The next 30 minutes matter more than you think. The wrong move can cost you your claim. The right moves protect your health, your car, and your money. Here's exactly what to do — in order.
These steps are ranked by importance. The ones at the top can save your life or your legal case. Don't skip ahead.
Before anything else: are you hurt? Check yourself, then your passengers. Do not move anyone with head, neck, or back pain — moving a spinal injury can cause permanent paralysis. If anyone is injured or unconscious, call 911 immediately. Adrenaline is real — you may feel fine and still be seriously hurt. The absence of pain does not mean the absence of injury.
If your car is driveable and it's safe to do so, move it to the shoulder or a parking lot out of traffic. Turn on your hazard lights immediately — studies show this dramatically reduces the chance of a second collision. If your car won't move and you're on a highway, stay in the car with your seatbelt on until help arrives. Do not stand between your car and traffic.
Always call police, even if it seems minor. A police report is an official, unbiased record of the crash. Without it, the other driver can change their story later. In Nevada, you are legally required to report accidents involving injury or property damage. When police arrive: be factual, be brief, do not apologize or speculate about fault. Get the officer's name and badge number. Ask how to get a copy of the report.
Use your phone. Photograph: all vehicle damage from multiple angles · license plates · the road scene · skid marks · traffic signs · weather conditions · any visible injuries. This evidence disappears once cars are moved. Evidence from the scene is your most powerful tool in an insurance dispute. If your phone is broken, write down everything you can remember as soon as possible.
Collect from every driver: full name · phone number · address · driver's license number · license plate · insurance company name · policy number. Take a photo of their insurance card. Also collect contact info from any witnesses — they can be the difference in a disputed claim. Do not discuss fault, apologize, or say "I'm fine." Do not accept cash to settle on the spot.
This is why we exist. One call and we handle everything: emergency transportation if your car won't drive · tow truck coordination · rental car setup · medical appointment within hours · vetted body shop referral · attorney matching if you need one. Our service is completely free. We are compensated by our partner network, never by you. You focus on being okay — we handle the rest.
This is not optional. Whiplash, concussion, and soft-tissue injuries often take 24-72 hours to appear. If you don't seek medical care immediately, insurance companies will argue your injuries weren't caused by the accident. A medical record directly linking your condition to the crash date is one of the most important things you can have. Accident Undone can connect you with a doctor who sees accident patients same-day.
Report the accident to your own insurance company as soon as possible — most policies require notification within 24 hours. Reporting doesn't mean filing a claim. Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company without speaking to someone first. Their adjuster is not on your side — they are trained to find statements that minimize your payout.
Memory fades fast, especially after trauma. Write out: time and exact location · what you were doing · your speed · weather and road conditions · sequence of events · what you saw, heard, and felt · what others said at the scene. Keep a running accident diary — note every symptom, every appointment, every expense. This becomes the evidence that builds your claim.
Insurance companies actively monitor social media after claims. Set all accounts to private immediately. Do not post about the accident. Do not post photos of yourself at events, exercising, or looking healthy — even an innocent dinner photo can be used to dispute an injury claim. Do not delete existing posts — that can be considered destroying evidence. Just go private and stay quiet until everything is resolved.
If you receive any document from the other driver's attorney or insurance company — do not sign it. The first settlement offer is almost always significantly lower than what you're entitled to. Insurance companies know you don't know the full value of your claim and count on you accepting quickly. Studies show accident victims represented by attorneys receive 3.5× more compensation on average. Call us and we'll connect you with the right person.
At the scene, to police, to the other driver — never. Apologies are legally interpreted as admissions of fault and can be used against you even if you weren't responsible.
The other driver offering cash sounds helpful — it isn't. You don't know the full extent of your injuries or damage yet. A cash settlement waives your right to further compensation.
The other driver's insurance adjuster calling you within hours is not a coincidence. They want a recorded statement before you know what you're entitled to. Don't do it.
