The minutes and days after a car accident can feel overwhelming. Knowing what to do first can help protect your safety, organize important information, and make it easier to seek appropriate care. This guide offers practical steps for drivers and passengers in Taylorsville and throughout the Salt Lake Valley.
Medically reviewed by Wayne Hansen, DC, CCSP
Last reviewed: August 31, 2026
1. Start with immediate safety
If anyone may be seriously injured, call 911. Follow instructions from emergency personnel and avoid moving an injured person unless remaining where they are creates an immediate danger. If it is safe and you are able, move out of active traffic, turn on hazard lights, and wait in a secure location.
- Call police and emergency services when appropriate.
- Exchange names, contact information, driver’s-license details, vehicle information, and insurance information.
- Record the date, time, location, road conditions, visible vehicle damage, and names of witnesses.
- Take photographs only when it is safe to do so.
- Avoid making medical or legal conclusions at the scene.
2. Know when symptoms require emergency care
Some injuries require immediate medical attention. Call 911 or go to an emergency department for severe or worsening symptoms, including a worsening headache that does not go away, repeated vomiting, seizure, slurred speech, unusual confusion or behavior, weakness, numbness, decreased coordination, unequal pupils, loss of consciousness, or an inability to wake the injured person.
These warning signs are based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This clinic is not a substitute for emergency or hospital care.
3. Pay attention to symptoms that develop later
Not every symptom is obvious immediately after a collision. Neck pain, stiffness, headaches, dizziness, shoulder discomfort, back pain, muscle tightness, or reduced movement may begin later. MedlinePlus notes that symptoms associated with whiplash may be delayed.
Write down when symptoms began, what makes them better or worse, and how they affect sleep, work, driving, or normal activities. Do not ignore new or worsening symptoms simply because the collision seemed minor.
4. Get an appropriate evaluation
The right setting depends on your symptoms. Emergency warning signs belong in an emergency department. Other concerns may be evaluated by an appropriate healthcare professional who can review the collision, examine the affected areas, screen for problems that require referral, and explain reasonable next steps.
At Canyon Sports and Spine, Wayne Hansen, DC, CCSP, provides focused musculoskeletal evaluations for accident-related neck pain, back pain, stiffness, headaches associated with neck symptoms, and movement concerns. Recommendations are individualized and may include chiropractic care, rehabilitation, co-management, or referral. Learn more about our auto accident care process.
5. Organize insurance and collision information
The Utah Insurance Department recommends contacting your insurer promptly and keeping organized records. Save the police report information, claim number, adjuster contact details, photographs, receipts, medical paperwork, and notes from important conversations. Record the date, time, name, and subject of each insurance-related call.
Coverage and claim requirements depend on the policy and circumstances. Contact your insurance carrier for information about your benefits, required forms, and claim procedures. For general state information, review the Utah Insurance Department’s after-an-accident guidance. This article does not provide legal or insurance advice.
6. Bring useful information to your first appointment
- Photo identification
- Insurance carrier and claim number, if available
- Adjuster contact information
- Emergency-room or urgent-care discharge papers
- Relevant imaging reports
- A current medication list
- A brief timeline of symptoms
- Attorney contact information, if you are represented
Do not delay emergency or necessary medical care because some claim information is not yet available.
What might accident rehabilitation include?
When clinically appropriate, a plan may include education, comfortable mobility work, chiropractic treatment, progressive strengthening, and functional exercises. The plan should change as symptoms and function change. No single treatment is appropriate for every person, and outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
Explore our information about whiplash treatment, neck pain after a car accident, back pain after a car accident, and accident injury rehabilitation.
Frequently asked questions
Should I get checked if the accident seemed minor?
Consider an evaluation if you develop pain, stiffness, headaches, neurological symptoms, reduced movement, or concerns about a new symptom. The amount of vehicle damage does not determine whether a medical evaluation is appropriate.
How soon should I seek care?
Emergency symptoms require immediate care. For non-emergency concerns, seek appropriate evaluation promptly rather than waiting for symptoms to become severe. There is no single timeline that fits every patient.
Can the clinic communicate with my attorney?
Yes. With valid written authorization, the clinic can respond to appropriate record requests and communicate according to the patient’s instructions. Attorneys can review our referral information.
This article is educational and is not a diagnosis or a substitute for individualized medical, legal, or insurance advice.
Request an accident injury evaluation in Taylorsville
Canyon Sports and Spine is located at 5500 S. Redwood Rd. #202 in Taylorsville, Utah. Call or text (801) 449-0313 to request an appointment.