If you’re able, prioritize these actions right away:
- Call 911 (or ensure it’s already called) and get the crash documented. A police report becomes a key anchor later.
- Photograph the scene: vehicle positions, road conditions, lighting, debris, skid marks, and any visible damage.
- Write down details while they’re fresh: direction of travel, approximate speed, vehicle color/make/model clues, and anything unique (panel damage, bumper style, headlight shape).
- Get witness contact info: even if someone seems unsure, their observations may later help confirm vehicle identification.
Avoid recorded statements to insurance before speaking with counsel. In Washington, an insurer may use your wording to argue uncertainty about what happened.


