# What should I do in the first days after an accident? Canonical: https://californiapersonalinjurylaws.com/guides/first-days-after-accident/ Reviewed by Andrew (Andy) R. Gillin; publisher reported approval on 2026-11-04. Original review date was not supplied. ## Short answer Get to safety and seek medical care as needed. Then save facts about the event. Check which reports and claims have time limits. ## Hypothetical example After getting care, a person saves crash photos. They also tell their own insurer what happened. ## How the rule works The early goal is to protect your health and keep facts from being lost. Memories fade, video gets erased, and repairs change a scene. Taking simple notes can help keep a clear record. ## A simple way to organize the next steps 1. **Care and safety**: Get help for health or immediate danger. 2. **Keep the records**: Save facts, photos, reports, and bills. 3. **Check policies and dates**: Review coverage, notice, and filing steps early. Immediate safety and medical needs come first. Save proof only when safe. Check urgent legal duties promptly. ## Keep care, reports, and proof in order Put health and immediate safety first. Ask a health professional about symptoms or care. This guide cannot tell you whether you are injured or what treatment you need. When safe, keep photos, witness details, the other driver’s information, and copies of reports. Save original files and make copies for sharing. Do not put yourself at risk to collect evidence. For a practical list of records, use [the evidence checklist](https://californiapersonalinjurylaws.com/guides/save-evidence/). A report is one part of the facts. Read [how a police report fits a claim](https://californiapersonalinjurylaws.com/guides/police-report/). Sources: [California Department of Insurance — Automobile insurance guide](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/01-auto/auto101.cfm); [Cedars-Sinai Medical Center v. Superior Court (1998) 18 Cal.4th 1](https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/4th/18/1.html) ## Check coverage and dates early Find your auto policy and ask about notice duties. Keep a list of claim numbers and who called. Say what you know and avoid guessing about fault or the full effect of an injury. Check the lawsuit and any government-claim dates while records are being gathered. A slow insurance review does not make other deadlines stop. Keep letters in date order so you can see what has been requested. For claim conversations, read [talking with an adjuster](https://californiapersonalinjurylaws.com/guides/talking-to-adjuster/). Before waiting on an offer, check [the different deadline clocks](https://californiapersonalinjurylaws.com/guides/injury-lawsuit-deadline/). Sources: [California Department of Insurance — Automobile insurance guide](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/01-auto/auto101.cfm); [Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 — Injury and death actions](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP§ionNum=335.1.); [Government Code § 911.2 — Presenting a government claim](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV§ionNum=911.2.) ## What can change the answer The right steps depend on what happened. If symptoms are serious or get worse, seek medical help. Do not wait on a web guide. ## A useful next step Keep care records, receipts, and claim details in one place. Write down the names of people who were there. ## What should I know about getting care and saving records? Medical choices belong with your care team. Tell them what happened and describe symptoms honestly. Keep the care records, bills, and dates that may help explain your claim. ## Court decisions behind this answer ### Cedars-Sinai Medical Center v. Superior Court (1998) 18 Cal.4th 1, pp. 8–13. The court discussed evidence rules and case sanctions as responses to lost evidence in the setting before it. Limit: This case supports the evidence-preservation part of this guide. It does not give medical advice or decide when a person should seek care. Source: https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/4th/18/1.html ## Sources - [California Department of Insurance — Automobile insurance guide](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/01-auto/auto101.cfm) - [California Courts — Civil lawsuits](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/civil-lawsuit) - [Cedars-Sinai Medical Center v. Superior Court (1998) 18 Cal.4th 1](https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/4th/18/1.html) - [Civil Code § 3333 — Compensation for harm](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV§ionNum=3333.) - [Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 — Injury and death actions](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP§ionNum=335.1.) - [Government Code § 911.2 — Presenting a government claim](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV§ionNum=911.2.) General information, not legal advice.