Most drivers have thought about what they would do in a crash, yet very few remember any of it once the moment arrives. Adrenaline takes over, the other driver may be upset, and traffic keeps moving around the scene. Having a short sequence in mind beforehand makes it far easier to protect your health, your claim and your ability to explain what happened weeks later.
The steps below apply broadly anywhere in the United States, but a few of them carry extra weight in Michigan because of the way the state handles auto insurance.
Why the first days matter in Michigan
Michigan uses a no-fault insurance system. In general terms, your own auto insurer pays certain benefits, such as medical expenses and a portion of lost wages, regardless of who caused the crash. These are known as personal injury protection, or PIP, benefits. The level of medical coverage depends on the option chosen on the policy, so two people hurt in nearly identical crashes can end up with very different coverage.
Stepping outside the no-fault system to bring a claim against the at-fault driver is possible, but only in limited situations, for example when an injury causes a serious impairment of body function or permanent serious disfigurement, or when losses exceed what no-fault benefits pay. Michigan also allows a smaller “mini-tort” claim against an at-fault driver for vehicle damage that your own policy does not cover. Each of these routes comes with its own paperwork and time limits, and some of those limits are shorter than people expect. That is one reason drivers hurt on I-75 or along Big Beaver Road often speak with a car accident attorney in Troy early on, before the insurance process has gone too far to correct mistakes.
The seven steps
- Get to safety and call for help. If the vehicles can be moved and no one is hurt, pull out of traffic and turn on hazard lights. Call 911 if anyone is injured, if a vehicle is disabled in a travel lane or if the other driver seems impaired. A police report becomes one of the most useful documents in any later claim, so ask the responding officer how to obtain a copy.
- Check on everyone involved. Ask passengers and the other driver whether they are hurt, but avoid moving anyone with neck or back pain unless there is an immediate danger such as fire or oncoming traffic.
- Photograph the scene. Capture vehicle positions, damage on all cars, skid marks, traffic signals, weather and road conditions, and any visible injuries. Wide shots that show the intersection or lane layout are as valuable as close-ups of dents.
- Exchange information, not opinions. Collect names, phone numbers, insurance details, plate numbers and vehicle descriptions. Get contact details from witnesses, too, since they may be hard to find later. Apologizing or guessing at what went wrong can be treated as an admission, so stick to facts.
- See a medical provider promptly. Some injuries, including concussions and soft tissue damage, may not cause obvious symptoms for hours or even days. A same-day or next-day exam creates a record that ties the injury to the crash and gives a doctor the chance to catch problems early.
- Notify your insurer and keep copies of everything. Report the crash to your own insurance company as your policy requires. Save repair estimates, medical bills, pharmacy receipts, mileage to appointments and notes about missed work. A simple folder or a dedicated email label works well for this.
- Be careful with recorded statements and quick offers. Adjusters from the other driver’s insurer may call within days. Signing a release or cashing an early check can end the right to pursue further compensation, even if an injury turns out to be worse than it first appeared. Getting legal advice before signing anything is a reasonable precaution.
None of these steps guarantees a particular outcome, and every crash has its own facts. Still, a driver who stayed calm, documented the scene and kept organized records is in a much better position to explain the situation to an insurer, a doctor or a lawyer, whatever direction the case eventually takes.