What to Do in the First 24 Hours After a Car Accident in Massachusetts
The short version
- See a doctor the same day, even if you feel fine. Adrenaline hides injuries, and a gap in treatment lets an insurer argue the injury came from something else.
- Call the police, photograph the scene, and get the other driver's details and witness names before the scene is cleared.
- Notify your own insurer promptly. Your policy pays early medical bills and part of your lost wages regardless of fault, but there are reporting windows.
- You do not have to give the other driver's insurer a recorded statement. Talk to a lawyer first, and keep every bill and record.
A car accident is disorienting, and the first day matters more than most people realize. What you do in the hours after a crash shapes both your recovery and any claim you may bring later.
1. Get medical care, even if you feel fine
Adrenaline hides injuries. Some of the most serious problems, including concussions and soft-tissue and spine injuries, show up hours or days later. Seeing a doctor protects your health and creates a record that ties your injuries to the crash. If you wait weeks to seek treatment, an insurer will argue the injury came from something else.
2. Report the crash
Call the police to the scene when you can. The police report is an independent account of what happened, and it is useful later when fault is disputed. Then file the crash report the law requires. Under M.G.L. c. 90, § 26, if anyone was injured or killed, or there is more than $1,000 in damage to any one vehicle or other property, the driver must file a Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report with the Registry of Motor Vehicles within five days, and send a copy to the police department of the city or town where the crash happened: the Springfield Police Department for a crash in Springfield. If you retain us, we prepare and file it for you free of charge. If you do not, we will point you in the right direction: the form and instructions are on Mass.gov.
3. Document what you can
If it is safe, photograph the vehicles, the road, the traffic signals, and the overall scene. Get the other driver's license, registration, and insurance information, and the names and phone numbers of any witnesses. Memories fade and scenes get cleared, so the record you make in the first hour is often the best one available.
4. Notify your own insurer promptly
Massachusetts auto policies carry coverage that can pay early medical bills and part of your lost wages, regardless of who caused the crash. To preserve those benefits there are typically reporting windows to meet, so notify your own company promptly even if the other driver was at fault. We can talk through what your policy covers.
5. Be careful what you say
You are not required to give the other driver's insurer a recorded statement. Adjusters may use an early, offhand statement to reduce or deny your claim. It is reasonable, and usually wise, to speak with a lawyer before you talk to the other side's insurance company.
6. Keep your records
Save medical bills, repair estimates, mileage to appointments, and a note of any work you miss. Keep a short journal of how the injury affects your daily life. These records document the full cost of the crash, which is easy to underestimate in the moment.
When to call a lawyer
If anyone was hurt, if fault is disputed, or if an insurer is pressing you to settle quickly, talk to a lawyer before you sign anything. An early conversation costs nothing, and it protects options that are hard to recover once a deadline passes or a statement is on the record. Our car accident lawyer page explains how Massachusetts no-fault coverage, the fault rules, and the filing deadlines apply to a claim like yours.
Frequently asked questions
Should I see a doctor if I feel fine after a crash?
Do I have to report the crash to the Registry of Motor Vehicles?
Will my own insurance pay anything if the other driver caused the crash?
Do I have to give the other driver's insurer a recorded statement?
What records should I keep?
These answers are general information, not legal advice, and do not create an attorney-client relationship.
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