The First 48 Hours
Signing up & evidence preservation
Honest Truth
This is the only phase where your lawyer will seem aggressive and highly responsive - enjoy it. The pace slows dramatically after this because the next phase is driven by your medical treatment timeline, not your attorney's calendar.
See what happens in this phase
What Happens
- You meet with an attorney for a free consultation - usually the same day or next day.
- If there is a fit you sign a contingency-fee retainer agreement (typically 33.33% pre-litigation).
- The attorney sends a letter of representation to the at-fault driver's insurance company.
- Your lawyer's office orders the official police report and begins a spoliation letter to preserve dash-cam, surveillance, and black-box data.
- If injuries are visible, the firm may send an investigator or photographer to the scene.
What Your Lawyer Does
- Reviews police report and photographs for initial liability assessment.
- Opens an insurance claim on your behalf and confirms policy limits.
- Sends preservation-of-evidence letters to all relevant parties.
- Coordinates with your health insurance or med-pay coverage to ensure treatment is covered.
- Sets up your case file - intake form, medical-release authorizations, and contact protocol.
What You Should Do
- Seek medical attention immediately, even if you feel fine - adrenaline masks pain.
- Photograph everything: your vehicle damage, the scene, your visible injuries, and the other driver's information.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company.
- Follow up with your primary care doctor or an urgent care within 72 hours.
- Start a simple pain journal - date, pain level (1-10), what you cannot do.