When an accident happens, your mind might feel fuzzy and your body might shake. But the first few minutes matter a lot. What you do right after an accident can protect your health, save important evidence, and help you get fair compensation later. Whether you were in a car crash, fell off your bike, or slipped and fell, these steps will keep you safe and protect your rights.
Immediate Safety First
Your safety is the number one priority. Before anything else, make sure you and everyone around you stays out of danger.
Stay Calm and Assess the Scene
Take a deep breath. After an accident, your body pumps adrenaline, which can make you feel panicked or confused. This is normal. Give yourself a moment to think clearly before you move. Look around to see if there’s immediate danger—like an oncoming car, broken glass, or spilled fluids.
If you’re still in the roadway or in a dangerous spot, move to safety if you can. If you’re stuck or too hurt to move, stay put and wait for help.
Check for Injuries
Before you worry about anything else, check yourself and anyone near you. Can you move your arms and legs? Do you feel pain anywhere? Is anyone bleeding badly?
Some injuries hide at first because adrenaline masks the pain. Pain you feel right after an accident might actually be a sprain or broken bone, but the surge of adrenaline in your body can cover up the real injury. Even if you feel fine, don’t rush around yet.
If anyone is badly hurt or can’t move, call 911 right away. Don’t move someone with neck or back pain—this could make things worse.
Get Out of Danger (If Safe)
If your car or bike is in traffic and you’re not seriously hurt, move it to the shoulder of the road or a parking area. Turn on hazard lights to warn other drivers. If you have road flares, set them up.
If your vehicle won’t move or it’s not safe to get out, stay inside with your seatbelt on. The emergency team will help you once they arrive.
Call for Help
Call 911 for Serious Accidents
If anyone is hurt, call 911 right now. Tell them where you are and what happened. The faster emergency responders know about you, the faster they can help. This phone call creates an official record that helps your case later.
Even if you think the accident is minor, calling 911 is a good idea. It creates a record, and you might discover injuries later that you don’t feel right now.
Call Police (Required for Most Accidents)
For any accident involving another person or vehicle, call the police to file an official report. In most cases, this is the law. The police will come to the scene, ask what happened, and create a report number. This report is gold for your case—it shows that you reported the accident right away and gives official details about what happened.
If the police can’t come to your location, you can often file a report at your local police station or DMV. Get the report number and save it.
Document Everything
The details you collect right after an accident become evidence. Insurance companies and lawyers use these details to figure out who was at fault and what your case is worth.
Take Photographs and Videos
Use your phone to take pictures of everything:
- All vehicles involved (from different angles)
- The damage to each vehicle
- Your injuries
- The accident location (street signs, traffic lights, road conditions)
- Skid marks or other signs of what happened
- Weather conditions
- Road hazards (potholes, broken glass, wet floors)
Take these photos as soon as it’s safe. Accident scenes change fast—people move vehicles, crews clean up, and details fade. The sooner you document, the better.
Write Down What Happened
While the accident is fresh in your mind, write down everything you remember:
- What time did it happen?
- What were you doing before the accident?
- What do you think caused the accident?
- Were there witnesses?
- What was the weather like?
- How fast were you going?
- What did you feel or hear?
Keep these notes on your phone or in a notebook. Your memory will fade over days and weeks, so write it down now.
Gather Witness Information
If anyone saw the accident, ask for their name, phone number, address, and email. Witnesses are powerful evidence. They saw what happened from the outside, so their story helps prove your case.
Don’t pressure anyone, but be polite and ask if they’d be willing to speak to your attorney later.
Exchange Information (For Accidents Involving Others)
If another person or driver was involved, get their details. This information is needed for police reports and insurance claims.
What to Get from the Other Driver or Person
- Full name and phone number
- Home address and email
- Driver’s license number (for car/bike accidents)
- License plate number
- Vehicle make, model, and year
- Insurance company name and policy number
- Employer name and address (if relevant)
Be polite and calm when asking for this. Don’t argue or blame anyone. If the other person won’t give you information, write down as much as you can see—like their license plate—and tell the police.
What NOT to Say
Don’t say “I’m sorry” or “This is my fault.” Insurance companies use these words against you. Don’t apologize for the other person’s actions either. Stick to the facts. Let the police and insurance companies figure out who was at fault.
Report to Police and Insurance
Work With Police
When police arrive, tell them what happened. Stick to the facts—who, what, when, where. If you’re hurt or confused, it’s okay to say so. Police understand accidents are stressful.
Get the officer’s name and badge number. Ask how long it will take to file the report and how to get a copy. Some places let you get it online, while others mail it to you. Save the report number.
Notify Your Insurance Company
Call your insurance company within 24 hours. Most policies require you to report accidents quickly. Have your policy number and the details of the accident ready:
- Date and time
- Location
- Other people involved
- Police report number
- Photos and witness information
Tell them what happened, but don’t go into detail about whose fault it was. Just state the facts.
Don’t Talk to the Other Person’s Insurance Yet
Insurance adjusters for the other person might call you. Be polite, but don’t give a detailed statement. You don’t have to. If they ask, say, “I’ll have my attorney contact you.” They may try to get you to say something that hurts your case. Let a lawyer handle these conversations.
Seek Medical Care
Get Checked Out Fast
You should see a doctor within 24 hours if you haven’t already been taken to the hospital by ambulance, because it’s impossible to know the full extent of your injuries until you’re evaluated by a medical professional. Some injuries don’t show up right away.
Common accident injuries include:
- Cuts and scrapes
- Bruises and swelling
- Broken bones
- Sprains and strains
- Whiplash
- Concussions and head injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Emotional trauma
Even small injuries need attention. Tell the doctor every pain you feel, no matter how minor it seems.
