i work in the ER and i’ve seen the aftermath of hundreds of car accidents and i’ve treated thousands of patients, and here are a few tips that i would give that may not have been covered or that i just want to reiterate.
1. check your surroundings
i know after an accident, especially a severe one, it can be hard to think straight, but take a moment and analyze your position. are you in the middle of an intersection, or on the side of the highway? this is important because i’ve had patients who weren’t fully aware and they immediately got out of the vehicle and were then struck by another vehicle soon after. it’s not as rare as you think. prioritize moving to a safe location, like the curb or shoulder, if the vehicle is operable or if you can exit safely.
2. check yourself for injuries and prevent further injury
this was covered but i want to make this crystal clear: check yourself and others for injuries. however, if you do not find any obvious ones, do not assume you are okay. adrenaline is a powerful drug and you may not realize how severely hurt you are. i’ve had patients reject medical care after an accident only to come in hours later via ambulance in excruciating pain. i highly recommend getting medically checked out after an accident just in case and before symptoms become too severe. being driven to the er is often free compared to the thousands of dollars an ambulance ride can cost.
3. ER (or ED) vs. urgent care
get to the emergency room if you have any loss of consciousness, a severe headache, confusion, difficulty breathing, or severe pain. for less acute but still concerning symptoms, an urgent care is an option, but the er is the gold standard for immediate, comprehensive post-accident workups. this ensures nothing is missed that could worsen later.
4. insurance is everything
if you get asked by someone "are you okay?" or "are you hurt?" never say "yes" or "i'm okay," even if you think you are fine; you might not be. respond instead with "i don’t know" or "i think i need to be checked out by a doctor." this will help with insurance and subsequent lawsuits because they can't use a quick statement against you in court or a claim. and when you do finally see a doctor, documentation is key. as soon as you are stable, start a simple log on your phone or in a notebook. note the time of day when pain worsens, any new symptoms (tingling, clicking, stiffness), and how the injury restricts your normal daily activities (like being unable to lift groceries or sit for long periods). i promise this specific detail will help you immensely in the long run if you pursue legal action. also, get the names, phone numbers, and addresses of any witnesses. ask them specifically what they saw, and jot down their exact quote while it's fresh (or better yet, get it recorded). do not rely solely on the police report for this; their focus is often on criminal and traffic violation reporting, not future civil liability.
5. limit communication with the other party
beyond the initial "are you okay?" and exchanging necessary contact and insurance information, do not engage in deep conversation with the other party. call your own insurance company as soon as possible, but be brief and strictly factual. crucially, do not speak to the other driver's insurance company without first consulting your own attorney, especially if you have sustained an injury. they are collecting information to minimize their payout. stick to short answers like "yes," "no," and "i will have my representative contact you."
i always tell this to my patients, and sometimes it’s too late, but i'm telling all of you so you can be a little more prepared. accidents are extremely scary no matter what, so be prepared. i hope this helps!
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