What you do early can shape your medical record and the evidence available later.
- Get medical care right away (even if you think you’re “fine”). Concussions, soft-tissue injuries, and back/neck pain often show up or worsen after the adrenaline wears off.
- Document what you can safely document: where you were crossing, what the light/signage showed, weather/lighting conditions, and whether there were turning lanes or construction detours.
- Identify witnesses quickly. In a suburban setting, people may live nearby or be traveling through for errands—contact info can disappear fast.
- Preserve electronic evidence if it exists (dash cam footage, nearby business video, traffic cameras). The longer you wait, the harder it can be to recover.
- Be careful with statements to insurance. A short comment can get repeated out of context.
If you’re worried about costs or whether you should say anything at all, that’s a practical reason to talk to a lawyer early.


