What to do after a car accident in Louisiana when you are shaken, confused, and not sure what happens next.
A car accident rarely feels organized.
One minute, you are driving. The next, someone is asking whether you are hurt, cars are backing up behind you, your phone is ringing, and you are trying to remember what you are supposed to do.
Should you move your car?
Should you call 911?
Are you required to talk to the other driver?
Should you go to the hospital?
Do you need to call your insurance company from the scene?
And what do you say when everyone keeps asking, “Are you okay?”
The first few minutes after an accident can matter—but you do not need to solve the entire insurance claim while standing on the side of the road.
Your priorities are simpler than that:
Get to safety. Check for injuries. Call the police. Take photographs if you can do so safely. And do not guess about things you do not clearly know or remember.
First, Make Sure You Are Safe
Before taking pictures, exchanging information, or worrying about insurance, look around.
Are you or your passengers injured?
Is anyone unconscious, bleeding, trapped, or having trouble breathing?
Is there smoke, leaking fuel, broken glass, or another immediate danger?
Are you standing somewhere that puts you at risk of being struck by passing traffic?
Call 911 when anyone may be injured or when the scene presents an emergency. If you are physically able, move yourself to a safer location nearby.
Your claim matters. But your safety matters first.
Should You Move Your Car?
This is one of the questions that causes the most confusion.
People often believe they must leave their vehicles exactly where they came to rest so the police can see what happened. Sometimes, however, remaining in an active traffic lane creates another danger.
If the vehicles can be moved safely and no one appears seriously injured, you may be instructed to move them out of the travel lane. Louisiana law also gives law enforcement authority to remove vehicles or other property that obstruct traffic or create a hazard on state and federal highways. (Louisiana State Legislature)
But before moving the vehicles—when it is safe and physically possible—take a few photographs or a short video showing:
- Where the vehicles came to rest
- The position of each vehicle
- The surrounding roadway
- Traffic signals and signs
- Lane markings
- Visible debris or skid marks
- The damage to both vehicles
Do not stand in moving traffic or place yourself in danger to get the perfect picture.
And if your vehicle cannot be driven, turn on your hazard lights if possible, move yourself away from traffic, and wait for law enforcement or roadside assistance to direct what happens next.
Call the Police
—Even When the Damage Does Not Look Terrible
At the scene, you may feel pressure to keep things simple.
The other driver may say:
“It is just a scratch.”
“We do not need to involve the police.”
“Let’s exchange numbers and handle it ourselves.”
That may sound reasonable in the moment. But vehicle damage is not always visible, physical symptoms may not have developed yet, and people’s memories of an accident can change very quickly.
In Louisiana, crashes involving injury, death, or apparent property damage exceeding $500 must be reported to the appropriate local police department, sheriff’s office, or State Police station. Louisiana law also requires drivers to provide identifying and vehicle-registration information after a reportable crash. (Louisiana State Legislature)
Even apart from that legal requirement, a police report helps create a record of:
- Who was involved
- Where and when the crash occurred
- The vehicles and insurance information
- Statements made at the scene
- Observations by the investigating officer
- Possible witnesses
- Citations that may have been issued
The officer does not necessarily decide your entire civil claim at the scene. But having the accident documented is generally far better than relying solely on competing memories later.
Exchange Information—but Do Not Conduct an Investigation
Get the other driver’s:
- Full name
- Telephone number
- Address
- Driver’s license information
- License plate number
- Insurance company
- Policy information
Take a photograph of the driver’s license and insurance card with permission rather than trusting yourself to copy everything correctly while you are upset.
You should also obtain the names and contact information of any witnesses. Witnesses often leave before law enforcement arrives, and finding them later may be difficult.
But this is not the time to interrogate the other driver.
You do not need to argue about fault, persuade anyone to accept responsibility, or obtain a confession on the side of the road.
Get the information. Let law enforcement investigate. Preserve what you can.
Do Not Say “I’m Fine” Just to Be Polite
This is one of the most natural mistakes people make after an accident.
Someone asks, “Are you okay?”
You say, “I’m fine.”
Maybe you are trying to calm your children. Maybe you do not want an ambulance. Maybe you are embarrassed by the attention.
But immediately after a crash, you may not know whether you are actually fine.
Adrenaline can temporarily mask pain. Some symptoms become noticeable only after the initial shock wears off. Headaches, stiffness, dizziness, bruising, back pain, or other symptoms may appear or worsen over the following hours or days.
