The first three days after a personal injury accident shape the entire case. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Adrenaline masks injuries. The at-fault driver's insurance company is already building a file — and it is not built to help you.

This guide walks through what to do, what to avoid, and what to say in the first 72 hours, organized by time window. It's written by attorneys who handle these cases every day in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. There is no cost. No email required. You can print this page to PDF at any time.

Step 1 — At the scene (first 30 minutes)

✓Call 911. Even if nobody seems hurt, make a police report. Without one, the insurance company will argue the crash barely happened.
✓Move to safety if you're in traffic, but don't leave the scene.
✓Exchange insurance and contact info with every other driver. Take photos of their license, insurance card, and license plate.
✓Photograph everything: damage to all vehicles, the road, skid marks, weather, traffic signals, your injuries, and the wider scene.
✓Get names and phone numbers of witnesses. Even one independent witness can change the case.
✓Do not admit fault. Do not apologize. "I'm sorry" in a claim file means "I agree it was my fault."
✓Do not post anything on social media. Not even "I'm okay." Defense lawyers read every public post.

Step 2 — The next 24 hours

✓See a doctor. Urgent care is fine. Adrenaline masks injuries for 24 to 72 hours — a same-day medical record is hugely valuable.
✓Write down everything you remember. Speed, direction, time of day, weather, what the other driver said. The notes get stale fast.
✓Keep every medical bill, prescription receipt, and towing invoice in one folder.
✓If the other driver's insurance company calls, be polite but do not give a recorded statement. You are not required to.
✓Save the clothes you were wearing and anything damaged. Don't throw anything away.
✓Tell your own insurance company that a crash happened. A short factual report. No speculation.

The insurance adjuster is not your friend. They are a trained professional whose job is to resolve the claim for as little as possible. Their early offer is almost always a fraction of what the case is worth.

Step 3 — Days 2 and 3

✓Request the police report. In Rhode Island, reports are usually available 5–7 days after the crash through the local police department.
✓If the at-fault driver's insurance asks you to sign a medical authorization, do not sign. They will use broad authorizations to pull records that have nothing to do with your crash.
✓If you are having new or worsening pain, go back to a doctor. Don't tough it out — gaps in treatment are the insurance company's favorite argument for lowballing you.
✓Do not accept a quick settlement check. Once you sign a release, the case is over — even if new injuries surface.
✓Take photos of any visible bruising, swelling, or other injuries every day for the first week. These photos become powerful evidence.
✓Call a lawyer for a free case review before you agree to anything with any insurance company.

Things to avoid in the first 72 hours

✓Giving a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer.
✓Signing broad medical authorizations.
✓Posting about the accident on social media, even "I'm fine."
✓Accepting a quick settlement check.
✓Assuming your own insurance company is on your side — they aren't always.
✓Paying out of pocket for medical care you could document for the claim.
✓Waiting "to see if it gets better." Document now, even if symptoms seem minor.

What a personal injury claim can recover for you

✓Medical bills — past and future
✓Lost wages from time missed at work
✓Diminished future earning capacity
✓Pain and suffering
✓Property damage
✓Emotional distress, where the facts support it

The value depends on three things: injury severity, clarity of fault, and available insurance coverage. An attorney can walk you through the real range for your specific case in a 15-minute free consultation.

Rhode Island — things to know

✓Rhode Island follows pure comparative negligence — you can recover even if you were partly at fault, though your recovery is reduced by your percentage.
✓The statute of limitations for most personal injury cases in RI is three years from the date of the incident [FIRM TO VERIFY specific statute]. Don't wait.
✓State-minimum bodily injury insurance is $25,000 per person. If you have UIM (underinsured motorist) coverage on your own policy, it stacks on top.
✓You are NOT required to give a recorded statement to the at-fault driver's insurance carrier.

Massachusetts — things to know

✓Massachusetts is a no-fault PIP (personal injury protection) state. Your own PIP policy covers initial medical bills regardless of who was at fault.
✓Massachusetts follows modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar — you can still recover if you were not more than 50% at fault.
✓The statute of limitations for most personal injury cases in MA is three years [FIRM TO VERIFY specific statute].
✓Cross-border cases (RI resident injured in MA, MA resident injured in RI) raise extra coverage and jurisdiction questions. Both DiLibero attorneys are admitted in Massachusetts.

When to call a lawyer

✓You were injured and someone else's negligence caused it.
✓The other driver's insurance is calling or asking for a recorded statement.
✓You've been offered a quick settlement and aren't sure if it's fair.
✓You don't yet know the full extent of your injuries.
✓You've been told you don't have a case and want a second opinion.

Still have questions?

Call DiLibero Injury Law. The consultation is free.

Free Call. Free Fight. Free Unless We Win.™

(401) 621-9700

130 Dorrance Street, Providence, RI 02903 · Weeknights until 10 PM

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with DiLibero Injury Law or DiLibero & Associates. Every case turns on its own facts. For a real evaluation, call (401) 621-9700.

The First 72 Hours After a Crash.