A car accident turns your life upside down. One minute you’re driving down Division or merging onto I-90, and the next you’re standing on the shoulder with a racing heart, a damaged car, and no idea what to do first. What happens in the next two days can shape your health, your finances, and any claim you may need to bring later.
Here’s a clear, step-by-step guide to the first 48 hours.
At the Scene
1. Check for injuries and get to safety. Your health comes first. If anyone is hurt, call 911 immediately. If your vehicle is drivable and blocking traffic, move it to the shoulder or a nearby lot. Turn on your hazard lights.
2. Call the police. Ask for an officer to respond, even for what seems like a minor collision. A police report creates an official, neutral record of what happened — and that record is far more persuasive later than two drivers’ conflicting memories. Get the report number before you leave.
3. Document everything. Your phone is your best tool here. Take photos and video of:
- All vehicles and the damage to each
- The overall scene, including skid marks, debris, and road conditions
- Traffic signs, signals, and lane markings
- Visible injuries
- License plates
Spokane weather matters, too. If it was snowing, icy, or raining, capture that — road conditions can be central to who’s at fault.
4. Exchange information — but not opinions. Get the other driver’s name, phone number, address, insurance company, policy number, and license plate. Be polite, but do not apologize or admit fault, even casually. A simple apology at the scene can be twisted into an admission later. Stick to the facts.
5. Find witnesses. If anyone saw the crash, ask for their name and phone number. Independent witnesses can make or break a disputed claim, and they’re nearly impossible to track down after they’ve driven off.
Within the First Few Hours
6. Get medical attention — even if you feel fine. This is the step people most often skip, and it’s the most important one for your health and your claim. Adrenaline masks pain, and serious injuries like concussions, whiplash, and internal damage often don’t show symptoms for hours or days. See a doctor, go to urgent care, or visit the ER the same day if you can. A prompt medical record connects your injuries to the accident; a gap of several days gives an insurer room to argue your injuries came from something else.
7. Keep every record. Start a simple folder — physical or on your phone — for everything related to the crash: the police report number, medical paperwork, photos, receipts, and the names of everyone you spoke with.
Within 48 Hours
8. Report the accident to your own insurer. Most auto policies require you to notify your insurance company promptly after a crash. Report the basic facts, but keep it brief and factual. You are not required to give a recorded statement on the spot, and you should be cautious about doing so — more on that below.
9. Be careful with the other driver’s insurance company. If the at-fault driver’s insurer calls, remember that their job is to pay you as little as possible. You are generally not obligated to give them a recorded statement, and anything you say can be used to reduce or deny your claim. It’s entirely reasonable to decline and say you’ll follow up after you’ve spoken with an attorney.
10. Watch what you say — and post. Avoid discussing the accident on social media. A photo of you smiling at a family dinner can be taken out of context to suggest you aren’t really hurt. Assume anything you post may be seen by an insurer.
11. Write down your own account while it’s fresh. Memories fade fast. Within a day or two, jot down everything you remember: the time, the weather, what each driver did, what was said, and how you felt physically in the hours afterward.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
You may share some fault — and still recover. Even if you think you were partly responsible, Washington law may still allow you to recover compensation, reduced by your share of fault. Don’t assume you have no claim just because the situation wasn’t black and white.
Deadlines apply. Washington sets a legal deadline for filing an injury claim after a car accident, and waiting too long can bar your recovery entirely. Evidence also disappears quickly — vehicles get repaired, witnesses move, and surveillance footage is overwritten. The sooner you act, the stronger your position.
You don’t have to navigate this alone. Insurance companies handle thousands of these claims; most people handle one in a lifetime. If you were injured, or if the other driver’s insurer is pressuring you, it costs nothing to ask a lawyer whether you have a case.
Talk to a Spokane Car Accident Attorney
At O’Driscoll Law, PLLC, we help injured people across Spokane and the Inland Northwest understand their rights and deal with insurance companies so they can focus on recovering. If you’ve been in a car accident, contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll review what happened, answer your questions, and help you decide on your next step.
