When injuries are catastrophic, the “first days” usually determine what evidence survives and how your injuries are documented.
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Get medical care and follow instructions closely
- Even if you feel you “can wait,” delays can complicate causation arguments later.
- Ask providers to document symptoms, functional limitations, and any suspected long-term impact.
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Preserve incident details before they disappear
- If the crash involved vehicles, save photos of damage, roadway conditions, and any visible hazards.
- Write down what you remember while it’s fresh: timing, speed, signals, lane position, lighting/weather, and any witnesses.
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Be careful with insurance conversations
- Adjusters may want recorded statements quickly.
- In Washington, statements can be used to challenge credibility—especially when injuries are severe and recovery is uncertain.
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Request the basics you’ll need for a claim
- Incident report number and agency, names of responding parties, and any available dashcam or surveillance information.
If you’ve already made mistakes—like giving a statement before you understood the injury—don’t panic. A lawyer can still review what happened and advise how to proceed.


