What to Do After an Accident | James and Bradley Law Firm

What you do in the first minutes and hours after a car accident in Covington can really affect your claim. Small mistakes at the scene or even in the next few days can be used against you by insurance companies, which is frustrating.

A local personal injury lawyer can help guide you through these steps. From taking the right notes to knowing what to say (or not say), having someone experienced on your side makes things a bit easier.

Honestly, it’s one of those situations where a little care early on can save a lot of stress later. So yeah, paying attention and getting the right guidance really matters, even if it feels a bit overwhelming at first.

Step 1: Check for Injuries and Call 911

Before anything else, check yourself and any passengers for injuries. Call 911 immediately, even if the accident appears minor. Getting law enforcement and emergency medical responders on scene creates official documentation of what happened.

Do not refuse a medical evaluation at the scene. Adrenaline and shock are powerful forces immediately after a crash. Injuries that feel minor in the moment can become serious within hours or days.

Step 2: Do Not Admit Fault at the Scene

Fault in a Louisiana car accident is a legal determination, not something decided on the side of the road. Do not say “I’m sorry,” “it was my fault,” or anything that could be interpreted as an admission of liability, even if you believe you played a role in the accident.

Louisiana follows a pure comparative fault rule. Even if you contributed to the accident, you may still be entitled to compensation. Statements made at the scene can reduce that entitlement significantly.

Step 3: Document Everything You Can

While waiting for law enforcement, document the scene if it is safe to do so. Photograph both vehicles from multiple angles, capturing road conditions, skid marks, traffic signals, nearby signage, and any visible injuries on yourself or passengers.

Collect the other driver’s full name, contact information, driver’s license number, insurance company, and policy number. Get contact information from any witnesses at the scene. The documentation you capture in those first minutes cannot be fully recreated later.

Step 4: File a Police Report

Request that a police report be filed. In St. Tammany Parish, law enforcement typically responds to accidents involving injuries. The report creates an official record documenting who was involved and what happened and often assigns initial fault.

If law enforcement does not come to the scene, visit your local police department or sheriff’s office as soon as possible after the accident to file a report. A police report is not legally required to file a personal injury claim in Louisiana, but it significantly strengthens your case when the at-fault driver’s insurer disputes the facts.

Step 5: Seek Medical Attention Immediately

Even if paramedics evaluated you at the scene, follow up with your own physician or an urgent care center within 24 hours. This creates a documented medical record tied directly to the accident date and builds the foundation of your personal injury claim.

Delayed symptoms are common after crashes. Soft tissue injuries, whiplash, and some internal injuries do not fully present until hours or days after impact. Waiting to see a doctor creates a gap that insurance companies use to dispute whether the accident caused your injuries.

Step 6: Do Not Speak to the Other Driver’s Insurance Company

The at-fault driver’s insurance adjuster will likely contact you quickly after the accident. Their goal is to settle your claim for as little as possible before you fully understand what your injuries will cost. You are not required to give a recorded statement before speaking with an attorney.

Common tactics include calling before you know the full extent of your injuries, asking questions designed to establish partial fault, and offering a quick settlement that sounds fair but does not reflect your damages. Do not accept any offer and do not give any statement before calling our team. Reach out through our contact page or call (985) 276-4740 for a free phone consultation.

Step 7: Contact a Personal Injury Attorney

Contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after the accident. Louisiana’s one-year prescriptive period means the clock is already running from the date of the crash. Evidence disappears fast, and insurance companies begin building their defense immediately.

When you call our firm, you get a full team: two founding partners, multiple paralegals, a dedicated investigator who secures evidence before it is gone, and access to of-counsel specialists when your case demands them. There are no upfront fees for personal injury representation. We work on a contingency basis.

What Not to Do After an Accident in Covington, LA

Do not post about the accident on social media. Anything you write or photograph can be used to dispute your injuries or the circumstances of the crash. Do not sign anything from an insurance company without having our team review it first.

Do not miss medical appointments or ignore new symptoms. Gaps in your treatment record give insurers room to dispute your claim. Document everything and report new symptoms to your doctor right away.

How Our Team Protects Your Claim From Day One

When you retain our firm, our investigator begins gathering evidence right away. Surveillance footage has a short retention window, and witnesses are easiest to contact close to the accident date. Physical evidence at the scene degrades or disappears entirely within days.

Our attorneys have practiced across St. Tammany Parish, Tangipahoa Parish, Livingston Parish, Jefferson Parish, and the surrounding areas of Southern Louisiana for decades. We know how these cases move, how local insurers operate, and what it takes to build a claim that holds up.

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