You do not need to exaggerate. You also do not need to minimize what you are feeling.
A more accurate response may be:
“I’m shaken up” or “I’m not sure yet.”
Be truthful about what you know—and what you do not yet know.
Do You Need to Go to the Hospital?
Not every accident requires an emergency-room visit. But some symptoms should not be brushed aside.
Call for emergency medical assistance when you or someone else may have a serious injury. That includes symptoms such as loss of consciousness, confusion, severe pain, difficulty breathing, significant bleeding, weakness, numbness, or possible head, neck, or spinal injuries.
For less obvious symptoms, the decision may not be as clear.
You may feel sore but believe it will pass. You may not want to spend hours in an emergency room. You may be worried about the bill. You may need to get home to your children.
Those are real concerns.
But do not ignore symptoms simply because the accident did not look dramatic. Seek appropriate medical attention when you are hurting, and tell the provider honestly:
- What happened
- Where you feel pain
- When the symptoms began
- Whether the symptoms are worsening
- What movements or activities are difficult
Your medical care should be based on your health—not on trying to build a case. Be accurate. Do not exaggerate, but do not minimize either.
What Should You Say to the Other Driver?
Be civil. Exchange the required information. Ask whether anyone needs emergency help.
But avoid making statements such as:
- “It was completely my fault.”
- “I never saw you.”
- “I’m not hurt.”
- “There is barely any damage.”
- “Do not worry; my insurance will pay for everything.”
You may not yet understand how the collision occurred. You may not have seen another vehicle, a traffic signal, a road condition, or something else that contributed to the accident.
There is a difference between being honest and offering conclusions before you know the facts.
Stick to what you actually observed.
Do You Have to Call Your Insurance Company from the Scene?
You generally do not have to handle the entire insurance process while you are standing beside the damaged vehicle.
You may need to notify your own insurer promptly under your policy, particularly if you need towing, rental-car assistance, collision coverage, or other immediate help.
But take a breath before giving a long, detailed account—especially before providing a recorded statement.
Report that the accident occurred and obtain the claim information you need. You do not have to guess about speeds, distances, injuries, or details you cannot clearly remember.
The question of how to handle conversations with your insurer or the other driver’s insurance company deserves its own discussion. The important point at the scene is this:
You can cooperate without speculating.
What If Your Memory Feels Blurry?
That is not unusual.
A collision happens quickly. You may remember the impact but not the seconds immediately before it. You may have difficulty recalling which direction another vehicle came from, how fast it appeared to be moving, or the exact sequence of events.
Do not fill in the blanks because you feel pressured to provide an answer.
Say:
“I do not remember.”
“I’m not sure.”
“It happened very quickly.”
“I need a moment before I can answer that accurately.”
Those are honest answers.
A guess made during a stressful moment can later be repeated as though it were a fact.
Do Not Post the Accident Online
It may feel natural to post a picture of the damaged car or tell friends that you are okay.
Resist the urge.
Do not discuss the accident, your injuries, the other driver, or your insurance claim on social media. Even an innocent update can later be taken out of context.
Preserve your pictures for yourself. You do not need to publish them.
Before You Leave the Scene
When possible, make sure you have:
- Called for emergency help when needed
- Reported the accident to law enforcement
- Photographed the scene and vehicles
- Obtained the other driver’s information
- Collected witness contact information
- Identified the investigating agency
- Obtained the officer’s name or report number
- Arranged for safe transportation or towing
- Removed your personal belongings from the vehicle
If your car is being towed, find out exactly where it is going. Take valuables, medications, work materials, child-safety items, garage-door openers, and anything else you may need.
You Do Not Have to Figure Out Everything at the Scene
The first ten minutes after an accident are not the time to determine who will pay every bill, whether you have a lawsuit, or how much the case may be worth.
You are likely shaken. Things may feel blurred and confusing. That is normal.
Focus on what matters now:
Safety. Injuries. Police documentation. Photographs. Information. Honesty.
You can deal with the insurance company after you have had a chance to breathe, understand what happened, and determine how you are feeling.
Insurance companies handle claims every day. Most people do not.
Knowing what matters in those first few minutes can help level the playing field.
And hopefully, this is information you will never need.
Injured in a Car Accident in Southeast Louisiana?
If you have questions after a car accident, contact De St. Germain Law Office for a free consultation. We will listen to what happened, explain the process clearly, and help you understand your options before you make decisions that may affect your claim.
Call (985) 718-4550
No attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.