1. Get medical care
Follow emergency instructions and seek appropriate medical attention. Keep discharge paperwork, provider names, diagnoses, prescriptions, and follow-up instructions together.
2. Preserve the scene and records
If it is safe, photograph vehicles, roadway conditions, traffic controls, visible injuries, and property damage. Save insurance details, the incident report, witness information, and any relevant messages or video.
3. Be careful with recorded statements
You can cooperate with required reporting while taking time to understand what an insurer is asking. Do not guess about facts you do not know or minimize an injury that has not been evaluated.
4. Organize the impact
- Medical appointments and treatment changes
- Missed work, reduced hours, and out-of-pocket expenses
- Pain, mobility changes, and daily activities that became difficult
- Names and contact information for everyone involved