Hurt in an accident? Here’s what to do in the next 7 days.

Step 1: Get care, and start a simple record

See a doctor even if you feel fine. Some injuries show up days later, and a medical visit also creates a record of what happened.

• Get checked by a doctor or urgent careKeep every visit summary, bill and prescription.
• Keep the report number
• Write down what you rememberDate, time, place, the people involved, witnesses. Take photos of injuries, vehicles and the scene.
• Take your time before you sign anythingIf another person’s insurance company calls, you can ask to talk later, after you’ve had advice.

Step 2: Know your deadline

Every state sets a deadline for filing an injury claim in court. If you miss it, you can lose the right to be paid, even for a strong claim. Some claims, such as those against a city or state agency, can have shorter notice deadlines. Pick your state to see its usual deadline and common exceptions, each linked to the law it comes from. Where we haven’t checked a deadline yet, we say so.

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