The first day after a car accident is disorienting, and the decisions made in that window can matter more than people realize — for your health, and for any claim that follows.

**Do:**

*Get medical attention, even if you feel okay.* Adrenaline masks pain. Some injuries — soft tissue damage, concussions — don’t show symptoms for a day or more. A prompt medical record also matters if you later need to show the injury was connected to the accident.

*Document everything you can.* Photos of the vehicles, the scene, visible injuries, and road conditions. Get the other driver’s insurance information and contact info for any witnesses.

*Report the accident.* File a police report if one wasn’t already taken at the scene, and notify your own insurance company of the accident occurred — most policies require prompt notice regardless of fault.

*Keep records of everything from this point forward.* Medical bills, missed work, repair estimates — all of it may matter later, and it’s much easier to gather as you go than to reconstruct months later.

**Don’t:**

*Give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company right away.* You’re not obligated to, and adjusters are trained to ask questions in ways that can be used to minimize a claim. It’s reasonable to wait until you’ve spoken with an attorney.

*Accept a quick settlement offer.* Early offers are often made before the full extent of injuries or damages is known. Once you accept and sign a release, you typically can’t go back for more later — even if it turns out you needed additional treatment.

*Post about the accident on social media.* Even a well-meaning post can be taken out of context and used to question the severity of your injuries or who was at fault.

None of this requires you to have all the answers immediately — just to protect the information and options you’ll need later, before they’re gone.

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Attorney Advertising. This post is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. No representation is made that the quality of legal services performed is greater than that of other lawyers. Laws vary by state and change over time — consult an attorney about your specific situation before acting on anything here.