What To Do in the First 24 Hours After a Car Accident in New Brunswick

A car accident happens fast. One moment everything is normal, and the next you are sitting in a damaged vehicle, unsure what just happened or what to do next. If you were injured in a car accident in New Brunswick, the steps you take in the first 24 hours matter more than most people realize. They can affect your physical recovery, your insurance claim, and your legal rights for years to come.

This guide walks through each step clearly. There is no legal jargon and no pressure. Just practical information for a difficult moment.

Step 1: Make Sure Everyone Is Safe

Before anything else, check whether you or any passengers need emergency help. If anyone is seriously hurt, call 911 right away. Do not move anyone who may have a neck or back injury unless there is immediate danger, such as fire or oncoming traffic. If the vehicles are causing a hazard on the road and it is safe to do so, try to move them to the shoulder and turn on your hazard lights.

Even if everyone seems fine, pay attention to how you feel physically. Adrenaline can mask pain in the immediate aftermath of a collision. Many people feel okay at the scene and are significantly sorer the next morning.

Step 2: Call the Police

In New Brunswick, you are required to report a collision to police if there are any injuries or if total vehicle damage appears to be over $2,000. Even when damage seems minor, it is wise to get a police report. It creates an official, independent record of what happened: where the accident occurred, what was observed at the scene, whether any charges were laid, and what each driver reported. This record can matter significantly if there is ever a dispute about fault.

If police do not attend the scene, you may be required to report the accident at a collision reporting centre. Ask the dispatcher when you call what the procedure is in your area.

Step 3: Exchange Information at the Scene

If it is safe to do so, collect the following from the other driver: name and contact information, driver's license number, license plate number, and insurance company and policy number. Take photos of everything you can: both vehicles from multiple angles, the broader scene, skid marks or road hazards, traffic signals or signs, and any visible injuries to yourself or passengers.

If there are witnesses, ask for their names and contact information before they leave. Witnesses are often willing to help in the moment but can be impossible to track down later. Even a brief account from a bystander who saw what happened can matter in a claim.

Step 4: Report to Your Insurance Company

You are required to notify your insurer about the accident promptly, even if the other driver was at fault. New Brunswick law requires you to report collisions to your own insurance company regardless of who caused them.

Importantly, your own insurance policy in New Brunswick includes Section B accident benefits. These benefits are available to you regardless of fault, and they can help cover medical and rehabilitation expenses, income replacement if you are unable to work, and certain other accident-related costs. Many people do not know Section B exists or do not apply for it. Do not leave this on the table. Ask your insurer specifically about Section B benefits when you make your report.

Step 5: See a Doctor

This is the step most people skip, and it is one of the most important. After a collision, it is very common to feel relatively okay and assume there is no serious injury. But many accident injuries do not produce clear symptoms right away. Whiplash, concussions, soft tissue injuries, and even some spinal injuries can take hours or days to become painful. By the time symptoms are obvious, the connection to the accident is harder to document.

Getting a medical examination as soon as possible after an accident creates a record that links your injuries to the collision. This documentation is essential if you make an insurance claim or a personal injury claim later. Go to your family doctor, a walk-in clinic, or an emergency department the same day if you can.

Step 6: Write Down What You Remember

Memory fades quickly after a traumatic or stressful event, often faster than people expect. As soon as you are able, write down everything you can recall about the accident: the time and location, the speed of the vehicles, the direction each vehicle was travelling, the weather and road conditions, what the other driver said at the scene, and anything else that seemed notable.

Keep a diary of your symptoms and how they affect your daily life in the days and weeks following the accident. Note when pain is worse, what activities you cannot do, and how your sleep and mood are affected. This record can become important evidence if your case proceeds further.

Step 7: Be Careful About Recorded Statements

The other driver's insurance company may contact you quickly, sometimes within days of the accident, and ask for a recorded statement about what happened. You are not required to provide one before speaking with a lawyer, and doing so can work against you. Insurance adjusters are trained to ask questions in ways that can minimize your claim or establish partial fault. It is completely reasonable to let them know that you need time to speak with legal counsel before making a statement.

You should also be careful about what you post on social media during an active claim. Insurance companies monitor social media profiles. A photo or comment that seems harmless can be taken out of context and used as evidence against you.

Know Your Time Limit

In New Brunswick, the general limitation period for a personal injury claim is two years from the date of the accident. That may sound like a long time, but building a strong claim takes time. Evidence needs to be gathered, medical records need to be compiled, and the full extent of your injuries may not be clear for months. Speaking with a lawyer earlier gives you significantly more options than waiting until the deadline approaches.

There are also specific reporting requirements for Section B benefits that can have shorter timelines. Do not assume you have unlimited time to make decisions.

You Do Not Have to Figure This Out Alone

Going through a car accident is hard enough without also having to navigate insurance forms, medical appointments, and legal timelines on your own. CLG Injury Law has been helping injured people in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and PEI for nearly 40 years. Founded in Moncton and present in Saint John and Fredericton, we understand what Maritime families go through after a serious accident.

If you have questions about what happened or what you may be entitled to, we are here for a free, no-pressure conversation whenever you are ready. You do not need to have everything figured out before you call.