Keep Medical Records Safe
Save every receipt, bill, report, and note from your doctors. These documents prove your injuries and become part of your case. They also show how serious your injuries are and how much recovery costs.
Your medical records are some of the strongest evidence in your case. Insurance companies look at these records to decide how much money you deserve.
Follow Your Doctor’s Orders
Stick to your treatment plan. Go to all appointments. Take medicines as prescribed. Do physical therapy if recommended. If you skip appointments or ignore your doctor’s advice, insurance companies will say your injuries weren’t that bad.
This also matters for your health. Following medical advice helps you heal faster.
Special Steps for Different Accidents
Car Accidents
For car crashes, all the steps above apply. But also:
- Move the car out of traffic (if safe and possible)
- Turn on hazard lights
- Set up flares or reflective triangles if you have them
- Get the other driver’s insurance information
- Take photos of road signs, traffic lights, and road conditions
- Ask about the other vehicle’s maintenance history or any mechanical problems
Motorcycle and Bike Accidents
For bike and motorcycle crashes, pay special attention to head injuries.
- Check your helmet for cracks or damage. If your helmet is cracked or dented, it could be a sign that you have a concussion and should stay put
- Watch for signs of a concussion: dizziness, confusion, blurry vision, headaches, memory problems, or nausea
- If you fell off your bike, don’t try to ride it again right away. Take a few deep breaths and do a body scan—does anything feel unusual? Try to wiggle your hands, feet, arms, and legs to make sure everything works
- Even with a helmet, head injuries are serious. Get medical help fast
- Check your bike for damage before trying to ride home
- If your bike is badly damaged, call someone for a ride instead
Slip and Fall Accidents
For slips and falls on someone else’s property, special rules apply.
- Report the fall to the owner or manager right away
- Ask them to put the accident in writing on an official report form
- Take photos of the hazard that made you fall (wet floor, broken step, loose carpet)
- Take photos of your injuries
- Get the names of anyone who saw you fall
- Write down what caused the fall—was the floor wet? Was there ice? Was there a hole?
- Note the date, time, and location
- Ask the property owner about security cameras that might have recorded your fall
Don’t accept blame or apologize. The property owner might have been careless or failed to fix a known problem.
After You Get Home
Create a Timeline and Journal
Write down everything that happened, from the moment before the accident through your doctor visits. Include:
- How you felt after the accident
- Your pain levels (rate from 1-10)
- Activities you couldn’t do because of your injuries
- How the accident affected your work or family
- Conversations with police, insurance, or doctors
This journal becomes evidence of how much the accident harmed you.
Gather All Documents
Collect and organize:
- Police report
- Medical records and bills
- Photos from the accident scene
- Insurance paperwork
- Witness statements
- Receipts for any expenses (medical travel, medications, repairs)
- Email or text exchanges about the accident
Avoid Social Media
Don’t post about the accident on Facebook, Instagram, or other social media. Insurance companies watch social media. A photo of you smiling at a friend’s party could hurt your case, even if you still have pain when you’re home alone.
When to Call a Lawyer
You don’t have to hire a lawyer immediately after an accident, but it’s smart to talk to one soon. A lawyer can:
- Explain your rights and options
- Protect you from insurance company tricks
- Investigate what happened and gather evidence
- Calculate what your case is worth
- Negotiate with insurance companies
- Take your case to trial if needed
- Make sure you get fair compensation
Most personal injury lawyers, like those at CO Trial Lawyers, offer free consultations. You can talk to a lawyer for free before deciding whether to hire one. This costs you nothing and gives you expert advice about your situation.
It’s especially important to call a lawyer if:
- Anyone was seriously hurt
- There’s a dispute about who caused the accident
- The other driver was uninsured or underinsured
- You’re having ongoing pain or injuries
- Insurance refuses to pay or offers too little
- The accident happened on government property (different rules apply)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don’t leave the accident scene before police arrive or give you permission to leave. This can be a crime.
Don’t sign anything an insurance company puts in front of you without reading it carefully. Don’t sign medical release forms—let your lawyer handle that.
Don’t delay getting medical care. Waiting weeks to see a doctor hurts your case. Insurance companies say the accident didn’t cause your injuries if you waited too long.
Don’t post about your accident on social media, send emails, or text anyone about fault or blame. These messages can be used against you.
Don’t give a recorded statement to anyone without your lawyer’s permission. Even one wrong word can hurt your case.
Don’t settle quickly. Take time to understand your injuries and costs. Many injuries get worse over time. A quick settlement might not cover everything.
Don’t handle this alone if the accident is serious. Insurance companies have teams of people working against you. You deserve a lawyer on your team.
Key Takeaways
In the minutes and hours after an accident, your priorities are safety, calling for help, and documenting what happened. Check for injuries and call 911 if needed. Call police to file an official report. Take photos and videos. Write down what you remember. Exchange information with others involved. Get medical care fast. Report to your insurance company. And contact a personal injury lawyer to protect your rights.
The steps you take right after an accident matter. They protect your health, preserve evidence, and set up your case for success.
Final Thoughts
Accidents are scary and stressful. You might feel confused or hurt, and that’s okay. The important thing is to take action right away. Check that everyone is safe. Call for help. Document what happened. Seek medical care. And talk to a lawyer who understands accident cases.
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Colorado, contact CO Trial Lawyers for a free consultation. Our experienced team is ready to fight for the compensation you deserve and help you focus on healing. You don’t pay any fees unless we win your case. Call us today at 303-390-0799 or fill out our contact form to get started.