What to do in the first 72 hours after a car accident

The first 72 hours after a crash are the most important window for both your body and your case. Adrenaline masks pain for the first day or two, and by the time symptoms peak most patients have already made decisions that quietly hurt their recovery — skipping the ER, waiting to be seen, or telling an adjuster they feel "fine."

Hour 0–24: Get evaluated, even if you feel okay. An ER or urgent care visit creates the medical record your case will lean on later. Document every symptom, no matter how small — headache, ringing ears, tingling in the hands, difficulty sleeping. Take photos of the vehicles, the scene, and any visible bruising or swelling.

Hour 24–48: This is when soft tissue inflammation peaks. Ice affected areas for 15 minutes at a time, avoid heat, and keep moving gently. Do not start heavy stretching, massage, or a hot tub — all three can make whiplash worse in the acute phase. Call a chiropractor who treats PI cases and get on the schedule.

Hour 48–72: Your first chiropractic evaluation should happen in this window. We screen for red flags, order imaging if indicated, and start gentle mobilization. Waiting past 72 hours is the single biggest predictor of a case that drags out — insurance adjusters treat any gap in care as evidence you weren't really hurt.

What not to do: Don't give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance. Don't sign a medical release from an adjuster. Don't accept a quick settlement offer in the first week. And don't skip appointments once you're in care — gaps of more than 30 days are used against you.

If you're inside that 72-hour window right now, call us. We'll get you in same-day or next-day at any of our four Houston-area clinics.