Injuries often show up days later.
Whiplash, back and head pain can start a day or two after the crash. Seeing a doctor now helps you heal.
What to do in the first few days
Small steps now protect your health and your claim.
Today
- Get checked by a doctor or urgent care, even if you feel okay.
- Photograph the cars, the scene and any bruises or cuts.
- Ask an attorney about your rights before you talk to any insurer.
The next 72 hours
- Tell your own insurer a crash happened. Facts only, no guesses.
- Follow up on pain that is new or getting worse.
- Connect with an attorney so your rights and deadlines are protected.
This week
- Keep every bill, receipt and missed-work note in one place.
- Stay off social media about the crash or your injuries.
- Have an attorney look over any offer or form before you sign it.
What not to do
- Don’t talk to the other driver’s insurance before you speak with an attorney.
- Don’t say “I’m fine” or guess about who caused it. Those words can hurt your case.
- Don’t take one answer as final. Get a second opinion before you sign anything.
- Don’t sign their release or medical records form. A release can end your claim for good.
Find attorneys and medical professionals in your state
Talk to the right attorney, not the loudest one.
A good car accident attorney deals with the insurers so you can focus on getting better. They gather records, handle the calls, and know what claims like yours are worth where you live. Most work on contingency, so there’s usually nothing to pay up front.
- Handles car accident cases every week, not once in a while.
- Recent reviews from clients who sound like you.
- Explains the fee in plain words before you sign anything.
- Calls you back, and tells you what happens next.
The adjuster who calls is friendly. Their job is to pay as little as possible.
Insurance companies call early, often within a day or two, while you’re hurting and before you know what your injuries will need. The same phone call can go two very different ways.
If you say yes right away
- A recorded statement while you’re still sore and unsure
- A quick offer before anyone knows what treatment will cost
- A release form that ends the claim
- Pain that shows up later isn’t covered
If you get care and advice first
- You see a doctor and follow the treatment plan
- Your records show what the crash did to you
- An attorney deals with the adjuster for you
- You decide with the full picture in front of you
Keep your care going.
Gaps in treatment are one of the most common reasons insurers offer less. Steady visits help you heal and show how the crash really affected you.
Three weeks of care, two ways
Steady care
A gap in care
The weeks without a visit are what an adjuster points to when arguing you weren’t really hurt.
Each square is a day. An illustration, not real patient data.
Free to use. No pressure. Your call.
We are a free resource, not a law firm. Asking for a match never obligates you to hire anyone, and you can stop at any point.
- Free for youThere is no charge to use the site or ask for a match.
- No obligationTalking to an attorney doesn’t commit you to anything.
- Not a law firmWe don’t give legal advice. Attorneys you talk to do.
- Deadlines are realEvery state limits how long you have to file. Your state page lists it.
Your crash folder
- Photos of the cars, the scene and your injuries
- The police report number
- The other driver’s name and insurance
- Every medical visit and receipt
- Notes from work about missed days
- A few lines each day about how you feel
Keep one folder for everything: photos, the police report number, receipts, and a few lines each day about how you feel.
What happens after you reach out
From your first answer to your first call, you’re not doing this alone. Real people listen, explain your options and point you to an attorney near you who fits your case.
- Tell us what happenedA few quick questions about the crash, your injuries and where you live. About two minutes.
- Our care team calls youSomeone from our care team, the intake team at a partner law firm, calls, listens to your story and answers your questions. No cost.
- Matched with a local attorneyIf your case fits, they connect you with an attorney in your area who handles car accident cases like yours.
- You stay in controlAsk anything and take your time. Nothing moves forward unless you say so.
Free. No obligation. About two minutes.
Get treated first. The right case follows good care.
It’s normal to feel lost right now. Start with a doctor, then a good local attorney when you want one.
Common questions
What should I do right after a car accident?
Get safe and call 911 if anyone is hurt. Photograph the scene, swap insurance details, and see a doctor even if you feel fine.
How long do I have to file a claim?
Every state sets its own deadline, often 2 to 3 years and as short as 1. Your state page lists it; a lawyer can confirm it for your case.
How do I choose an attorney?
Look for car accident experience, recent client reviews, and how quickly they answer. Most work on contingency, so ask what they charge if you do not win.
Ready when you are
Answer a few questions and someone from a partner law firm’s intake team can call you. Free, no obligation, and you decide what happens next.