What to Do After

At the Scene: Police, Photos, and Witness Details

Call 911 and request police response. Do not agree to handle the matter privately or accept the other driver's suggestion that "we don't need to get the police involved." The police report is the single most important document in a traffic-accident claim — it records vehicle positions, road conditions, signal status, witness statements, and citations. Without it, you are building a case on memory alone.

While waiting for officers, photograph everything: the traffic signal from your direction, lane markings, both vehicles' damage, debris on the road, skid marks, and the surrounding intersection. Take photos from multiple distances — wide shots that show the full scene and close-ups of damage patterns. If other drivers or pedestrians witnessed the collision, collect their names and phone numbers before they leave.

Within 24 Hours: Medical Evaluation

Visit a hospital or urgent-care facility the same day. Traffic-accident injuries — whiplash, concussion, rib contusions, knee-ligament strains — often feel minor in the adrenaline-fueled aftermath but worsen within hours. A same-day medical record establishes a direct connection between the collision and your symptoms that the insurer cannot easily dispute.

Report every symptom to the treating physician: headache, neck stiffness, back pain, dizziness, blurred vision, numbness in your hands or feet. Underreporting symptoms at the first visit creates a gap the insurer will exploit later by arguing that those complaints are unrelated to the accident. Ask for copies of all imaging results, lab work, and discharge instructions before you leave the facility.

Within 48 Hours: Preserve Camera Footage and Signal Data

Contact the local traffic-management department and request footage from any municipal cameras at the intersection. File a formal public-records request if required. Many cities retain traffic-camera footage for only a limited period, and the clock started at the moment of your accident.

Survey the area for private surveillance. Gas stations, convenience stores, banks, and office buildings near the intersection may have exterior cameras that captured the collision. Send each business a written preservation request explaining the date, time, and location. That letter creates an obligation to hold the footage. If you are working with an attorney, they can issue a more formal litigation-hold notice that carries legal consequences for non-compliance. Signal-timing records from the traffic-engineering department are a separate request — file that as well, because the data can confirm light status at the moment of impact.

Within 72 Hours: Insurance Notification and Legal Consultation

Notify your own auto insurer of the accident with the basic facts: date, time, location, and the other driver's insurance information. Keep the conversation factual and do not speculate about fault or describe your injuries as "minor." If the at-fault driver's insurer contacts you, decline to give a recorded statement without first consulting an attorney.

Schedule a legal consultation within the first few days. An attorney evaluates the strength of your evidence, identifies any filing deadlines — especially shortened notice requirements if a government vehicle or road-maintenance issue contributed to the accident — and begins managing insurer communications. Most personal-injury attorneys offer free initial evaluations and work on a contingency-fee basis, making the consultation cost-free.

This is general information, not legal advice — consult a licensed attorney in your state. trafficaccidentlawyer.us is an independent information site, not a law firm.