The moments after a car accident can be confusing and stressful, especially if you are injured or unsure what to do next. Taking the right steps after a collision can help protect your safety, document what happened, and make sure accident-related injuries are evaluated before symptoms become more severe.
Some injuries are obvious immediately after a crash, while others may not cause pain or mobility problems until hours or even days later. Knowing what to do at the accident scene and when to seek medical care can help you avoid overlooking injuries such as whiplash, neck strain, back injuries, soft tissue damage, and other conditions commonly caused by motor vehicle collisions.
Steps to Take After a Car Accident
Check Yourself for Injuries
Check yourself for any obvious injuries and pay attention to how you feel before attempting to move around. Don’t assume you are uninjured simply because you don’t immediately notice pain. Adrenaline following a collision can temporarily mask symptoms, and some accident-related injuries may become noticeable hours or even days later.
Common injuries after a car accident may include:
- Whiplash
- Neck pain and neck injuries
- Back pain and back injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Knee and leg injuries
- Concussions and other head injuries
- Broken bones
Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries are especially likely to cause delayed symptoms such as stiffness, headaches, soreness, reduced range of motion, and increasing pain. Serious symptoms, suspected head injuries, fractures, internal injuries, or other medical emergencies should be evaluated immediately by an appropriate medical provider or emergency department.
Check Your Passengers
Once you’ve established that you can move safely, check on your passengers and determine whether anyone appears to be injured. If someone is seriously injured or experiencing symptoms that may require emergency care, call 911 immediately or ask a bystander to call for you. Avoid moving anyone who appears badly injured unless remaining in place creates an immediate safety risk.
Get to Safety
If you can move safely and your vehicle is creating a hazard, get yourself and your passengers to a safer location away from moving traffic. Depending on the circumstances of the collision, this may mean moving to the side of the road, a nearby sidewalk, or another protected area while you wait for help.
If your vehicle is unsafe to drive or inoperable, don’t attempt to drive it. Focus first on your safety and the safety of your passengers while waiting for law enforcement, emergency personnel, or roadside assistance.
Call 911 and Report the Accident
After a collision involving injuries, significant vehicle damage, or other serious circumstances, contact 911 and follow the instructions provided by the dispatcher. Even when a crash initially appears minor, injuries and vehicle damage may not always be immediately apparent.
Contacting law enforcement may also result in an official Texas crash report documenting important information about the collision. A crash report can provide useful details about the vehicles involved, responding officers, and circumstances surrounding the accident.
Exchange Information and Document the Accident
If you are able to do so safely, exchange information with the other driver or drivers involved in the collision. Having a checklist saved on your phone or kept in your vehicle can make it easier to remember what information to collect during a stressful situation.
Important information may include:
- The location of the accident
- The make, model, and color of the vehicles involved
- The names and contact information of the drivers
- Insurance company and policy information
- Driver’s license and license plate information
In addition to exchanging information, document as much of the accident scene as you safely can. This may include photographs of the vehicles and surrounding area, visible vehicle damage, road conditions, and other relevant details. You may also want to record the names and badge numbers of responding officers and obtain contact information from witnesses.
Get Prompt Medical Care
After immediate safety concerns have been addressed, pay close attention to any pain, stiffness, headaches, soreness, dizziness, or changes in mobility. Some accident-related injuries may not produce noticeable symptoms immediately after a collision.
Serious or potentially life-threatening symptoms should always be evaluated through appropriate emergency or medical care. For musculoskeletal injuries following a collision, an accident-focused provider can evaluate your symptoms, identify mobility limitations, document your condition, and determine whether treatment or additional medical referrals may be appropriate.
Premier Injury Clinics of DFW provides auto injury treatment for patients recovering after car accidents throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Depending on your injuries and condition, treatment may include chiropractic adjustments, rehabilitation therapy, mobility-focused exercises, and other supportive care designed to help reduce pain and restore movement after an accident.
Contact Your Insurance Company
After addressing immediate medical and safety concerns, contact your insurance company to report the accident and begin the claims process. Your insurer can explain the information and documentation needed for your claim and may also provide instructions regarding vehicle repairs, towing, or rental transportation depending on your coverage.
Keep copies of accident reports, photographs, medical records, treatment information, receipts, and other documentation related to the collision. If you receive treatment for accident-related injuries, maintaining accurate records can help document your condition and the care you received following the crash.
Accident Injury Care After a Car Accident
At Premier Injury Clinics of DFW, our accident injury doctors and chiropractors focus on evaluating and treating injuries caused by car accidents and other motor vehicle collisions. We commonly help patients experiencing whiplash, neck pain, back pain, soft tissue injuries, joint pain, stiffness, headaches, and reduced mobility following a collision.
Your first visit includes an evaluation of your injuries and symptoms so our team can develop a treatment plan based on your condition, mobility limitations, and recovery needs. As treatment continues, we monitor your progress and adjust your care based on how your body is responding.
With seven convenient DFW locations, same-day appointments when available, accident-focused chiropractic care, rehabilitation therapy, and free transportation for qualifying patients, Premier Injury Clinics of DFW makes it easier to begin and continue treatment after a car accident.
Car Accident Injury Treatment FAQs
What kind of doctor should I see after a car accident?
The appropriate provider depends on the type and severity of your injuries. Serious or potentially life-threatening injuries require emergency medical care. For accident-related musculoskeletal injuries such as whiplash, neck pain, back pain, stiffness, soft tissue injuries, and reduced mobility, an accident injury chiropractor can evaluate your condition and determine an appropriate treatment plan or whether additional medical care or referrals may be needed.
What are the most common injuries after a car accident?
Common car accident injuries include whiplash, neck and back injuries, soft tissue injuries, shoulder and knee injuries, joint pain, muscle strains, headaches, and reduced range of motion. Some symptoms develop immediately, while others may not become noticeable until hours or days after the collision.
When should I get evaluated after a car accident?
If you experience pain, stiffness, headaches, soreness, reduced mobility, or other symptoms after a collision, getting evaluated promptly can help identify accident-related injuries and determine what type of treatment may be appropriate. Because some injuries have delayed symptoms, continue paying attention to changes in how you feel in the hours and days following the accident.
How can chiropractic care help after a car accident?
Depending on the injury, chiropractic care may be used as part of a recovery plan to address musculoskeletal pain, joint restrictions, stiffness, and reduced mobility following a collision. At Premier Injury Clinics of DFW, chiropractic care may be combined with rehabilitation therapy, mobility-focused exercises, and other supportive treatment based on the patient’s injuries and recovery progress.
Does Premier Injury Clinics of DFW provide transportation after a car accident?
Yes. Premier Injury Clinics of DFW offers free transportation within 15 miles of each clinic for qualifying patients, helping make it easier to attend appointments and continue treatment after an accident.