When a severe injury occurs—like a traumatic brain injury, spinal injury, severe burns, or loss of limb—your first decisions can affect your case later.
In the first 24–72 hours, prioritize:
- Medical care and follow-up: follow instructions and keep appointments. Consistent treatment records matter.
- Document the scene (if you can): photos, vehicle or property damage, visible injuries, and road conditions.
- Preserve witness information: neighbors, co-workers, other drivers, or bystanders often move on quickly.
- Keep all paperwork: ER discharge papers, imaging reports, medication lists, mileage to appointments, and any insurance correspondence.
For many Harrisburg residents, the injury impact is immediate and practical—missed work around Sioux Falls-area employers, difficulty traveling to specialists, and sudden changes to daily routines. Those real-life disruptions should be captured early, not after the insurance conversation begins.


