Right after a crash, your priority is medical care. But what you do in the first day can affect whether your claim is taken seriously.
Do this early:
- Get treated promptly (even if symptoms seem minor). In California, delayed care can give adjusters an opening to argue your injuries weren’t caused by the crash.
- Capture the scene: photos of vehicle damage, traffic control devices, road conditions, and your position in the vehicle.
- Save rideshare proof: trip receipt/confirmation, driver details, timestamps, and any in-app messages.
- Write down what you remember while it’s fresh—where you were sitting, sudden braking, swerving, or impact type.
Avoid these common missteps:
- Don’t rely on a quick “we’ll handle it” call without understanding which policy may apply.
- Don’t post about the accident on social media. Insurers often use those posts in disputed-causation arguments.
- Don’t guess about details you can’t verify. In rideshare claims, timing is everything.


