The MAXOUT Lawyer | May 8, 2026 | Car Accidents
What to Do in the First 24 Hours After a Car Accident in Louisiana
Nobody is ready for a car accident. One moment everything is normal — you’re on your way to work, picking up kids, heading home from the store — and the next moment everything has changed.
The decisions you make in the first 24 hours after that moment matter more than most people realize. Not because we want to stress you out while you’re already shaken. But because evidence disappears fast, insurance companies start working against you immediately, and certain steps — if you miss them — cannot be undone.
Here’s what to do. Step by step. In plain language.
At the Scene
1. Check for injuries — yours and everyone else’s
Before anything else: assess yourself. Adrenaline is powerful and masks pain. You may feel fine and have a serious injury. Check on your passengers and others involved. If anyone is hurt, call 911 immediately.
Do not move someone who may have a spinal injury unless they are in immediate danger — from fire, an oncoming vehicle, etc.
2. Get to safety
If the vehicles are drivable and you are able, move them out of traffic lanes and onto the shoulder. Turn on hazard lights. If the vehicles cannot be moved and you’re on a highway, get yourself and passengers to safety behind a barrier or well off the roadway.
3. Call 911
Always call law enforcement to the scene. Always. Even in minor accidents where no one appears seriously hurt, a police report creates an official record of what happened, who was involved, and
what conditions were like. You will need that report for your insurance claim and, if necessary, your lawsuit.
In Louisiana, you are required to report accidents involving injury, death, or property damage over $500. That threshold is low enough that almost every accident qualifies.
4. Document everything before it changes
While you’re waiting for police:
- Photograph both vehicles from multiple angles — damage, position, license plates
- Photograph the road — skid marks, debris, traffic signs, signals, weather conditions
- Photograph any visible injuries on yourself and your passengers
- Take video if possible — a 60-second walkthrough of the scene tells a story photos can’t
Do this before anything is moved, cleaned up, or changed. The scene will never look the same again.
5. Exchange information — the right way
Get from the other driver:
- Full legal name, address, phone number
- Driver’s license number and state
- Insurance company and policy number
- Vehicle make, model, year, and license plate
Get contact information from any witnesses. Get the responding officers’ names and badge numbers, and ask for the report number.
6. Do not admit fault — about anything
Even a casual ‘I’m sorry’ at the scene can be characterized as an admission of liability. Don’t say it. Don’t speculate about what happened. Don’t offer theories. State facts only to the police officer taking the report. Let the investigation establish fault.
In the Hours After the Crash
7. Get medical attention — the same day
This is the single most important thing you can do for both your health and your case. Go to the emergency room, urgent care, or your doctor. Do not wait until the next morning to see how you feel.
Why it matters legally: every day that passes between the accident and your first medical visit is a gap the insurance company will point to. They will argue your injuries happened elsewhere, or that they weren’t serious enough to require care. A same-day or next-day medical record makes that argument much harder to make.
Soft tissue injuries, concussions, disc injuries, and internal injuries frequently worsen over 24-72 hours. Getting evaluated immediately protects you from discovering something serious too late.
8. Notify your own insurance company
Report the accident to your own insurer promptly. This is a policy requirement in virtually all auto insurance contracts. Delaying can create coverage complications, regardless of who was at fault.
Important distinction: notifying your own insurer is different from giving a statement to the other driver’s insurer. You are obligated to cooperate with your own insurance company. You are not obligated to give a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
9. Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company
Their adjuster may call you within hours of the accident. They’ll be friendly and sympathetic. They’ll say they just want to understand what happened.
Don’t give them a recorded statement before speaking to an attorney. In the hours after an accident, you’re in pain, disoriented, and likely not at your best. Anything you say will be preserved and used to minimize your claim. ‘I didn’t see them coming,’ ‘I might have been a little distracted,’ ‘I thought I was okay at the scene’ — all of these become ammunition against you.
You can acknowledge the accident happened. You can refer them to your insurance company. You don’t have to say anything else until you have legal counsel.
10. Preserve everything
- Keep all damaged clothing and personal property. Don’t wash the clothes you were wearing. They may be evidence.
- Photograph your injuries daily for the first two weeks. Bruising and swelling often peak 48-72 hours after impact.
- Keep a journal. Write down how you feel each day — pain levels, sleep disruption, activities you can’t do, emotional impact. This documents pain and suffering in real time.
- Save all receipts for medical co-pays, prescriptions, transportation to appointments, and any out-of-pocket costs related to the accident.
Louisiana-Specific Steps Worth Knowing
The SR-1P Form
If the responding officer does not file a crash report — which can happen in low-speed, low-damage accidents — you may need to file a Louisiana Driver’s Report of Motor Vehicle Crash (Form SR-1P) with the Louisiana DOTD within 24 hours if there was injury or death. Your attorney can help you determine whether this is required in your situation.
Document Everything About Your Vehicle
Before you authorize repairs, get a complete independent estimate and document all damage with photos. Your vehicle damage tells a story about the force of impact — and that story is relevant to the severity of your injuries. Once the car is repaired, that evidence is gone.
When to Call an Attorney
Ideally: before you talk to the other driver’s insurance company. The consultation is free, it takes 20 minutes, and it will tell you exactly where you stand.
Realistically: within the first few days of the accident. Before recorded statements are made. Before you’ve signed anything.
At minimum: before you accept any settlement offer. Once you sign a release, your case is over — even if your injuries turn out to be worse than they appeared.
Don’t navigate this alone. Call MAXOUT today.
Leesville: (337) 239-6292 | DeRidder: (337) 239-0777 | Toll-free: (888) MAXOUT-1
Free case evaluation. We’ll walk you through exactly where you stand. No fee unless we win your case.