The first 48 hours after a crash
What you do in the first two days shapes the value of the claim more than anything that happens later.
Document before anything moves
Photograph vehicle positions, skid marks, debris, traffic controls and the weather. Once vehicles are towed, that scene cannot be reconstructed. Get names and numbers for every witness, because police reports frequently miss them.
Get checked even if you feel fine
Soft-tissue and head injuries commonly present a day or two later. A gap between the incident and your first medical visit is the most common argument an adjuster uses to reduce a claim.
Report, but do not give a recorded statement
Notify your own insurer promptly, as your policy requires. You are under no obligation to give the other driver's carrier a recorded statement, and early statements are routinely used against the person who gave them.
Start a file on day one
Keep every bill, mileage log, pharmacy receipt and pay stub in one place. The claim is ultimately a documentation exercise, and the people who keep records get better outcomes.
Tools for this topic
Car Accident Settlement Calculator
Estimate what a car accident claim is worth after fault, fees and policy limits.
Legal & InjuryPersonal Injury Settlement Calculator
A general injury claim estimate covering economic damages, non-economic damages and fees.
Legal & InjuryPain & Suffering Calculator
Compare the multiplier method against the per-diem method on the same facts.
Legal & InjuryLost Wages Calculator
Work out past and future income loss, including benefits and reduced capacity.