How-ToAEOEmergency

Checklist: What to Do After a Car Accident — Optimized for Voice and AI Assistants

aaccidentattorney

2026-02-06

11 min read

A voice-optimized, step-by-step checklist for what to do after a car accident—preserve evidence, protect health, and contact an attorney fast.

Start here — if you’re injured or shaken after a crash, this checklist gets you safe, preserves evidence, and connects you to a lawyer fast

Being in a car accident is disorienting. Your top concerns right now are health, medical bills, and making sure you don't lose your right to fair compensation. This voice-optimized checklist gives short, actionable steps you can use on your phone or with an assistant (Siri, Google, Alexa) so you can act immediately and confidently. Read the one-line action, then follow the detail beneath it.

Quick voice-friendly checklist — say this to your phone or assistant

Use these short prompts if you need the steps read aloud by a voice assistant. Keep each prompt simple and speak clearly.

“Call 911 and check injuries.”
“Move to safety if I can.”
“Take photos and video of the scene.”
“Exchange and record driver information.”
“Do not admit fault; say only facts.”
“Contact my lawyer — [Firm Name].”
“Preserve phone and car data.”
“Seek medical care now.”

Immediate emergency actions (first 0–15 minutes)

1. Call emergency services — say where you are and your injuries

Action: Dial 911 (or local emergency number). Tell dispatch your location, number of vehicles, and if anyone is hurt. If you're calling via speaker, use a short script: “My name is [Name]. I’m at [cross streets or GPS]. There are [one/two/etc.] vehicles. [Person name] is injured.”

2. Protect life first — move only if it's safer

If the vehicle is in traffic, move to the shoulder, sidewalk, or behind a guardrail. Avoid standing between vehicles. If you suspect a neck or spinal injury, stay still and wait for EMS.

3. Turn on hazard lights and set safety markers

Turn on hazards, set cones/triangles if safe, and keep everyone clear of traffic. This reduces further injury and establishes a safer scene for photos and witness information collection.

Document and preserve evidence (first 15–60 minutes)

Digital evidence is decisive now. Insurers and courts increasingly rely on video, telematics, and phone metadata. Industry trends in late 2025 and early 2026 show insurers using AI to parse photos and telematics within hours — so collect and protect evidence immediately.

4. Take photos and video — wide, mid, and close-up

Driveway-level: wide shots of all vehicles and the full scene (include street signs, intersections).
Mid-range: position and vehicle angles showing damage relative to surroundings.
Close-up: dents, broken glass, deployed airbags, license plates, skid marks, traffic signals, and injuries.
Video walkthrough: a 30–60 second pan describing what happened, timestamped if possible.

Tip: Do not edit or crop photos. Preserve original files and timestamps — these can be crucial evidence.

5. Record witness names and short audio statements

Ask witnesses for their name and phone number. A quick voice note from a witness describing what they saw is powerful. With the caller’s permission, record a one-sentence summary (e.g., “I saw the blue sedan run the red light at 3:12 p.m.”). For organized high-volume capture and testimony, see tools like the Vouch.Live Kit for field-friendly audio and testimonial hardware.

6. Exchange insurance and driver information — read, photograph, confirm

Full name, phone, address, license plate, driver’s license number.
Insurance company and policy number.
Vehicle make, model, year, and VIN (if available).

Take photos of the driver’s license and insurance card. If the other driver refuses, get the plate and witness statements.

7. Call the police and get the report number

Even for minor injuries, request that an officer respond or take a report. Ask for the officer’s name and report number; photograph the accident/incident report card if given. This record supports claims and avoids insurance disputes.

Health, medical, and documentation (first 24–72 hours)

8. Seek medical care immediately — not ‘when you feel worse’

Some injuries don’t hurt immediately. Get checked by EMS at the scene or visit an urgent care or ER. Early diagnosis links your injury to the crash — critical for claims. Keep every medical bill, prescription, imaging report, and referral.

9. Keep a recovery journal and preserve receipts

Record symptoms, pain levels, medical visits, lost work time, and out-of-pocket costs. Scan or photograph receipts for prescriptions, transportation, therapy, and any home modifications. These records add measurable damages to your claim.

Protect digital and vehicle data (urgent — within 48 hours)

Recent legal trends through 2025–2026 show telematics, dashcam footage, and phone sensor data are routinely used to reconstruct crashes. Insurers use AI to analyze this data quickly — so preserve it now.

10. Preserve your smartphone data

Do not delete messages, photos, or call logs related to the crash.
Take screenshots of text threads and save voicemail.
Create a backup (iCloud, Google Drive) but keep original files if possible — and copy raw files off-device where feasible (use cloud or resilient capture tools).
If you used a ride app or GPS (Waze, Google Maps), save route screenshots and export trip data if available.

11. Preserve vehicle data — event data recorders, dashcam, and ADAS logs

Many newer cars have event data recorders (EDR), telematics modules, or ADAS logs that record speed, braking, and steering inputs seconds before a crash. Steps:

Note your VIN and take photos of the dash and any visible cameras.
If you have a dashcam, copy the footage immediately to a cloud drive or external device.
If the other car likely recorded data, tell your attorney — we can send a legal hold letter and preservation demand to prevent deletion.

Note: Courts increasingly treat EDR and telematics as admissible. In 2025–2026, several jurisdictions adopted clearer procedures for preserving and extracting this data.

What to say (and not say) at the scene and to insurers

12. Facts only — no apologies or fault statements

Say: “I’m okay / I’m not sure,” or give objective facts: “My name is X. The light was red/green; I was traveling [direction].” Avoid: “I’m sorry,” “I didn’t see,” or “I was distracted.” Apologies or statements that sound like admissions of fault can be used against you.

