, for filing a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, you lose your right to seek compensation in court forever, no matter how strong your case is. It is crucial to be aware of this deadline and not let it sneak up on you.

Deadlines can be unforgiving and this is exactly why you need a personal injury lawyer. Don't hesitate to reach out to us for a free consultation.

Gray Ritter Graham: Car Accident Lawyers You Can Trust

Dealing with a car accident claim is a difficult, draining, and often lonely journey. The physical pain is compounded by financial stress and the frustrating bureaucracy of insurance claims. If you are feeling lost, please know that you have the right to seek help, to ask questions, and to have a dedicated advocate on your side.

For nearly 80 years, since our founding in 1946, Gray Ritter Graham has been dedicated to one core mission: protecting the best interests of our clients at every step. We understand that when you come to us, you are placing your trust in our hands during one of the most vulnerable times of your life. We honor that trust with unwavering commitment.

If you are struggling after an accident and are unsure of what to do next, we invite you to have a conversation with us. A free, no-obligation consultation can provide the clarity and peace of mind you need to decide on your next steps. Let our personal injury lawyers help you carry the load, so you can focus on what truly matters: your recovery.

Contact us today at (314) 241-5620 or through our online form for your free case consultation.