The decisions you make in the first days after a crash have an outsized effect on what you eventually recover. Insurance adjusters count on claimants not knowing this. Here's what matters.
Get medical attention the same day
Don't wait. If you wait a week to see a doctor, the adjuster will argue your injuries weren't serious — or weren't caused by the crash at all. Seeing a physician right away creates a documented link between the collision and your injuries. Don't skip follow-up appointments either. Missing treatment is one of the most effective arguments insurers use to reduce claim value.
Document the scene while you're there
Photograph all vehicles, damage, skid marks, road conditions, and traffic signs. Get contact and insurance information from every driver involved. Get witness names and numbers. Get the police report number (Arizona law requires officers to respond to crashes involving injury — A.R.S. § 28-663). The more contemporaneous evidence you preserve, the harder it is for the other side to dispute what happened.
Don't give a recorded statement
The other driver's insurer will call you quickly. You're not legally required to give them a recorded statement, and doing so without legal guidance is risky. Adjusters are trained to ask questions that minimize or undermine your claim. Decline and talk to an attorney first. The same applies to early settlement releases — sign one and you typically waive all future claims, even if your injuries turn out to be more serious than they initially appeared.
Track every loss
Economic damages — medical bills past and future, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, property damage — need documentation. Non-economic damages — pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life — need a paper trail too. Keep a journal of how your injuries affect your daily life. Save every bill, receipt, and piece of correspondence. See our post on Arizona car accident medical bills: who pays for how interim costs work.
Watch what you post
Insurance defense teams routinely monitor claimants' social media. A single photo suggesting you're more active than your claimed injuries allow can be used against you. During your claim, post nothing about the accident, your activities, or your physical condition.
Don't accept the first offer
Initial offers are almost always low, and they often come before you understand the full extent of your injuries. Herniated discs, TBIs, and soft tissue damage can take days or weeks to fully manifest. Wait until you've reached maximum medical improvement (MMI) before settling. That's the point at which your doctor believes your condition has stabilized — only then can you accurately calculate total damages.
Comparative fault
Arizona's pure comparative fault rule (A.R.S. § 12-2505) means every percentage point of fault assigned to you reduces what you recover. Adjusters inflate your share of blame routinely. Strong evidence and experienced negotiation counter that. See our post on Arizona comparative negligence law for detail.
Our car accident attorneys handle cases across Phoenix and Scottsdale on a contingency fee basis. No fee unless we win. Call (480) 418-SHER (7437) or reach out online.