Written by Maurice Davis
The moment after a crash is a strange blur. Your heart thumps, glass crackles underfoot, and time feels warped. In Detroit’s stop-and-go traffic—on I-75, I-94, or even a neighborhood side street. Every driver eventually meets that blur. What you do in the next few minutes shapes your health, your wallet, and any future claim. A Detroit car accident lawyer can help you deal with a crash, but here’s a plain-spoken guide you can keep in mind so the chaos doesn’t call the shots.
First, Check Yourself, Then Everyone Else
Before you worry about the cars, breathe. Wiggle fingers and toes, look for bleeding, and ask passengers how they feel. If anyone seems dazed, in pain, or trapped, dial 911 right away. Michigan law demands you stay put and report any crash that causes injury or property damage of $1,000 or more, which will probably include much every modern fender-bender. Tell the dispatcher where you are and whether an ambulance is needed. Even a “minor” impact can hide a concussion or internal injury, so don’t brush off dizziness or a stiff neck.
Next, Get Out of Harm’s Way If You Can Do It Safely
Once you know nobody is in immediate danger, think about traffic. On Woodward Avenue at rush hour, a stalled car invites a second collision. If your vehicle still moves and nobody is badly hurt, ease onto the shoulder or a nearby parking lot. Flip on the hazards, set out a reflective triangle if you have one, and keep calm. If the car won’t budge or moving it would risk more injury, leave it and focus on keeping people clear of passing traffic.
Call the Police and Stick Around
Some drivers shrug off calling the police if the cars still roll. In Michigan, that’s a gamble. State law says you must report any wreck with injuries, deaths, or significant property damage “at once” to the nearest officer or station. An officer’s crash report becomes a key piece of evidence for insurance adjusters and, later, for any lawsuit. If the officer can’t respond—winter storms tie up patrol units now and then—make a point to file the report yourself as soon as practical. Keep the incident number; you’ll need it.
Swap Information & Keep the Conversation Short
Michigan Comp. Laws § 257.619 spells out what you must hand over: your name, address, driver’s license number, vehicle registration, and your insurer’s name. Snap a photo of the other driver’s license and proof of insurance; let them do the same. Stay courteous but skip the small-talk apology. Insurance companies treat “I’m sorry” as an admission of fault, even when you’re just being polite.
Remember to Document the Scene Like a Journalist
Phones make great witnesses. Walk a slow circle and record wide shots that place each vehicle relative to lane markings, lights, and skid marks. Zoom in on shattered taillights, deployed airbags, and that fresh dent in the rear quarter panel. Note weather, road surface, and any nearby construction barrels. If passersby saw the crash, ask (politely) for their names and numbers; independent witnesses often disappear once traffic starts moving again.
Make Sure YouAccept or Seek Medical Care Immediately
Adrenaline numbs pain, sometimes for hours. Head to the ER or an urgent-care clinic the same day. No-fault personal-injury-protection (PIP) benefits in Michigan cover reasonable medical bills regardless of who caused the crash. Prompt treatment links your injuries to the collision and short-circuits the insurer’s favorite defense: “You must have hurt yourself later.” Some serious injuries are delayed, but they may show up later. Having a record protects your claim.
Talk to Your Insurer. Then Call a Lawyer
Report the basics to your own carrier right away; your policy likely requires “prompt notice.” Resist the urge to give a recorded statement on day one, and never speculate about speed or fault. Instead, request time to gather documents. Next, ring a Detroit personal-injury lawyer who lives in this system every day. An attorney can keep you from signing a low-ball release, preserve black-box data before it’s overwritten, and make sure medical providers bill the right coverage in the right order.
After the Accident, Gather and Save Every Scrap of Paper
Towing invoices, ER discharge summaries, chiropractor notes—tuck them into a folder or scan them into a single PDF. Michigan’s no-fault rules set time limits for submitting medical bills, wage-loss proof, and replacement-services receipts. Organized paperwork gives your attorney (and ultimately a jury, if it comes to that) a clear timeline of treatment and costs.
Don’t Be Late: Make Sure You Pay Attention to Deadlines
If another driver’s negligence caused “serious impairment of body function,” you may file a third-party lawsuit for pain and suffering. The statute of limitations is generally three years, but certain government-vehicle cases have shorter notice periods. A lawyer can tell you which deadlines apply and keep them from sneaking up while you’re rehabbing a shoulder or arranging rides to physical therapy.
Why Calling a Lawyer Early Makes a Real Difference
Once you’ve handled the basics—safety, police report, photos, medical check—your next smart move is ringing up a Detroit car-accident lawyer like Attorney Maurice Davis.
They lock down evidence fast. Surveillance video, traffic-cam footage, and the car’s event data recorder can all vanish in days. A lawyer’s preservation letter forces trucking companies, businesses, or city agencies to keep that data intact.
They speak the insurance company’s language. Adjusters are trained to pay as little as possible. An attorney counters lowball offers with medical records, wage-loss proof, and an expert’s crash-reconstruction report, all packaged in a demand that signals, “We’re ready for court if we have to be.”
They keep your PIP benefits on track. Michigan’s no-fault system is paperwork-heavy. Miss a form or a 30-day notice window and the insurer can deny treatment bills. Lawyers calendar every deadline and push back if a carrier stalls or refuses payment.
They spot extra pockets of money. A defective airbag, a road-construction flaw, or a rideshare policy can add defendants and increase coverage limits. Without legal eyes, those layers often stay hidden.
H2: Call a Detroit Car Accident Lawyer Now
After your accident, you could be struggling to get payments from your insurer or the at-fault driver. Even with Michigan’s no-fault insurance guidelines, you could be owed compensation. Do not wait. Call a Detroit personal injury lawyer to help you get the money you deserve. Call Maurice Davis with Davis Injury Lawyers. He understands the struggle of getting a settlement and he isn’t afraid to stand up to the defendants who owe you money.
Call 313-462-7979 to get started. Schedule your online consultation today.