After the tow truck leaves, most people are left with pain, phone calls, and no clear idea what order to do things in. This checklist covers the first 48 hours — not everything that will ever matter, but the things that can't be redone later.
1. Get examined, even if you “feel okay”
Adrenaline masks injuries, and some of the most common crash injuries — whiplash, soft-tissue damage, concussions — often surface a day or two later. Seeing a doctor promptly protects your health first, and it also creates a medical record dated near the crash. A gap between the accident and your first visit is something insurance companies routinely use to argue the injury came from somewhere else.
2. Preserve what you can
Photos of the vehicles, the scene, and your visible injuries. The other driver's insurance information. The police report number. Names and numbers of witnesses. None of this takes long, and all of it gets harder to recover with every passing week.
3. Be careful with the recorded statement
The other driver's insurer may call quickly, sounding friendly, asking for a recorded statement. You are generally not required to give one to the other side's insurance company, and what you say casually — “I'm fine,” “I didn't see him” — can follow the claim forever. It is reasonable to decline until you have spoken with counsel.
4. Get your questions answered early
Louisiana's one-year prescriptive period means the timeline is short from day one. An early consultation costs you nothing but a phone call and puts the timing, fault, and insurance questions on the table while the evidence is still fresh. Call 318-222-4444 or 1-855-LAW-TODD, or use the consultation form.