Accidents and injuries
Injured in an accident? Start here.
Free tools to help you get treatment recorded, get hold of the report, keep the right documents, and work out whether legal review is worth considering. Nothing here decides whether you have a claim.
Short answer
The short version
The early decisions that matter most are simple ones: get looked at, get the accident recorded, be careful what you say to insurers before you know the extent of your injuries, and keep everything.
- See a clinician even if you feel alright, and follow the treatment advice you are given
- Get a copy of the police or incident report if one exists
- Photograph vehicles, the scene, and visible injuries while you still can
- Keep bills, receipts, and a record of time off work
- Take your time over recorded statements and any early settlement offer
Deadlines, fault rules, and insurance requirements are set by state law and differ.
The first steps that matter
Get medical attention and keep following it
Some injuries take days to show. Gaps in treatment are also the thing insurers most often point to later.
Make sure the accident is officially recorded
A police or incident report gives a neutral account. If one exists, request a copy for yourself.
Report the accident to your own insurer
Most policies require prompt notice. Stick to the facts you are sure about.
Be careful with the other side's insurer
You are usually not obliged to give a recorded statement to another party's insurer straight away. You can say you will respond once you know more.
Keep a running record
Treatment, expenses, missed work, and how the injury is affecting daily life. It is far harder to reconstruct months later.
Think before accepting an early offer
An offer made before treatment is complete may not reflect what is still to come, and a signed release usually closes the matter.
What's worth keeping
Photos and video
Vehicles, the scene, road conditions, visible injuries.
The accident report
Plus any exchange of details or witness contacts.
Medical records
Visits, diagnoses, referrals, and prescriptions.
Bills and receipts
Treatment, prescriptions, repairs, travel, rental car.
Insurer correspondence
Letters, emails, claim numbers, and what was said.
A dated timeline
Treatment, time off work, and how things have progressed.
Situations these tools cover
- Car, truck, and motorcycle collisions, including rear-end, side-impact, and multi-vehicle crashes.
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents. Responsibility still depends on the evidence and applicable law.
- Slips and falls in shops, restaurants, car parks, or rental properties.
- Injuries at work, which may involve workers' compensation, another party's responsibility, or both.
- Rideshare accidents, where more than one insurance policy may be involved.
What these tools do not do
Free tools
After an accident: what to do
A walk-through of the first steps that matter most — treatment, the report, insurers, and what to keep.
Common mistakes check
Review the things people often do early on that can make a claim harder to deal with later.
Delayed symptoms check
Some symptoms appear days later. This helps you think through what to raise with a clinician.
Police report lookup
Help identifying and requesting the official report. A request needs your contact and accident details.
Claim value assessment
Work through the facts that can affect how an accident claim is handled. No contact details required.
Medical care concerns
If you think treatment after the accident made things worse, this helps you organize what happened.
What people ask next
General information about accidents and injury claims, not legal advice for your situation. See our disclaimer.