Confused After a Crash? Follow Our Plan: Get Help, Call Us, and We’ll Take It from There.
An accident can leave you dazed, hurt, and unsure of what to do next. In the chaos of the moment, it’s easy to make mistakes that could hurt your health—or your legal case. That’s why having a clear, step-by-step plan matters.
At Christmas Injury Lawyers, we’ve guided thousands of South Carolinians through the aftermath of life-changing crashes. We know what works, what doesn’t, and how to protect your rights from the very first moments. Whether you were injured in a car wreck, truck crash, motorcycle accident, or slip-and-fall, this guide is your roadmap to recovery.
Step 1: Get to Safety and Call 911
Your safety—and the safety of others—comes first. If you’re able, move to a safe location and call emergency services immediately.
Why This First Step Matters
Emergency responders are trained to handle injury situations and will ensure you receive prompt medical care. A police report also provides critical documentation for your case.
Immediate Action Tips (H4)
- Stay calm and remain at the scene: Unless you're in immediate danger, stay put until help arrives.
- Leaving the scene can hurt your credibility and may even violate state law.
- Wait for first responders to assess the situation and assist with injuries.
- Turn on your hazard lights: Make your vehicle visible to avoid further collisions.
- If it’s safe, place warning triangles or flares if you have them.
- Alerting other drivers protects you and others from additional harm.
- Cooperate with law enforcement: Provide clear, honest answers.
- Stick to the facts. Don’t guess or admit fault.
- The police report will play an important role in proving what happened.
Step 2: Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Even if you feel okay, you could be more injured than you think. Some injuries take hours—or even days—to fully show up.
Protect Your Health and Your Case
Seeing a doctor right away helps catch injuries early and creates medical documentation that connects your condition to the accident.
Medical Follow-Up Advice
- Go to the ER or urgent care: Don’t wait to “see how you feel tomorrow.”
- Internal bleeding, concussions, and soft-tissue damage aren’t always obvious at first.
- Prompt treatment can prevent long-term complications.
- Follow your doctor’s orders: Take medications, attend appointments, and complete treatment plans.
- Insurance companies look for gaps in treatment to deny or devalue claims.
- Consistent care shows that your injuries are serious and your recovery is important.
- Keep a journal of symptoms and progress: Track how you feel daily.
- This record can be helpful in explaining pain levels, emotional effects, and how the injury has impacted your life.
- It’s also valuable evidence when pursuing pain and suffering damages.
Step 3: Document Everything at the Scene
If you’re physically able, start gathering evidence while still at the accident site. It could be vital to your case later.
Evidence Now Can Make or Break Your Case Later
What you collect in the moment can fill in gaps that insurance adjusters—or the at-fault party—may try to exploit.
Key Evidence to Gather
- Photographs of the scene: Include vehicle damage, road conditions, and any visible injuries.
- Take wide shots and close-ups from different angles.
- Photos provide an irrefutable record of what things looked like before they change.
- Witness contact information: Get names and phone numbers of anyone who saw the accident.
- Their statements could back up your version of events.
- Independent witnesses carry weight with insurance companies and in court.
- Insurance and driver information: Exchange details with the other party involved.
- Get their name, insurance company, policy number, and license plate.
- Don’t discuss fault—just exchange information and let your lawyer handle the rest.
Step 4: Don’t Talk to the Insurance Company Alone
The insurance adjuster may seem helpful—but they’re trained to protect the company’s bottom line, not your well-being.
One Wrong Word Can Cost You Thousands
Insurance companies know how to use your words against you. Don’t give a recorded statement or accept a settlement without legal guidance.
How Insurers Try to Undervalue Claims
- They ask leading questions: Hoping you’ll admit partial fault.
- Even casual statements like “I’m okay” can be used against you.
- Their goal is to reduce what they owe—not to help you recover.
- They offer fast, low settlements: Before you know the full extent of your injuries.
- Once you accept, you can’t go back—even if new symptoms arise.
- A quick check now may cost you tens of thousands later.
- They delay and deflect: Hoping you’ll give up or make mistakes.
- The longer they stall, the harder your life becomes.
- That’s exactly why having an attorney early matters.
Step 5: Call Christmas Injury Lawyers
This is where things start to get better. Once you call us, we take over the legal stress—so you can focus on healing.
Let Us Do the Heavy Lifting
You didn’t ask to be injured, and you shouldn’t have to fight for justice alone. That’s our job.
What Happens When You Call Us
- Free case review with a compassionate legal team: We listen to your story and give honest answers.
- You won’t get a sales pitch—you’ll get straight talk and a clear plan.
- If we take your case, we’ll explain the next steps in simple, plain language.
- Fast, remote intake process: Get signed up from your phone or laptop.
- No need to come into the office unless you want to.
- We’ll send all paperwork digitally, and we’ll walk you through everything.
- Immediate case-building begins: We start gathering evidence, speaking with witnesses, and protecting your rights.
- We take a litigation-first approach, which means we build strong cases from day one.
- When insurers see our name, they know we’re serious.
FAQs About What to Do After an Accident
What if I didn’t go to the doctor right away?
You should still seek medical attention as soon as possible. Explain the delay to your doctor, and then call us. We can help document your injuries and minimize the impact of the delay on your claim.
Should I give a statement to the other driver’s insurance?
Not without speaking to an attorney first. It’s best to let us handle all communication with insurers to avoid saying anything that could hurt your case.
How much time do I have to file a personal injury claim in South Carolina?
In most cases, you have three years from the date of the accident. However, certain factors can shorten that timeline. Don’t wait—reach out now so we can preserve evidence and protect your rights.
Can I still file a claim if I was partially at fault?
Yes. South Carolina follows a modified comparative negligence rule. If you were less than 51% at fault, you may still be eligible for compensation.
What does it cost to hire your firm?
Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay us unless we recover compensation for you.
One Call Can Change Everything
When you're reeling from a crash, the path forward may feel unclear—but we can help light the way. You don’t have to handle this alone. Let us step in and take the legal burden off your shoulders.
Confused after a crash? Follow our plan: Get help, call us, and we’ll take it from there.
📞 Contact Christmas Injury Lawyers today for your free case review and find out what your next steps should be.
