Free Guide
Right after a crash everything feels like a blur, so here's a simple, calm checklist you can follow step by step. Do what you can, and don't worry about the rest, that's what we're here for. Nothing here costs anything, and reading it doesn't make you our client.
Get to safety and call 911. Ask for police and, if anyone is hurt, an ambulance. A police report creates the official record your claim will rely on.
Don't say “I'm fine” or “I'm sorry.” Adrenaline hides injuries, and apologies get quoted back later as admissions of fault. Stick to facts when you talk to police.
Photograph everything. All vehicles, license plates, the road, traffic signals, skid marks, and your own injuries. More photos is always better.
Exchange information. Names, driver's licenses, insurance cards, and plate numbers for every driver involved.
Get witnesses. Names and phone numbers of anyone who saw it. Witnesses disappear fast.
See a doctor, even if you feel okay. Soft-tissue and neck injuries often show up a day or two later. A gap between the crash and your first medical visit is the first thing an insurer uses to pay you less.
Write down what you remember. The sequence, the weather, what each driver did. Memory fades within days.
Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer. You are not required to, and it is almost always used to reduce what you're owed.
Keep everything. Medical records, bills, repair estimates, a note of every workday you miss.
Don't take the first settlement offer. Insurers open low, hoping you sign before you know what your claim is worth. A free review usually reveals a much higher number.
Guides are general. Your case isn't. Ask us, it's free and there's no obligation.
Start a free reviewThe most important thing to do right after a car accident is to get medical care and create a record, even if you feel fine. Call 911 so there's a police report, photograph the scene, and see a doctor within 24 to 48 hours. The medical record and the police report are the two pieces of evidence your claim depends on most.
You should not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company after a crash. You're not legally required to, and adjusters use these statements to find reasons to pay you less. It's fine to confirm basic facts, but decline the recording and speak with a lawyer first. Peretz Law Firm reviews these calls for free.
You should see a doctor within 24 to 48 hours after a car accident, even if you feel okay. Neck, back, and soft-tissue injuries often appear a day or more later, and any gap between the crash and treatment is the first thing an insurer uses to argue your injury isn't serious.
This guide is general information for people in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, it isn't legal advice for your specific situation, and reading it doesn't create an attorney-client relationship. For advice about your own case, talk to a lawyer. We're happy to be that first call, free.