A settlement value can rise or fall based on what was preserved early—especially when your symptoms evolve or are initially misunderstood.
Within the first 72 hours (if possible), focus on:
- Getting every neurological finding recorded (strength, sensation, reflexes) and asking that functional limitations be documented.
- Requesting copies of your ER visit summary, imaging reports, and discharge instructions.
- Writing down incident details while they’re fresh: time of day, direction of travel, weather/lighting, crosswalks or curb conditions, and who witnessed what.
- Saving anything that supports how the crash happened: photos, dashcam/video if available, and the names of any responding officers or property staff.
Why it matters in New Jersey: delays or missing records can give insurers an opening to argue the injury wasn’t caused by the incident—or that it wasn’t as severe as you claim. Clear documentation makes it harder to dismiss your prognosis.


