A wreck scrambles your week. One minute you’re heading up 20th Street toward Vulcan, the next you’re standing on the curb with a crumpled bumper, a sore neck and a stranger’s insurance card in your hand. Nobody thinks clearly in that moment. This page is a plain plan for the week that follows, written with Alabama’s rules in mind, because a few of them are less forgiving than people expect.
Day one. At the scene and that evening
- Get safe. If the cars can move and nobody’s hurt badly, get out of traffic. Turn on your hazards.
- Call 911. Ask for police and, if anyone’s hurt, an ambulance. A report written by an officer at the scene is much more useful than one pieced together later.
- Swap information. Names, phone numbers, plates, insurance companies and policy numbers for every driver. Note the owner if it’s not the driver.
- Take pictures. All the cars, from several angles. The intersection or road, signals, signs, skid marks and debris. Your injuries.
- Find witnesses. People who stop to help often leave before police arrive. Ask for a name and number.
- Watch your words. Be kind, but don’t guess about speed or say it was your fault. In Alabama, any fault on your part can block your claim, so offhand comments matter more here.
- Get the officer’s name and report number before you leave.
That evening, write down everything you remember while it’s fresh. Where you were going, what lane you were in, what the light was, what the other driver said. It feels pointless now. It won’t later.
Day two. Medical care
Many crash injuries don’t announce themselves right away. Soreness in your neck or back, headaches, dizziness and trouble concentrating often show up the next day. If anything hurts, see a doctor, urgent care or your primary care office. Tell them the pain started after a car crash. If you went to the emergency room on day one, follow the discharge instructions and make the follow-up appointment they recommended.
Day two or three. Tell your insurer
Nearly every auto policy demands quick notice of a crash, even if you weren’t at fault. Report it, give the basic facts and get a claim number. Ask what coverage you have, especially medical payments coverage, collision coverage and uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. If you didn’t know you had UM coverage, now’s the time to find out. Our UM guide explains why it matters so much in Alabama.
Day three. The other driver’s insurer calls
The other driver’s insurance company may reach out quickly and request a taped statement, which you can decline right away. You can say you’re still getting medical care and will be in touch. If you do talk, stick to facts, don’t guess and don’t downplay your injuries. Adjusters in Alabama know the contributory negligence rule well, and some questions are designed to get you to say something they can use.
Day four. Your car
Get photos of your car before repairs. Get a written estimate. If the other driver’s insurer accepts responsibility, they may handle the repair or pay for a rental. If they don’t, your own collision coverage may pay, minus your deductible, and your insurer can try to get the money back later. Be careful with any paperwork about the car. Some releases are written broadly. If a form mentions bodily injury or “all claims,” don’t sign it without understanding what it does.
Day five. Get the crash report
Reports take a few business days to be released. If Birmingham police responded, a copy costs $10 from the department’s reports office at police headquarters, 1710 1st Avenue North. If a state trooper responded, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency charges $15. The sheriff’s office handles reports for unincorporated parts of the county. Our crash report guide has phone numbers and the rules about who’s allowed to buy one. Read the report carefully and note anything that’s wrong.
Day six. Start the folder
Get a folder or a cloud drive and put everything in it, including the report, photos, medical bills, prescriptions, receipts, the estimate for your car and notes from every insurance call (date, name, what was said). Start a simple daily log of your pain and what you couldn’t do. Missed a kid’s game? Couldn’t sleep? Write it down.
Day seven. Check the deadlines and decide on help
Look at whether a government vehicle, city bus or road defect played a part. If so, Alabama requires notice to a city within six months, which is much sooner than the general two-year lawsuit deadline. Our guide to city claims explains how it works in Birmingham. The full set of deadlines is in our deadline table.
By the end of the week, you’ll have a sense of how badly you’re hurt and how the insurers are treating you. If the injuries are more than minor, if fault is disputed, or if you’re getting pressure to settle fast, it’s a reasonable time to talk with a lawyer. Most injury lawyers offer a free first meeting and work on contingency. You can browse attorneys near Redmont Park or start with your town.
Things not to do this week
- Don’t post about the crash or your injuries on social media.
- Don’t sign a release or accept a check that says “final” without understanding it.
- Don’t skip medical care because you’re busy.
- Don’t throw away damaged property, like a child’s car seat or a cracked phone.
This guide is general information about Alabama law and practice. It isn’t legal advice for your situation.