# What to do in the first 72 hours after a car accident

> What to do after a car accident, hour by hour: safety, medical care, the police report, insurers, a claim file and your deadline. Plain English.

Canonical page: https://accidentclaimfacts.com/blog/first-72-hours-after-a-car-accident/  
Last reviewed: October 29, 2026 by the Accident Claim Facts editorial team  
General information, not legal advice. Talk to a licensed attorney in your state.

## Quick answer

In the first 72 hours after a car accident, focus on four things: safety and medical care, a police report, a careful record of what happened, and a prompt report to your own insurer. Be slower with the other driver's insurer: you can give basic facts without a recorded statement or a signed medical release. Then check your state's filing deadline, which is 2 years in Texas and as short as 1 year in Tennessee.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Note |
|---|---|---|
| People injured in US crashes | 2,422,195 | NHTSA estimate, 2024 |
| People killed in US crashes | 39,254 | NHTSA, 2024 |
| Time a provider has to answer a records request | 30 days | HIPAA right of access |
| Insurer's time to acknowledge a claim | 15 days | NAIC model rule; states vary |
| Shortest adult injury deadline | 1 year | Tennessee |

## Why the first three days matter

Most of what decides a car accident claim is set in the first few days. Photos show the scene before cars are towed and glass is swept away. Witnesses still remember what they saw, and their phone numbers are easy to get. A doctor's note written the same day ties an injury to the crash in a way a visit two weeks later cannot. And what you say to insurers early on is written down and can follow the claim to the end.

None of this means you need to act like a lawyer. It means taking a few calm steps in the right order. NHTSA estimates that 2,422,195 people were injured in US traffic crashes in 2024, so the process is well worn: police, hospitals and insurers deal with crashes every day. Your job is to protect your health and keep a clear record.

> The scene, the first doctor's note and your first words to an insurer shape a claim more than anything that comes later.

## Hour by hour: the first 72 hours

1. **Hour 0, at the scene:** check for injuries, call 911, move to safety, exchange information and take photos.
2. **Hours 0 to 6, medical care:** get checked the same day, at an emergency room, urgent care or your own doctor, even if you feel fine.
3. **Hours 6 to 24, report and record:** get the police report number, write down what you remember, and report the crash to your own insurer.
4. **Hours 24 to 48, a claim file:** gather bills, receipts, pay information and your notes in one folder, and back up your photos.
5. **Hours 48 to 72, insurers and deadlines:** be careful with the other driver's insurer, check your state's deadline, and decide whether to talk to a lawyer.

## At the scene

Start with safety. If anyone is hurt, call 911. If the cars can be moved and no one is hurt, move them out of traffic and turn on your hazard lights. Stay at the scene: leaving a crash that hurt someone is a crime in every state, and state laws spell out what drivers must do. In Texas, for example, drivers must stop, check whether anyone needs help, give reasonable assistance, and exchange their name, address, vehicle registration and insurer.

Then, if you can do it safely, gather the basics:

| What to collect | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| The other driver's name, phone, license and plate numbers | Identifies who was driving and which car was involved |
| Their insurance company and policy number | Lets you open a claim with the right insurer |
| Photos of all vehicles, from several angles | Shows where and how hard the cars were hit |
| Photos of the road, signs, signals and skid marks | Helps show how the crash happened |
| Names and phone numbers of witnesses | Independent accounts carry weight with insurers |
| The officer's name and the report number | You will need the number for every insurance call |

If the other driver seems impaired, tell the officer. Alcohol-impaired driving accounted for 30% of US traffic deaths in 2023, and a police finding can matter a great deal to a claim.

> **Tip:** Say as little as possible about fault at the scene. "Are you all right?" is kind; "I'm so sorry, I didn't see you" can be quoted back later as an admission. Stick to facts with the officer.

## Get checked by a doctor

Get a medical evaluation the same day, even if you feel fine. Adrenaline can mask pain, and symptoms of some injuries, such as concussions and soft-tissue injuries of the neck and back, can take hours or days to appear. A same-day visit protects your health first. It also creates a record that ties the injury to the crash.

Tell the doctor that you were in a car accident and describe every symptom, even small ones. Follow the treatment plan, keep your follow-up appointments and fill your prescriptions. Gaps in treatment are among the first things an adjuster looks for when deciding how seriously to take a claim.

> **Warning:** If you have a severe headache, confusion, numbness, weakness, trouble breathing or chest pain after a crash, call 911 or go to an emergency room right away.

## Report the crash and start a record

Most states require the police to be called when a crash injures someone or does significant damage. In Texas, drivers must notify the police right away if anyone is hurt or a car cannot be safely driven, and an investigating officer must file a report for a crash with injury, death or at least $1,000 of damage. Ask the officer how and when you can get a copy of the crash report; in Texas the report costs $6 from the state transportation department.

The same day, write down everything you remember while it is fresh: the time, the weather, the road, the direction each car was going, what the other driver said, and how you felt in the hours after. Date the note. Back up your photos to a second place.

Report the crash to your own insurance company too. Your policy almost certainly requires prompt notice, and your own coverage, such as personal injury protection, medical payments or collision coverage, may pay some bills quickly whoever was at fault. Reporting the crash to your insurer is not the same as admitting fault.

## Start a claim file

By the second day, set up one folder, paper or digital, for everything about the crash. Put in it:

- the police report number and, when you get it, the report itself;
- photos, your written account and witness details;
- every medical record, itemized bill and receipt, including prescriptions and travel to appointments;
- proof of lost income, such as pay stubs or a note from your employer about missed days;
- every letter and email from insurers, and a log of every phone call with the date, the name of the person and what was said.

