Documentation is what separates a strong claim from one that stalls at the adjuster's desk. Insurance companies look for gaps to minimize or deny — no medical record, no proof of injury. Here's what actually matters and when to do it.
At the scene
Call 911. Get a police report — it creates an official contemporaneous record of the crash and the parties involved. Photograph all vehicles, their positions relative to the road, any skid marks, traffic signals or signs, and your visible injuries. Get the names and contact information of witnesses before they leave. Don't move your vehicle until the officer authorizes it if anyone was injured.
Medical care — that same day
Get evaluated even if you feel okay. Adrenaline masks symptoms, and soft-tissue injuries, concussions, and spinal injuries frequently don't present until hours or days later. The medical record that ties your injuries to the crash is one of the most important documents in your case. A gap between the crash and your first doctor's visit — even a short one — becomes a weapon for the insurer to argue the crash didn't cause your injuries.
Ongoing documentation
Keep a journal starting the day of the crash. Record your symptoms, how pain affects daily activities, what you can't do, and how you're sleeping. This contemporaneous account is more credible than trying to reconstruct it months later. Keep every medical bill, prescription receipt, and documentation of missed work. If symptoms change or worsen, document that with your provider at each visit — don't just report it and assume it's in the record.
What not to do
Don't give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer before speaking with an attorney. Don't post about the crash, your injuries, or your activities on social media — defense counsel will use it. Don't skip scheduled medical appointments; gaps in treatment are used to argue recovery.
The filing deadline
Arizona gives most personal injury victims two years from the accident date (A.R.S. § 12-542). See our post on the Arizona personal injury statute of limitations for exceptions.
Our car accident attorneys handle claims throughout Phoenix and Scottsdale on a contingency fee basis. No fee unless we win. Call (480) 418-SHER (7437) or reach out online.