The First Minutes After a Crash Matter
A car accident is disorienting. Your adrenaline spikes, your thoughts scatter, and everything feels urgent and confusing at the same time. But what you do in the first minutes, hours, and days after a crash can make or break your ability to recover compensation later.
This guide walks through exactly what to do, in order, if you are involved in a car accident in the Boston area.
Step 1: Check for Injuries and Call 911
Your health comes first. Before thinking about the car, the other driver, or the insurance company, check yourself and your passengers for injuries.
Call 911 even if the accident seems minor. Massachusetts law requires you to report any accident that results in injury or property damage over $1,000. A police report also creates an official record that becomes critical evidence if you file a claim later.
Tell the 911 dispatcher your location, the number of vehicles involved, and whether anyone appears injured. If you are on a highway or busy road like the Mass Pike, Storrow Drive, or Route 93, mention the specific direction and nearest exit so emergency services can reach you quickly.
Step 2: Move to Safety (If Possible)
If your vehicle is drivable and you are not seriously injured, move it to the shoulder or a safe area to avoid blocking traffic and risking a secondary collision. Turn on your hazard lights.
If the car cannot be moved, stay inside with your seatbelt on until help arrives, especially on high-speed roads. Getting out of your vehicle on a highway creates a serious additional danger.
Step 3: Exchange Information
Once everyone is safe, exchange the following information with the other driver:
- Full name and contact information
- Driver’s license number
- Insurance company and policy number
- License plate number
- Vehicle make, model, and color
Be polite but factual. Do not apologize or admit fault, even casually. Saying “I’m sorry” at the scene can be used against you later by an insurance adjuster. Stick to exchanging information and let the investigation determine fault.
Step 4: Document Everything at the Scene
Your phone is your best tool here. Use it to capture:
Photos to take:
- Damage to all vehicles involved (multiple angles)
- The overall accident scene (road conditions, traffic signals, lane markings)
- Any skid marks, debris, or road hazards
- Your injuries (bruises, cuts, swelling)
- The other driver’s license plate and insurance card
- Street signs or landmarks that identify the exact location
Notes to write down:
- Time and date of the accident
- Weather and lighting conditions
- Direction each vehicle was traveling
- Names and contact information for any witnesses
- Badge number of the responding officer
The more you document now, the stronger your position becomes if the other driver’s insurance company tries to dispute what happened.
Step 5: Get Medical Attention (Even If You Feel Fine)
This is the step most people skip, and it costs them. Adrenaline masks pain. Soft tissue injuries, concussions, and internal injuries often do not present symptoms for hours or even days after an accident.
Go to an emergency room, urgent care, or your primary care doctor within 24 hours of the accident. Tell them you were in a car accident and describe everything you are feeling, even minor discomfort.
This creates a medical record that links your injuries to the accident. Without it, the insurance company will argue that your injuries happened some other way or that they are not as serious as you claim.
In Boston, major emergency rooms at Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s, and Beth Israel Deaconess all handle car accident injuries regularly.
Step 6: Report the Accident
Massachusetts requires you to file a crash report with the RMV within 5 days if the accident caused injury, death, or more than $1,000 in property damage. You can file online through the Massachusetts RMV crash report portal.
You should also notify your own insurance company within a reasonable time. When you call, stick to the facts: when, where, and what happened. Do not speculate about fault or give a recorded statement until you have spoken with an attorney.
Step 7: Be Careful with the Insurance Company
The other driver’s insurance company will contact you, sometimes within hours of the accident. They may seem friendly and concerned. Their goal is to minimize what they pay.
Do not:
- Give a recorded statement without legal advice
- Accept a quick settlement offer (early offers are almost always below what your claim is worth)
- Sign any documents or medical releases from the other driver’s insurer
- Post about the accident on social media
Do:
- Keep a file of all medical bills, repair estimates, and correspondence
- Track your lost wages if you miss work due to injuries
- Keep a daily journal of your pain levels, limitations, and how the injury affects your daily life
Insurance adjusters are trained negotiators. They settle thousands of claims per year. You are likely handling your first. That imbalance is exactly why having legal representation matters.
Step 8: Consult a Personal Injury Attorney
Massachusetts gives you three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit (the statute of limitations). But evidence fades, witnesses forget, and insurance companies use delay as a tactic. The sooner you speak with an attorney, the better.
A personal injury attorney can:
- Evaluate whether your case has merit and estimate its value
- Handle all communication with the insurance company
- Gather evidence, request police reports, and obtain medical records
- Negotiate a fair settlement or take the case to trial if needed
Most personal injury attorneys, including our firm, work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing unless they recover money for you.
Common Injuries from Boston Car Accidents
The severity of injuries depends on the type of collision, speed, and whether seatbelts and airbags deployed. Common injuries include:
- Whiplash and neck injuries: The most frequent injury in rear-end collisions. Symptoms often appear 24-72 hours after the crash.
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries: Even a “minor” bump to the head can cause lasting cognitive issues.
- Broken bones: Wrists, arms, ribs, and legs are vulnerable in side-impact and head-on collisions.
- Soft tissue injuries: Sprains, strains, and tears that may not show up on X-rays but cause significant pain and limitation.
- Back and spinal cord injuries: Herniated discs, compression fractures, and in severe cases, partial or full paralysis.
All of these require proper medical documentation to support an injury claim. Do not assume a “minor” injury will heal on its own without being evaluated.
Massachusetts-Specific Rules That Affect Your Claim
Modified comparative negligence: Massachusetts follows a modified comparative negligence rule. You can recover compensation as long as you are not more than 50% at fault for the accident. If you are found 20% at fault, your compensation is reduced by 20%.
No-fault insurance: Massachusetts is a no-fault state, which means your own insurance (Personal Injury Protection, or PIP) covers your initial medical expenses and lost wages up to $8,000, regardless of who caused the accident. Beyond that threshold, you can pursue a claim against the at-fault driver if your medical bills exceed $2,000 or you suffered a serious injury.
Statute of limitations: You have three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Missing this deadline means losing your right to pursue compensation.
Next Steps
If you were recently in a car accident in the Boston area, the most important thing you can do right now is document your injuries and talk to an attorney before accepting any offer from the insurance company.
Our firm offers free consultations for car accident cases. We can review what happened, tell you what your claim may be worth, and explain your options with no obligation. Contact us for a free consultation.