What should I do at the scene of a car crash?

Most people expect a lawyer to give them a long checklist here. But the truth is simple: I don’t need you to be perfect at the scene of a crash. Real people react in real ways. Some take photos. Some forget. Some shake. Some sit on the curb and cry. All of those responses are human. All of them are okay.

I’m a trial lawyer; I tell your story to the jury. I don’t need you to perform at the scene — I just need you to be honest about what happened. If you tell me the truth, I can make sure it lands where it matters: on the hearts of the twelve people in the box.

There’s really only one useful tip I can give you for the moment itself:
If the police don’t come, get the same information they ask every driver for — license, registration, and proof of insurance.
If you forget, if you only get part of it, or if you were too shaken to function, we can still work with that later.

What actually matters is that you get through the moment safely. A crash throws your body into shock. Your brain goes foggy. You’re not supposed to perform like a claims adjuster at the scene of your own trauma. You don’t ruin your case by being human.

So what should you do?

Take care of yourself.
Catch your breath.
Go home and rest.

We can handle whatever comes next.