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· Personal injury · 2 minute read
What to do in the first week after a car accident in Ohio
The days after a crash are when the most useful evidence is gathered and the most costly mistakes are made. A short guide to both.
By Miriam Castellan, Founding attorney
Most people have never been in a serious crash before, and nobody is at their sharpest in the hours after one. This is a short list of what matters in the first week, roughly in the order it comes up.
At the scene
Call 911 if anyone may be hurt. Ohio law requires drivers to stop and exchange names, addresses, registration numbers and insurance details. If the police attend, ask the officer for the report number before you leave. You will need it later.
If you are able, take photographs of every vehicle, the road, any skid marks or debris and the other driver's licence plate. Ask anyone who saw the crash for a name and a phone number. Witnesses are easy to find on the day and very hard to find a month later.
See a doctor, even if you feel fine
Some injuries, particularly to the neck, back and head, do not show themselves for a day or two. Being examined promptly is good for your health, and it also creates a record that connects the injury to the crash. A gap of several weeks between the crash and the first appointment is one of the most common reasons insurers give for refusing a claim.
Tell your own insurer, and be careful with the other one
Your policy almost certainly requires you to report a crash promptly, so do. The other driver's insurer is a different matter. You are not required to give them a recorded statement, and it is rarely in your interest to do so before you know the extent of your injuries.
- Give only the basic facts: where, when and which vehicles were involved.
- Do not guess about speed, distance or fault.
- Do not say you are fine. Say you are being seen by a doctor.
- Do not sign a medical release or a settlement release without advice.
Keep a file
Put every bill, receipt, letter and appointment card in one folder. Keep a few lines of notes each day on how you feel and what you could not do. Six months from now, those notes will be a more reliable record than memory.
Know the deadline
Ohio generally allows two years from the date of a crash to file a lawsuit for injuries. That sounds like a long time, but claims take months to prepare, and some claims have shorter limits. If you are unsure which deadline applies to you, ask a lawyer sooner rather than later.
This article is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change and facts differ. Speak with a lawyer licensed in your state about your own situation.