The First 72 Hours After a Car Accident

The hours right after a crash are loud and confusing, and the choices you make in the first three days quietly shape everything that follows — your health, your insurance claim, and any case you might have later. This is the calm version of what to do, in order.

At the scene (first hour)

•     Get to safety and check on everyone. If anyone is hurt, call 911 first. In Pennsylvania you are required to stop and exchange information, and you must report a crash that involves injury or a vehicle that can't be driven.

•     Call the police even for a "minor" wreck. A police report creates a neutral record of what happened, which matters a great deal if the other driver later changes their story. Ask the responding officer how to get the report number.

•     Photograph everything before cars are moved, if it's safe: both vehicles, the damage, the position in the road, skid marks, traffic signals, the other plate, and any visible injuries.

•     Exchange names, phone numbers, insurance company and policy numbers, and license plates. You do not need to discuss fault — keep it factual.

•     Get names and numbers of any witnesses. They disappear fast, and they are often the most valuable thing at the scene.

The same day or the next morning

•     See a doctor even if you feel "basically fine." Adrenaline masks injuries, and soft-tissue and head injuries often surface a day or two later. (See our separate page on whether to go to the ER.)

•     Tell the doctor about every symptom, including the small ones. Gaps and omissions in your early medical records are the single most common thing insurers use later to argue you weren't really hurt.

•     Report the crash to your own insurer promptly. In Pennsylvania, your own policy pays your initial medical bills through first-party medical benefits regardless of who caused the crash, so this step protects you, not the other side.

The first few days

•     Start a simple folder. Keep the police report number, photos, medical paperwork, a running note of symptoms and missed work, and the names of everyone you speak with.

•     Be careful with the other driver's insurance company. An adjuster may call within a day or two, friendly and quick, asking for a recorded statement. You are not required to give one, and it is usually wise to wait. (See our page on talking to the adjuster.)

•     Don't post about the crash on social media. A photo of you smiling at a barbecue three days later will be used out of context.

•     Note your tort option. Whether you elected "limited tort" or "full tort" on your auto policy affects what you can recover. If you're not sure which you have, check your declarations page — we explain the difference on its own page.

What's the rush — can't this wait?

Most of it can wait a little. Two things shouldn't: getting medical care, and preserving evidence before it's gone. Pennsylvania generally gives you two years to bring an injury claim, but that deadline is the outer edge, not the target. Memories fade, vehicles get repaired or scrapped, and camera footage from nearby businesses is often overwritten within days or weeks.

Talk it through with someone local. If you have questions about your own situation, the attorneys at Joyce, Carmody & Moran can review what happened and explain your options — no cost for the first conversation, and no obligation. We are based in Pittston and handle injury matters throughout Luzerne County.