What to Do After a Car Accident – How to Protect Your Case

A serious car crash can flip your life upside down in seconds. You’re left in pain and unsure of your next steps. It’s an overwhelming situation for anyone. However, making the right strategic choices in these chaotic moments can have a major positive impact on a personal injury claim.

If you’ve been severely injured in a crash, knowing what to do after a car accident is critical. Taking the right actions can help your future lawyers acquire valuable evidence that they can use to fight on your behalf.

At Lane Brown, LLC, we’ve helped countless victims across Chicago and the Chicagoland area get justice after devastating car accidents. Here’s what to do after a car accident to ensure you set yourself up for a successful settlement:

• Step 1 – Seek Medical Attention
• Step 2 – Call 911 to Start a Police Report
• Step 3 – Document Evidence, if You Can
• Step 4 – Contact Your Insurance Company, and Don’t Talk to the Other Party’s Insurer
• Step 5 – Reach Out to an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer
• Step 6 – Focus on Your Recovery and Document Every Step

Let’s go through each of these steps so you can protect your health, your rights, and your accident claim. We explain what each step means and why it’s critical for your case.

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• The Proper Steps to Take After a Car Accident
• Step 1 – Seek Medical Attention
• Step 2 – Call 911 to Start a Police Report
• Step 3 – Document Evidence, if You Can
• Step 4 – Contact Your Insurance Company, and Don’t Talk to Theirs
• Step 5 – Reach Out to an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer
• Step 6 – Focus on Your Recovery and Document Every Step
• Have More Questions About What to Do After a Car Accident?
• What to Do After a Car Accident FAQ

The Proper Steps to Take After a Car Accident

Step 1 – Seek Medical Attention

Your health is always top priority. Even if you feel okay, you may have internal injuries, head trauma, or soft tissue damage that won’t show symptoms until later.

Some car accident injuries, such as concussions, internal bleeding, or spinal damage, can become life-threatening if not treated. In some cases, failing to address these injuries immediately can cause lifelong disabilities.

Receiving medical treatment also benefits your future personal injury claim. When you see a doctor, they’ll document all the treatment you receive and will outline any recommended future procedures. Your car accident lawyer will include the cost of any medical care in your settlement.

Refusing medical care can adversely affect your claim. For example, if you choose not to get into an ambulance and later learn that you suffered spinal damage, opposing legal teams can use your refusal as evidence that you weren’t as badly injured as you claim.

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Step 2 – Call 911 to Start a Police Report

Even if the other driver says it’s “just a fender bender,” always call 911. Illinois requires drivers to report any accidents that cause an injury.

In addition to being a legal requirement, calling 911 brings either a Chicago police officer or Cook County sheriff to the scene of the crash. Once the officer arrives, they’ll create a report containing information such as:

• Weather and road conditions
• Damage to vehicles
• Statements from drivers and bystanders
• Any traffic violations or signs of fault

After the officer makes some notes about the crash site, they’ll speak to the involved parties and any witnesses. When they interview you, keep your responses factual and concise. Avoid admitting guilt or speculating.

Later on, have your attorney request a copy of the police report when it’s available. This document is priceless evidence from an unbiased party and can be used to your advantage when your opponent disputes your claims.

Step 3 – Document Evidence, if You Can

Crash scenes are cleaned up quickly. To ensure that you capture the full scale of the accident and the conditions of the surrounding area, try to take some photos. Provided the area is safe, and that you can do so, use your phone’s camera to gather:

• Photos of all vehicles involved
• Visible injuries (bruises, cuts, etc.)
• Street signs, traffic lights, or road hazards
• Weather conditions at the time of the crash
• License plates and insurance details
• Witness contact information

Additionally, while you wait and think about what to do after a car accident, take some time to write down your personal account of the crash. At this point, your memories are fresh and still full of details. Try to recall where you were going, the speed you were traveling, and what you saw just before the impact. All this information can be included in your statement to the police if they haven’t arrived, and it will be invaluable to your car accident lawyer.

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Step 4 – Contact Your Insurance Company, and Don’t Talk to Theirs

After you have left the accident scene and received medical treatment, call your insurer and let them know that you were in an accident. The terms of most auto insurance plans require you to report every accident as soon as you can. While speaking to your insurer, be truthful and provide basic facts. Never exaggerate your situation or guess the extent of the damage.

That said, never speak to the other driver’s insurance company without legal representation. If you make this mistake, it can cost you significantly when it comes time to fight for a settlement.

If you happen to pick up the phone and take a call from the at-fault driver’s insurance, don’t hang up, but don’t answer any statement requests either. Calmly tell them to speak with your attorney. Once you hire Lane Brown, LLC, we’ll handle all insurance communication for you so you don’t have to deal with manipulation, pressure, or stress.

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Step 5 – Reach Out to an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer

Knowing what to do after a car accident is one thing—knowing how to win a settlement is another. Navigating Chicago’s legal system by yourself is virtually impossible, and it’s made all the more difficult when you have to fight against seasoned lawyers working for your opponent’s insurance company. When the odds are stacked against you, hiring a car accident lawyer helps level the playing field.

At Lane Brown, LLC, we’ve spent decades helping seriously injured crash victims throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs get justice. We know how to:

• Prove liability with evidence
• Calculate full damages (including future costs)
• Handle paperwork, deadlines, and court filings
• Push back against lowball settlement offers
• Represent you in court, if necessary

Most importantly, we understand how emotionally and financially draining this process can be. We fight aggressively on your behalf so you can focus on healing, not fighting with insurers.

Step 6 – Focus on Your Recovery and Document Every Step

Once you’ve taken the right legal steps, shift your focus to healing your injuries. This means:

• Keeping all doctor appointments
• Following treatment plans
• Taking prescribed medications
• Attending physical therapy
• Tracking your symptoms and progress

Your medical records tell the story of your injuries. If you skip appointments or stop treatment, your opponent may claim you’re not really hurt or that you made your injuries worse by failing to follow medical advice. These objections can directly affect your car accident settlement.

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If you were seriously injured in a car accident in Chicago or the Chicagoland area, don’t wait to get help. The sooner you hire an attorney who knows what to do after a car accident, the faster you can start pushing for the settlement you deserve.

Call Lane Brown, LLC now at (312) 332-1400 to schedule a free consultation. Let us fight for the settlement you deserve so you can get your life back.

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What to Do After a Car Accident FAQ

What should I do if I’m too injured to collect evidence at the accident scene?

If your injuries are severe and you’re unable to collect evidence at the scene of the crash, your case is likely still winnable. While it’s ideal to gather photos, witness info, and details in the moment, your health comes first. Emergency medical attention should always be your top priority.

At Lane Brown, LLC, we regularly work with clients who were rushed from the scene by ambulance and couldn’t document anything. In these cases, our legal team goes about their normal evidence-gathering process, just without your supporting photos. We can retrieve the official police report, which often includes details about fault, road conditions, and witness statements. If available, we’ll also pull traffic or security camera footage from nearby intersections or businesses. These videos often provide irrefutable evidence of who was at fault.

Your medical records will also serve as a critical form of evidence. They show the full scope of your injuries and create a clear link between the crash and your condition. The sooner you start treatment and document your recovery, the stronger your case becomes.

Remember, missing out on evidence in the moment doesn’t mean you’ve lost your case. It just means you need the right legal team to gather it for you. Lane Brown, LLC has decades of experience doing exactly that for severely injured victims throughout Chicago. If you couldn’t collect evidence due to your injuries, don’t worry; we’ll do it for you.