Reviewed July 24, 2026 · Berhe Jones LLP
General information only. This guide is not legal advice, does not calculate a deadline, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Representation begins only after conflicts review and a signed written agreement.
After a collision, two things happen at once. You are dealing with injuries, transportation, work, and family logistics, while the evidence that explains what happened begins to disappear.
This guide is general information, not legal advice, and it does not tell you what your claim is worth or what deadline applies. It lists the practical steps that tend to preserve options.
The first hours
Safety and documentation, in that order.
- Seek appropriate medical attention and give providers an accurate account of every symptom you notice
- Get the report number, the responding agency, and the badge or unit information
- Photograph both vehicles, the full scene, road conditions, signage, and the final resting positions
- Collect names, phone numbers, insurance details, and license plate numbers for everyone involved
- Ask witnesses for a phone number before they leave, because they are hard to find later
The first days
Start the paper trail while details are still fresh.
- Write down what happened in your own words, dated, before memory reshapes it
- Photograph visible injuries repeatedly as they develop and heal
- Keep every discharge instruction, prescription, referral, and follow-up appointment
- Note missed work, reduced duties, and any conversation with your employer about it
- Identify nearby businesses, homes, or intersections that may have had a camera pointed at the location
When the insurers call
You can be cooperative and careful at the same time.
- Write down who called, the company, the claim number, and what was requested
- Ask whether a recorded statement is required under any applicable policy or agreement before agreeing, especially when the request comes from another party's insurer
- Read anything before signing it, especially a release or a medical authorization
- Do not guess about injuries, speeds, distances, or fault; saying you do not know yet is accurate
- Keep every letter and email, including the ones that look routine
The following weeks
Consistency is what makes the record credible.
- Keep treatment instructions and records explaining any missed appointments or barriers to care
- Track mileage, out-of-pocket costs, childcare, and help you needed at home
- Before repair or sale, ask whether the vehicle's condition needs independent documentation and preserve clear photos of the damage
- Save repair estimates, total-loss valuations, and rental records
- Consider limiting public posts about the crash, injuries, or activities while the facts are being evaluated
Preserve these before anything else
- The vehicle before it is repaired or sold, and the damaged parts if it is
- Original photo and video files with their date information
- Every insurer letter, estimate, authorization, and release request
- A dated log of symptoms, appointments, missed work, and out-of-pocket costs
Keep originals intact, work from copies, and do not send sensitive records through a public form.