If you’re able to do so safely, the first hour often determines what can still be proven later.
- Get medical care immediately (even if symptoms seem minor at first). Documenting injuries early helps connect treatment to the crash.
- Call 911 and report the incident right away if you haven’t already. A police report number becomes a key reference point.
- Capture details while they’re fresh:
- exact location (nearest intersection helps)
- approximate time
- direction of travel
- vehicle description (color, make/model if known, damage type)
- anything unusual (license plate fragments, sound, lighting, towing hooks, etc.)
- Identify nearby cameras fast. In Saginaw, footage may be held by businesses, apartment complexes, and traffic-adjacent systems—but retention can be brief.
- Don’t give recorded statements to insurance until you’ve talked with a lawyer. The wrong wording can create confusion later.


