The hours after a crash are chaotic, and Google’s top questions prove it:
- “What should I do immediately after a car accident?”
- “Should I see a doctor if I feel okay?”
- “How soon do I call the insurance company—or a lawyer?”
Use this 72-hour car-accident checklist (print-ready) to protect your health, preserve key evidence, and avoid the missteps insurers exploit—especially under Missouri’s pure comparative-fault rules.
Immediate Safety and Medical Priorities at the Scene
- Move to a safe spot if vehicles are drivable; otherwise, turn on hazard lights.
- Call 911 for police and EMS—even for fender-benders (official reports end liability disputes later).
- Check every passenger; adrenaline can mask serious injuries such as concussions or internal bleeding.
- Accept medical transport if recommended—refusing can be spun as “not really injured.”
Tip: Mention every ache or dizziness to EMTs. Minor symptoms logged now support a larger settlement if pain worsens.
Essential Photos, Videos, and Witness Contacts
Grab your phone (or dash-cam card) before tow trucks arrive:
- Vehicle positions & damage—all angles, close-ups of impact points, and debris fields.
- Roadway evidence—skid marks, broken glass, traffic signs, weather conditions.
- In-car shots—steering-wheel air-bag deployment, shattered windows.
- License plates & insurance cards of all vehicles.
- Witness info—names, phone numbers, and quick voice-memo statements while memories are fresh.
Keyword boost: “car-accident photo checklist,” “evidence after a car crash”
Reporting the Crash: Police, DMV, and Insurance
| Entity | Deadline (Missouri) | Why It Matters |
| Police | Immediately via 911 | Required by Mo. Rev. Stat. § 303.040 if injury, death, or >$500 damage |
| Missouri Driver License Bureau (Form 1140) | 30 days if no police report filed | Avoids license suspension |
| Your insurance carrier | 24–48 hours | Policy often demands “prompt notice”; late reports jeopardize coverage |
| At-fault driver’s insurer | ASAP after you gather facts | Early contact starts liability review—but avoid recorded statements |
FAQ hot-search: “Do I have to report a minor accident to insurance?”
In Missouri, failing to report can void coverage and hurt your fault defense.
Documenting Injuries and Treatment Costs Early
- ER / urgent-care visit within 24 hours—proves crash causation.
- Follow-up exam at 48–72 hours—delayed whiplash or concussion often shows up here.
- Start a pain journal: date, body part, pain level, daily-life impacts.
- File receipts for Rx meds, co-pays, mileage to appointments, rental-car fees.
- Notify your employer in writing about missed work to lock in wage-loss proof.
Early, consistent records push the insurance “pain-multiplier” higher and kill the “gap in treatment” defense.
When to Contact a Missouri Car-Accident Lawyer
Call a lawyer in the first 72 hours if:
- Medical bills already top $1,000 or you’ll miss work.
- Fault is disputed or the police report is inaccurate.
- The other driver is uninsured or underinsured.
- You’ve been asked for a recorded statement.
- An adjuster offers fast cash for a release.
Attorneys can issue spoliation letters for dash-cam or black-box data long before it’s deleted and negotiate rental-car coverage many carriers “forget” to mention.
Printable 72-Hour Car-Accident Checklist
- Call 911 and request police + EMS
- Move to safety; turn on hazards
- Photograph vehicles, plates, road, injuries
- Record witness names and phone numbers
- Exchange insurance + contact details
- Accept/seek medical evaluation within 24 hrs
- Notify your insurer (no recorded statement!)
- Complete Missouri Form 1140 if police skip report
- Keep receipts: medical, meds, towing, rental
- Start pain + symptom journal
- Schedule follow-up doctor visit (48–72 hrs)
- Consult a Missouri car-accident lawyer before signing anything
Print, fold, and store this in your glove box with your insurance card.
Download the PDF
Act Fast—UB Law Firm Is One Call Away
The first three days set the course for your entire claim. UB Law Firm’s Missouri car-accident team can:
- Secure traffic-cam and EDR data before it’s overwritten
- Coordinate top-tier medical care on a lien basis
- Handle insurers while you recover, no fee unless we win
Dial 573-657-2050 or request a free consultation online—day or night—so you can focus on healing while we protect your rights and maximize your compensation.