The other driver asking to "just exchange info and move on quickly" is a red flag. Evidence at the scene — positions, damage, skid marks — vanishes once cars move.
Adrenaline is a powerful painkiller. Whiplash and concussion symptoms can take 3 days to appear. No medical record = no proof of injury = no compensation.
Insurance investigators look up claimants' social media immediately. A photo of you smiling at a birthday party two weeks after claiming neck injury can destroy your case.
These are based on real accounts from accident survivors — the mistakes they made, what they wish they'd done differently, and what made the difference in their recovery.
I said 'I'm sorry' at the scene because I felt bad. My attorney told me later that statement was almost used to deny my entire claim. I didn't even cause the accident.
I felt completely fine after the crash. Didn't go to the doctor for a week. By then my neck was in agony but the insurance company said I couldn't prove it was from the accident because I waited so long.
The other driver's insurance called me two hours after the accident. I gave them a full recorded statement because I thought I was supposed to cooperate. They used it against me for months.
I accepted the first settlement because I needed the money and didn't know any better. Found out later I was entitled to nearly four times what I got. That money would have covered my medical bills for a year.
My car was stranded and I had no idea who to call or what to do. I sat there for two hours just panicking. I didn't know there were services that handle all of this for free.
I didn't take photos before the cars were moved. The other driver later claimed the damage was pre-existing. I had no way to prove otherwise. I lost thousands because of that one mistake.
Yes, always. Even for minor accidents. A police report is an official, unbiased record that protects you if the other driver changes their story or files an inflated claim later. In Nevada, you are legally required to report accidents involving injury or property damage. The few minutes it takes to file a report can save you months of fighting an insurance dispute.
Almost never. You don't know the full extent of your injuries or vehicle damage yet. What looks like a minor dent can be thousands of dollars in structural damage. And symptoms like whiplash can appear days later. Once you accept a private cash settlement, you typically forfeit your right to any further compensation. Document everything, call police, and contact us before agreeing to anything.
Nevada requires all drivers to carry insurance but many don't. If you're hit by an uninsured driver, your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage may apply — this is why having UM coverage on your own policy is so important. Document everything at the scene regardless. Get the driver's information, photograph the scene, and call police. Then call us — we'll connect you with an attorney who handles exactly this situation and knows how to maximize recovery in uninsured driver cases.
If it's the other driver's insurance company: tell them you'll call back after speaking with someone, and hang up. You do not have to give a recorded statement, and anything you say can be used to minimize your payout. If it's your own insurance company: you do need to notify them, but you can keep it brief — confirm the accident occurred and say you'll provide full details shortly. Do not describe the accident in detail or estimate fault before speaking to someone who can advise you.
Not always — but you should at least speak to one. Most accident attorneys offer free consultations. Studies consistently show that accident victims represented by attorneys receive 3.5 times more compensation on average than those who handle claims themselves. For accidents with any injury, it almost always makes financial sense. We don't push you toward an attorney — we help you understand your options and match you with the right one for your specific situation if you choose to go that route.
Yes, significantly. Rideshare accidents involve multiple layers of insurance: the driver's personal policy, Uber or Lyft's commercial policy (which only applies under certain conditions), and potentially your own coverage. The platform's insurance only fully applies when the driver had a passenger — different rules apply if they were waiting for a request. These cases are more complex and Uber/Lyft have experienced legal teams. Call us immediately — we specialize in rideshare accident coordination.
Nevada's statute of limitations for personal injury claims is generally 2 years from the date of the accident. For property damage, it's 3 years. However, these deadlines can be shortened significantly in certain circumstances — especially if a government entity is involved. Your insurance company also has its own notification requirements, often 24-72 hours. Do not wait on any of these. Report to your insurer immediately and speak to an attorney if you have injuries.
Nevada follows a modified comparative negligence rule. This means you can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault — as long as you were less than 51% responsible. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were 20% at fault and your damages are $100,000, you can still recover $80,000. This is exactly why you should never admit fault at the scene — the actual determination is made after a full investigation.
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