What to Do Immediately After a Car Accident? The Complete Guide to First Steps

What to Do Immediately After a Car Accident? The Complete Guide to First Steps

A car accident is a traumatic and stressful experience. In just seconds, your life changes - there are injuries, vehicle damage, people shouting, and everything happens so fast. In such a situation, it's easy to lose your bearings and miss critical steps that could affect your ability to receive fair compensation in the future.

Under Israeli law, compensation for bodily injury in an accident is paid by the insurance of the vehicle you were driving or riding in (or that hit you as a pedestrian), not by the insurance of another vehicle involved in the accident, even if they are at fault. The question of fault is relevant only to the property damage to your vehicle.

This guide will focus only on the process for claiming insurance compensation for personal injuries that occurred in the accident.

Step 1: Medical Documentation - Even If You Feel Fine!

This is critical - even if you have no pain immediately!

Why Seek Medical Attention Immediately?

1. Injuries That Aren't Felt Immediately: Many injuries from car accidents aren't felt immediately due to adrenaline and shock:

• Whiplash (neck injury) - Pain sometimes appears only after 24-48 hours
• Internal injuries - Internal bleeding that isn't felt
• Bruises and hematomas - Appear slowly
• Concussion - Symptoms can appear later

2. Medical Documentation is Evidence:

• If you seek medical treatment immediately - it proves the injury is related to the accident
• If you wait a week - the insurance company will claim "maybe you were injured elsewhere"

3. National Insurance Rights: If you want to claim from National Insurance - immediate medical documentation is mandatory!

Where to Go?

If there's pain or injury:

• Emergency room - immediately!
• Don't wait - even if it seems minor

If you feel fine but want to be examined:

• Family doctor - within 24 hours
• Describe the accident and request a thorough examination

What to Tell the Doctor?

• That you were in a car accident (date and time)
• What happened (details)
• Where you have pain (even if minor)
• Any symptom - headaches, dizziness, nausea, neck/back/chest pain

Important: Don't minimize symptoms! If you have pain - say so! This isn't "exaggerating," it's documenting.

Keep All Medical Documentation:

• Emergency room summary
• Test results (X-rays, blood tests)
• Prescriptions
• Referrals to specialists
• Sick leave certificates
• Any medical document

Everything can serve as evidence in a claim!

Step 2: Police Report - Make Sure It Was Filed

If police arrived at the scene:

• They will write a report
• You will receive an incident number

You must get a copy of the report!

How to Get a Police Report?

Option 1: On the Police Website

• Go to the Israel Police website
• Enter the incident number
• Download the report (usually available within a few days)

Option 2: At the Police Station

• Go to the station with your ID
• Request a copy of the accident report

Why Is This Important?

• The report includes both sides' versions
• Includes a sketch of the scene
• Includes an initial determination of fault (sometimes)
• It's strong evidence in a claim

Note: If there's an error in the report (for example, wrong address, incorrect description) - demand a correction immediately!

Step 3: Document Vehicle Damage

Before making repairs - document!

Why Is This Important?

Because if there was no other vehicle involved, no police, or no witnesses - the insurance company may claim you weren't injured in an accident at all.

Photograph the Damage in Detail:

Photograph from different angles - front, rear, side, and close-ups of each damage.

Step 4: Avoid Common Mistakes

Mistakes people make - and how to avoid them:

❌ Mistake 1: Admitting Fault

• Don't say "Sorry, it's my fault"
• Don't say "I wasn't looking"
• Share only facts

✅ Instead: "There was an accident. Here are my details."

❌ Mistake 2: Not Documenting the Scene

People assume "The police will do it" or "The insurance company will check."

✅ Instead: Document yourself - 50 photos isn't enough!

❌ Mistake 3: Not Seeking Medical Attention

"I feel fine, I don't need a doctor."

✅ Instead: Always get examined - even if you feel fine!

❌ Mistake 4: Arguing with the Other Driver

This is not the time or place.

✅ Instead: Be polite, get details, document. Arguments only complicate things.

❌ Mistake 5: Forgetting to Get Witness Details

Witnesses leave, and the opportunity is lost.

✅ Instead: Get details immediately - at least name and phone number!

❌ Mistake 6: Not Saving Documentation

Photos get deleted, papers get lost.

✅ Instead: Back everything up - photos to the cloud, videos, documents. Create a folder on your computer: "Car Accident [Date]."

Step 5: Follow-Up and Continued Care

In the days following the accident:

Days 1-3:

• Check if you have new pains - head? neck? back? shoulder?
• If yes - see a doctor immediately!
• Download the police report
• Contact a lawyer who specializes in personal injury claims in car accidents
• Start organizing all documents

Week 1:

• Follow-up examination with a doctor (if there are symptoms)
• An insurance assessor will come to check the vehicle
• Don't repair the vehicle before the assessor sees it!

Weeks 2-4:

• Continue documenting all medical treatment
• Keep receipts for medications, treatments
• If there are sick days - get a certificate from the doctor
• If there's loss of income - document it

Creating an Organized File:

Create a folder (physical and on drive) with:

• 📁 Photos and videos from the scene
• 📁 Medical documents
• 📁 Reports (police, insurance)
• 📁 Receipts and expenses
• 📁 Correspondence (emails, messages)
• 📁 Witness details

Organize everything by date! This will help you (and your lawyer) later.

When to Contact a Lawyer? (For Personal Injury)

For any compensation claim for bodily injury in an accident, it's worthwhile to get help from a lawyer who specializes in this type of claim, but in the following cases - it's highly recommended:

✅ Contact a lawyer if:

• There are injuries (you or passengers)
• The insurance company contacts you and offers low compensation

Tip: Most lawyers in the car accidents field work on a "success percentage" basis (No Win - No Fee). Meaning, they receive payment only if you receive compensation.

Attorney fees for car accidents are regulated by law and range from 8 to 13 percent of compensation plus VAT (the percentages depend on the stage at which compensation is received).

This means there's no risk in hiring a lawyer's services - on the contrary: with a skilled lawyer, you'll receive much more than you would by contacting insurance directly, even after deducting the attorney's fee.

Summary - Quick Checklist for an Accident

Print this list and keep it in your car!

Immediately at the Scene (Minutes 1-10):

☑️ Safety:

• Stop in a safe place
• Hazard lights
• Warning triangle
• Check for injured
• Call 101 (MDA) if there are injuries
• Call 100 (Police)

☑️ Documentation:

• Take 30-50 photos (vehicles, damage, scene, signs)
• Take video
• Write down what happened (note/phone)
• Exact time

☑️ Information:

• Other driver's details (ID, license, insurance)
• Photograph documents
• Witness details (name and phone)
• Look for cameras nearby

Within Hours (Day 1):

• Report to insurance company
• Medical examination (even if you feel fine!)
• Save all documents
• Download police report

Within Days (Week 1):

• Continue medical follow-up
• Vehicle assessor
• Organize document file
• Contact a lawyer

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Remember: The first minutes after an accident determine your entire claim. Investing 20-30 minutes in proper documentation can save you months (and thousands of shekels) later.

A car accident is stressful, but if you act correctly - you can receive the full compensation you deserve!

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This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice tailored to your case, contact a lawyer specializing in car accidents.