In the real world, the first day matters more than most people expect—because Franklin Park traffic and roadway patterns mean footage may be overwritten quickly, and witnesses often get pulled away by work and family obligations.
If you’re able, do these steps right away:
- Seek medical care and document symptoms. Follow-up matters. In Illinois, insurance carriers often look closely at timing between the crash and treatment.
- Get the police report information. A report number (and the responding agency details) can be critical later.
- Write down what you remember while it’s fresh. Include the direction of travel, approximate speed, lane position, weather/lighting, and any identifying details (logo, vehicle type, partial plate).
- Locate nearby recording sources. Think about nearby businesses, gas stations, and residential complexes along commonly traveled corridors—then try to identify which cameras face the roadway.
- Collect what you can safely photograph: damage to your vehicle, visible injuries, and scene conditions.
If you’re tempted to “wait and see” whether injuries worsen, don’t. Delays can give adjusters a reason to argue your complaints weren’t caused by the crash.