Ask each medical provider for your records in writing. Under the federal privacy rule, a provider must act on your request within 30 days, with one extension allowed if it explains the delay.

Keep a short daily journal of pain, sleep, missed activities and how the injury affects work and family. It feels tedious, but months later it is often the clearest evidence of what the injury actually cost you.

## Before you give a statement

Within a day or two, the other driver's insurer may call. It may sound friendly and helpful, and it may ask for a recorded statement and permission to collect your medical records. Remember that this company's duty is to its own customer.

You can give basic facts: your name, the date and place of the crash and the vehicles involved. You generally do not have to give that insurer a recorded statement or sign a broad medical authorization, and it is reasonable to say you will follow up once you know more about your injuries. Do not accept a quick settlement before you know how badly you are hurt: once you sign a release, the claim is usually over for good.

Insurers do have to respond to claims. Many states follow a model regulation that asks insurers to acknowledge a claim within 15 days and to reply to a claimant's letters within 15 days. Your state's rules may differ.

> **Rule:** Your filing deadline keeps running while you talk to insurers. In most states the statute of limitations for an adult's injury claim is two or three years, but it is 1 year in Tennessee, and a claim against a city or state agency may need written notice within months.

## Check your deadline

Every state sets its own deadline for car-accident lawsuits. For an adult's injury claim it is 2 years in Texas, 2 years in California, 2 years in Florida, 3 years in New York and 6 years in Maine. If a city bus, a police car or another government vehicle was involved, check the notice rules right away: in Texas a written notice is due within 6 months, and a city charter can require less time. Look up your state in our [state-by-state table](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/).

## When to talk to a lawyer

You do not need a lawyer for every crash. Many people settle small property-damage claims on their own. It is worth talking to a licensed attorney in your state if:

- you were injured, especially if you needed more than a single check-up;
- fault is disputed, or the other insurer suggests you were partly to blame;
- a truck, a rideshare car, a company vehicle or a government vehicle was involved;
- someone died or suffered a serious, lasting injury;
- the insurer delays, denies or makes an offer you do not understand.

Most injury lawyers work on a contingency fee, and the professional rules in most states require that fee agreement to be in writing. Before you hire anyone, check their license with your state bar. Our guide to the [claim process](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/claim-process/) explains what happens next, and the [fault-rule explainer](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/tools/fault-rule-explainer/) shows how shared blame works in your state.

## FAQ

### What should I do immediately after a car accident?

Check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt. Move to safety if you can, stay at the scene, exchange information with the other driver, take photos and get the officer's name and report number. Then get checked by a doctor the same day.

### Should I go to the doctor if I feel fine after a car accident?

Yes. Some injuries do not cause symptoms right away, and a same-day medical record helps show that an injury came from the crash. Tell the doctor you were in an accident and mention every symptom.

### How soon do I have to report a car accident to my insurance company?

As soon as you reasonably can. Most policies require prompt notice and your cooperation, and late notice can complicate your own coverage. Reporting the crash is not an admission of fault.

### Do I have to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company?

Generally, no. You can give basic facts and say you will follow up later. Many people wait until they understand their injuries, or talk to a lawyer, before giving any detailed statement to the other driver's insurer.

### How long do I have to file a claim after a car accident?

It depends on your state. For an adult's injury lawsuit it is 2 years in Texas and 1 year in Tennessee, for example. Insurance claims have their own, usually shorter, notice requirements, and claims against government bodies need notice much sooner.

### Should I accept the first settlement offer?

Not before you know the full extent of your injuries and costs. Once you sign a release, you usually cannot claim more for the same crash, even if your injury turns out to be worse than you thought.

## Sources

- [NHTSA, Overview of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes in 2024](https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813791) — injured and killed in US crashes
- [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, HIPAA right of access timing](https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/faq/how-timely-must-a-covered-entity-be/index.html)
- [Texas Legislature, Transportation Code chapter 550](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.550.htm) — duties after a crash
- [Texas Department of Insurance, What to do after a wreck](https://tdi.texas.gov/tips/what-to-do-after-a-wreck.html)
- [Texas Legislature, Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003(a)](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.16.htm), checked October 29, 2026
- [Justia (2025 Tennessee Code), Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104](https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/title-28/chapter-3/part-1/section-28-3-104/), checked October 29, 2026
- [TxDOT, Crash reports and records](https://www.txdot.gov/data-maps/crash-reports-records.html), checked October 29, 2026
- [California Legislature, Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1](https://law.justia.com/codes/california/code-ccp/part-2/title-2/chapter-3/section-335-1), checked October 29, 2026
- [Florida Legislature, Florida Statutes § 95.11(5)(a)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/95.11), checked October 29, 2026
- [New York State Senate, CPLR 214](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CVP/214), checked October 29, 2026
- [Maine Legislature, 14 M.R.S. § 752](https://www.legislature.maine.gov/statutes/14/title14sec752.html), checked October 29, 2026
- [Texas Legislature, Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 101.101(a)](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.101.htm), checked October 29, 2026
- [NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts: Alcohol-Impaired Driving, 2023 Data (DOT HS 813 713)](https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813713), checked May 1, 2025
- [NAIC, Unfair Property/Casualty Claims Settlement Practices Model Regulation (Model 902), Sec. 6A](https://content.naic.org:443/sites/default/files/model-law-902.pdf), checked July 1, 1997