If you’re able to do so safely, your first steps should be about medical care and documentation, not statements.
- Get checked immediately (urgent care or ER). Delayed treatment can become a major dispute later.
- Report the crash and obtain the incident/report information.
- Document the scene while you can: where you were, direction of travel, visible damage, and anything distinctive about the other vehicle.
- Write down witness details (names, phone numbers, and what they saw).
- Be cautious with recorded statements. Adjusters may ask questions designed to create gaps.
In Illinois, evidence retention can be time-sensitive—surveillance systems, dashcams, and even nearby business footage may be overwritten or deleted without notice. Acting early matters.