13. Insurer calls — slow down, record, and consult your attorney

Insurers may call quickly to get a recorded statement. You can legally decline to give a recorded statement until you speak with your lawyer. Use a short script for calls: “I’m getting medical care and preserving records. I will provide a statement through my attorney.”

Legal protection and fast lawyer contact

14. Send a digital preservation/hold notice

To avoid spoliation (destruction of evidence), ask your attorney to send a short hold letter to the other driver, employer (if commercial vehicle), and insurers preserving phone, dashcam, and telematics data. If you need to act immediately, use this short verbal template with a voice assistant or voice-to-text to send to your attorney:

"Please preserve all vehicle data, dashcam footage, mobile phone records, and surveillance video related to the crash on [date], at [location]."

15. Contact an experienced accident attorney now

Call a lawyer who handles car crashes daily. Key questions to ask when speaking with an attorney:

Do you handle cases like mine and in my state?
Who is my direct contact at the firm?
Do you work on contingency (no fee unless you recover)?
How do you preserve and collect digital evidence?

Voice prompt: “Call our firm now” or “Connect me to an accident attorney” can trigger your phone to place a call to the firm listed on your device or assistants configured to do so.

Special scenarios and tailored actions

Hit-and-run

Note plate details, direction of travel, and vehicle description.
Seek witnesses and nearby surveillance cameras (businesses, traffic cams).
File a police report immediately — a report improves chances of recovery through uninsured motorist coverage.

Commercial vehicle / truck crash

Record company name, DOT number (on truck), trailer number, and driver info.
Commercial vehicles are subject to stricter data retention rules; contact an attorney right away to preserve ELD (electronic logging device) and fleet telematics.

Serious injury or death

Prioritize medical and emergency services first.
Do not sign documents from insurers without legal review.
In wrongful death cases, speak with a lawyer experienced in catastrophic injury claims immediately — timelines for claims and preservation demands are strict.

Timeline and what to expect next

Here’s a typical progression your attorney will walk you through:

Initial intake and evidence preservation (first 48–72 hours).
Medical treatment and document collection (first 2–6 weeks).
Demand package to insurer; negotiation (1–6 months typical for non-catastrophic).
Filing suit if necessary (timeline depends on state statute of limitations — often 1–6 years).

Important: Statutes of limitation vary. Contact an attorney quickly to avoid losing legal rights.

Why this voice-optimized checklist matters in 2026

Trends to know right now:

Insurers use AI and automated image/telematics analysis to assess claims faster — that makes early preservation more important than ever.
Dashcams and phone sensors are routinely admitted as evidence in 2025–2026 court decisions; quick copying prevents loss.
More states refined digital evidence preservation rules in late 2025, so attorneys now routinely send preservation demands within hours of a crash.
Voice assistants and AEO (answer engine optimization) mean people expect short, direct steps — this checklist is formatted for that use.

Because of these trends, acting fast and preserving digital evidence often makes the difference between a fair settlement and a denied or undervalued claim.

Practical templates: Short scripts you can use now

To EMS / 911

“This is [name]. I’m at [exact location]. Two vehicles involved. [Person injured] is [describe]. Please send ambulance and police.”

To other driver

“Are you okay? I need your name, phone number, license plate, insurance company and policy number.”

To insurer (if calling)

“I require my attorney before I give a recorded statement. Please confirm you received this notice and document the claim number.”

To witnesses (voice-record friendly)

“Can I record a quick note for the police that says what you saw? Please state your name and what happened in one sentence.”

One-page printable / screen-friendly summary (voice assistant readout)

Ask your assistant to read this single-line summary if you need a fast refresher:

“Call 911, move to safety, document scene (photos + video), exchange info, call police, seek medical care, preserve phone and vehicle data, contact an attorney.”

Real-world example (experience & outcome)

Our client was rear-ended at a stoplight in 2024. They followed the steps: took wide and close-up photos, recorded a witness statement, and preserved dashcam footage. Because telematics showed the other driver accelerated before impact, the insurer accepted liability and settled medical and wage-loss claims well above their initial offer. This demonstrates the clear value of immediate evidence preservation and legal involvement.

Advanced strategies your attorney will use in 2026

Immediate legal preservation demands to commercial fleets and telematics providers.
Forensic extraction of EDR and ADAS logs using certified vendors.
AI-assisted reconstruction to present a clear visual timeline in negotiations.
Cross-referencing cell-tower or app GPS data with video to strengthen causation evidence.

Final practical takeaways

Act fast: The first 48–72 hours are critical for evidence preservation.
Protect your words: Speak only factual details at the scene and to insurers.
Preserve digital data: Keep photos, video, messages, and telematics untouched — and copy dashcam and phone files off-device immediately.
Call an attorney: A lawyer can preserve data, communicate with insurers, and protect your rights.

Need help now? Call us — we handle this for you

If you’ve just been in a crash, your next steps should feel simple and supported. We offer immediate intake, evidence preservation, and we handle insurer calls so you can focus on healing. Call our 24/7 line or use your voice assistant to connect to our firm now. We work on contingency — no fee unless we recover for you.

Voice prompt you can use now: “Call [Firm Name] for a car accident attorney.” If you prefer, text “ACCIDENT” to our number or click the contact button to begin an intake. We will:

Send a legal hold letter within hours to preserve data
Collect photos, medical records, and witness statements
Handle insurer communications and negotiate compensation

Don’t wait. Evidence fades and insurance timelines move fast — contact us now so we can protect your rights and start the recovery process.

accidentattorney

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