The First 72 Hours After an Accident
Key Takeaways
The steps you take in the first 72 hours after an accident can have a major impact on your physical recovery and your ability to secure fair compensation.
Even if symptoms seem minor, seeking medical treatment protects your health and creates critical records for your claim.
A knowledgeable personal injury attorney can guide you through the process, protect your rights, and help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
In the moments after a car accident, it’s completely normal to feel shaken, overwhelmed, and unsure of what to do next. The decisions you make during the first few hours and days can have a lasting impact on both your recovery and your ability to pursue compensation. Knowing how to respond can help you protect your health and your claim at the same time.
This guide walks through the most important steps to take in the first 72 hours after an accident. If you or your loved one has been involved in an accident caused by someone else’s negligent conduct, reach out to our Honolulu, HI car accident attorney. We can help you navigate the process of filing a personal injury claim and dealing with the insurance companies.
Safety and Medical Care
One of the most important things you can do after an accident is to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Even if you think your injuries are only minor ones, it is still important to get checked out by a medical doctor and thereby document your complaints. This will ensure that any underlying injuries or conditions are identified, treated promptly, and accurately documented.
Call the Police
The police should always be called immediately after any motor vehicle accident, regardless of how minor it may seem at first. A police report will help document all of the involved parties and other necessary details related to the accident, such as traffic laws that were violated or witnesses who saw what happened. Having this accurate information documented in a report will be useful when filing a claim with insurance companies and initiating legal proceedings if necessary.
Documentation
Collecting evidence at the scene of the accident can also be beneficial when dealing with insurance companies or lawyers later on down the line. This includes taking photos or videos of any damage caused by the accident, before vehicles are moved, as well as exchanging contact information with anyone who may have witnessed it.
It is also important to save any receipts from anything related to the treatment of your injuries so you can later submit those expenses when filing a claim with your insurance company or seeking fair compensation from those responsible for causing your injuries.
Notify Insurance
Once you’ve received medical attention and documented everything related to the accident, it’s time to contact your insurance company about what happened as soon as possible—ideally within 24 hours after the incident occurred.
Notifying them sooner rather than later will help ensure that any claims filed won’t be denied due to missed deadlines for reporting an incident (which typically ranges between 30-90 days). If you have been injured, notify your insurance representative and ask them to assign a PIP adjustor (medical personal injury protection) to your claim. You will need their contact information and must provide that to any and all medical providers that you treat with.
Speak With an Attorney
Consulting an experienced auto accident lawyer may also be beneficial after being involved in a collision. Your attorney can provide guidance on how best to proceed with filing claims against those responsible for causing your injury, and they can also advise on potential settlement amounts based on estimated damages incurred due to suffering resulting from said injury (such as pain and suffering).
Oftentimes, having legal representation is necessary if seeking compensation through court action becomes necessary due to denial or lack of response from insurance companies regarding claims filed by individuals who have been injured due to another party’s negligence or misconduct.
Do not wait weeks to do so. There are pitfalls of representing yourself. This is not a DYI home project. Get a free consult ASAP.
Turn to Compassionate Legal Support
In the first 72 hours after an accident, you may be required to file certain documents and/or make certain notifications/phone calls. Top-rated Hawaii personal injury attorney Dan Pagliarini can explain what steps should be taken in the first 72 hours after your accident to protect your rights and improve your chances of a successful recovery.
Contact his firm Daniel T Pagliarini AAL for a free consultation to discuss your situation. From our office in Honolulu, Oahu, we serve clients throughout the Hawaiian Islands, including Molokai, Maui, Kauai, Lanai, and Big Island.
