The first 72 hours checklist
What to do at the scene, that evening and over the next two days, in the order it tends to matter.
Resources
Guides and checklists for after a crash
Three practical guides to start with, then articles on the problems that come up most while a claim is open.
Guides
Step-by-step guides
Work through these in order if you can.
Calls with insurance companies
What to say to your own insurer, what to hold back from the other driver’s, and how to keep a record of every call.
Questions to ask an accident attorney
Twelve questions for a first conversation, so you leave knowing how the attorney works, what it costs and who does what.
Articles
Read next
Why a recorded statement can wait
The other driver’s adjuster often asks to record your account in the first week. Here is why many people hold off.
Gaps in medical treatment, and why they matter
Weeks without a doctor’s visit are often read as weeks without pain. How to keep your records matching how you feel.
What to post, and not post, after a crash
Photos from a weekend away can be read against an injury claim. A plain approach to social media while a claim is open.
Before you accept the first offer
An early settlement can arrive before you know what the crash will cost. What a release does, and what to check first.
Rideshare crashes and whose insurance applies
Whether the app was on, a trip was accepted or a passenger was in the car can change which policy is involved.
Truck crashes and the records that can disappear
Driver logs, maintenance files and on-board data matter in commercial crashes, and some of it is only kept for a short time.
Official sources
Where to check the rules for your state
Insurance and traffic rules are set state by state. These public bodies publish the official versions.
- NAIC: find your state insurance departmentComplaints about an insurer, and your state’s auto insurance rules.
- National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationVehicle recalls by VIN, and federal road safety information.
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety AdministrationThe federal rules for commercial trucks and their drivers.
- American Bar Association: free legal answersDirectories of legal aid and lawyer referral by state.
Not sure what to do next?
Tell us what happened and we will point you to the right guide, or pass your request to an accident attorney if you ask us to.