What to do in the first 48 hours after a car accident.
The decisions you make today shape what happens to your case for the next year. Here's the practical checklist for Missouri and Illinois drivers, in order, from the scene to the end of the first week.
At the scene
The first 60 minutes.
- 01
Get to safety, then call 911
Move out of traffic if you can. Call 911 even if injuries seem minor. A police report at the scene is the single most important document in your case.
- 02
Accept medical attention if it's offered
Refusing on-scene EMS is the most common mistake we see. Insurance adjusters use 'declined transport' as evidence you weren't really hurt. If something hurts, say so. Adrenaline masks injuries for hours.
- 03
Photograph everything
Both vehicles from every angle, the position of the cars before they're moved, your injuries, the other driver's license and insurance card, road conditions, signs and lights, debris on the road, and the surrounding intersection.
- 04
Get the other driver's information
Full name, phone, insurance company, policy number, license plate, driver's license number, and the names of any passengers. If the driver is not the owner of the car, get the owner's info too.
- 05
Get witness contact info before they leave
Witnesses scatter within minutes. Names and phone numbers, written down before they drive off, are evidence we cannot recreate later.
- 06
Do not say you're 'fine' or apologize
Anything you say at the scene can be used by the other driver's insurer. Stick to facts. 'I'm not sure how I'm feeling, I'd like to be checked out' is the right answer to 'are you okay?'
First 24 hours
What happens after you leave.
- 01
Get medically evaluated, even if you feel okay
Soft tissue, concussion, and back injuries often show up 24 to 72 hours later. A baseline emergency-room or urgent-care visit creates a medical record that protects your case. 'Treatment gap' is the second-most-common reason adjusters reduce settlements.
- 02
Report the crash to your own insurance company
Your policy requires prompt reporting. Stick to facts. You do not need to give a recorded statement and should not give one to the other driver's insurer without an attorney.
- 03
Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer
They will call within 24 to 48 hours, sometimes the same day. The questions are designed to lock you into a story before your injuries are fully understood. There is no law that requires you to give one.
- 04
Document everything in writing
Write down what you remember while it's fresh: the route, what you saw, what was said, who was there. Memory degrades fast and your own notes are evidence later.
First week
Decisions that shape the case.
- 01
Follow up with your primary doctor
ER stabilizes you, but ongoing treatment with a primary care doctor or specialist (orthopedist, neurologist, physical therapist) is what builds the medical record adjusters and juries actually rely on.
- 02
Keep every receipt and bill
Co-pays, prescriptions, parking at medical appointments, mileage to and from treatment, over-the-counter medication, medical equipment. All of it is recoverable. None of it is recovered if you can't prove you spent it.
- 03
Get the police report
Missouri reports are usually available 5 to 7 days after the crash. Illinois reports often within 10. Pull it as soon as it's available and check it for errors. Errors get corrected by amendment, not by argument later.
- 04
Talk to an attorney before you sign anything
Insurance companies often offer fast 'goodwill' settlements in the first week to close the file before you know how badly you're injured. Once you sign a release, the case is over.
Five things never to do.
- Never sign anything from the other driver's insurance company without an attorney. Releases, medical authorizations, recorded statement consents. They all narrow what you can do later.
- Never post about the crash on social media. Photos of you on your feet, at a wedding, at the gym. They all get screenshotted by defense investigators. Set accounts private and post nothing about the case until it's over.
- Never accept the first settlement offer. Insurance companies make low first offers because they work. Once you sign, the case is over even if a serious injury surfaces a month later.
- Never miss a doctor's appointment. Treatment gaps are how adjusters justify cutting offers. If you can't make an appointment, reschedule, don't no-show.
- Never assume the police report is accurate. Officers make mistakes. Wrong directions, wrong VINs, wrong fault assignments. Read it carefully, request amendments where necessary.
What to say. What not to say.
Your own insurance company has to be told about the crash. The other driver's insurance company does not have to be told anything by you. Most adjusters who call within the first week are calling for the other driver's insurer.
Things you can safely say:
- Your name, the date, time, and location of the crash.
- That you are getting medical treatment.
- That you would prefer to communicate in writing.
Things to decline:
- A recorded statement.
- A signed medical authorization (gives them access to your entire medical history, not just records related to the crash).
- A quick settlement offer in the first 7-14 days.
If they push, the answer is "I'd like to consult with an attorney first" and then end the call. They will keep calling. That's normal. You don't have to pick up.
Which side of the river the crash happened on matters.
Missouri and Illinois have different fault rules and different filing deadlines. A Missouri crash gives you 5 years to file. An Illinois crash gives you 2. Missouri uses pure comparative fault. Illinois bars recovery if you are more than 50% at fault. The full breakdown is on the Missouri vs Illinois guide.
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