The first 48 hours after a serious crash: a checklist

In the hours after a serious crash, you are in pain, frightened, and being asked to make decisions that can affect your health and your legal rights for years. This is the guidance we give the people who call us.

First, get medical care — and be thorough. Gaps in treatment are the single most common way insurers undermine a legitimate claim. Second, document everything you can: photos of the scene and vehicles, the other driver’s information, and the names of any witnesses. Third, do not give the other driver’s insurer a recorded statement before you understand your rights.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different. If you have been hurt, the safest step is a free conversation with a lawyer who can look at your specific facts.