The decisions you make in the first hour after a crash, and in the week after it, affect your claim more than almost anything that happens later. Most of the damage people do to their own cases is unintentional. They say they are fine before they know whether they are, they skip the doctor because the pain seems manageable, or they answer an adjuster’s questions helpfully.
This is what to do instead.
At the Scene
Check for injuries and call 911. Do this before anything else. Our guide to 911 protocol after a car accident covers what to report.
Stop, and stay. Connecticut law is explicit about this. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-224, a driver knowingly involved in an accident causing injury, death, or property damage must at once stop and render such assistance as may be needed, and must provide their name, address, license number, and registration number. If they cannot give that information to the property owner, a witness, or an officer, they must immediately report the accident to police and state the location and circumstances. Leaving the scene is a criminal offense, and it can be a felony where serious injury or death results.
Move out of danger if you can. Secondary collisions are a real risk on Connecticut highways. If vehicles are drivable and it is safe, move them clear of travel lanes.
Do not say you are fine. Adrenaline suppresses pain, and neck, back, and head injuries frequently declare themselves the next morning. Say that you are not sure and will be evaluated.
Do not argue about fault, and do not apologize. Reflexive politeness at a crash scene becomes an admission in a claim file. Give police the facts of what happened.
Photograph everything. Vehicle positions before they are moved, damage to every vehicle, license plates, debris, skid marks, road conditions, signage, traffic controls, sight lines, and your visible injuries. More is better.
Get witness names and phone numbers. Independent witnesses are frequently the most valuable evidence in a disputed case, and they scatter quickly.
Exchange information including insurance details, and note the responding officer’s name and department.
In the First 48 Hours
Get evaluated, even if you feel functional. This matters medically and it matters legally. A delay of even a week becomes the defense’s central argument that something else caused your injuries. Report every symptom, including headaches, memory trouble, and sleep disruption, not only the most painful one.
Watch for delayed symptoms. Neck and back pain, headaches, dizziness, numbness, and cognitive fog often appear a day or two later. Our guides on what happens to your body in a car crash and how long soreness lasts after a car accident explain the pattern.
Notify your own insurer promptly, as your policy requires. That is separate from giving a statement to the other driver’s insurer.
Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer before you understand your injuries. See dealing with insurance companies.
Start a file. Bills, receipts, mileage to appointments, and a dated symptom journal. See our evidence guide.
Stay off social media about the crash, your injuries, and your activities.
Getting the Police Report
Request the official report through the Connecticut State Police Reports and Records unit. A free Accident Information Summary is available online for a limited window after the crash, and full reports are requested separately. If a municipal department responded, request from that department directly.
If no report exists because police did not respond, you still have a claim. See minor accident with no police report.
Situations That Change the Steps
Hit and run. Report to police immediately, look for cameras nearby, and notify your own insurer, since uninsured motorist coverage may apply. See how hit and run cases are investigated.
The other driver has no insurance. Your own policy becomes the source of recovery. See what happens when the at fault driver has no insurance.
A commercial truck was involved. Evidence preservation becomes urgent, since key federal records carry short retention periods. See what to do after a truck accident in Connecticut.
A rideshare vehicle was involved. Coverage depends on the driver’s app status at impact. Screenshot the trip if you were a passenger.
The crash was not your fault. It still requires the same documentation. See what to do after a crash that was not your fault.
What Not to Do
Do not accept a fast settlement offer before you know your medical picture. Do not sign a broad medical authorization letting an insurer pull your entire history. Do not repair or dispose of the vehicle before it is photographed and, in serious cases, inspected for crash data. Do not miss medical appointments without telling your provider why. And do not wait, since Connecticut’s deadlines are shorter than most people assume, as our statute of limitations guide explains.
Talk to Someone Early
Calling a lawyer in the first week does not commit you to a lawsuit. It usually means someone tells you what to preserve while it still exists, and answers whether you need representation at all. See when to hire a personal injury lawyer.
Talk with a Waterbury car accident lawyer, a personal injury lawyer, or a truck accident lawyer. Etemi Law also represents injured people in Hartford, New Haven, and Stamford. Contact us for a free consultation.