What To Do in the First 24 Hours After a Car Accident in PEI
Aug 11, 2026
4 min read
PEI
Car Accident
Our Practice Areas
Key Takeaways
- Stay at the scene, check for injuries, and call 911 if anyone is hurt.
- PEI law requires reporting accidents with injuries or damage over $2,000 to police.
- Document everything at the scene with photos, witness info, and written notes.
- See a doctor within 24 hours even if you feel fine, as injuries like whiplash can be delayed.
- Notify your insurer within 30 days and submit a proof of claim within 90 days.
- You have access to Section B no-fault benefits regardless of who caused the accident.
A car accident on a Prince Edward Island road can turn an ordinary day into something overwhelming. Whether it happened on the Trans-Canada near Charlottetown or on a quiet stretch outside Summerside, the steps you take in the first 24 hours matter. They protect your health, your rights, and your ability to recover fair compensation down the road.
Here is a clear, step-by-step guide for anyone involved in a motor vehicle accident in PEI.
Step 1: Stay at the Scene and Check for Injuries
Take a breath. Check yourself first, then check on your passengers and anyone in the other vehicle. If anyone is hurt, call 911 right away. Do not move someone who may have a spinal injury unless there is an immediate danger like fire.
Move your vehicle to the shoulder if it is safe to do so and you are able. Turn on your hazard lights. In winter, this is especially important on Island roads where visibility drops fast.
Step 2: Report the Accident to Police
PEI law requires you to report an accident to police immediately if there is a death, an injury, or property damage over $2,000. Given the cost of vehicle repairs today, most collisions will cross that $2,000 threshold. When in doubt, report it. A police report creates an official record that can be valuable later.
If police attend the scene, get the responding officer's name and badge number. Ask how to obtain a copy of the accident report.
Step 3: Document Everything You Can
Your phone is one of the most useful tools you have at the scene. Use it to:
- Take photos of all vehicles involved, from multiple angles
- Photograph the road, traffic signs, skid marks, and weather conditions
- Capture any visible injuries
- Record the other driver's licence plate, insurance information, and contact details
- Get names and phone numbers of any witnesses
Write down what happened while it is fresh in your mind. Even a few notes on your phone can help weeks or months later when details start to blur.
Step 4: Get Medical Attention, Even If You Feel Fine
This step is one that people skip most often, and it can hurt your case the most. Adrenaline masks pain. Soft tissue injuries like whiplash often take hours or days to show up fully. A visit to the emergency room or your family doctor creates a medical record linking your injuries to the accident.
Tell your doctor about every symptom, no matter how small. Headaches, neck stiffness, trouble sleeping, anxiety behind the wheel. All of it matters.
Step 5: Notify Your Insurance Company
In PEI, you must notify your auto insurer within 30 days of the accident. You then have 90 days to submit a formal proof of claim. Missing these deadlines can jeopardize your access to benefits, so mark them on your calendar right away.
When you call your insurer, stick to the basic facts: the date, time, location, and vehicles involved. You do not need to give a recorded statement or accept blame. Be honest, but brief.
Step 6: Understand Your Section B Benefits
Regardless of who caused the accident, you have access to Section B benefits through your own auto insurance policy. These benefits can cover:
- Up to $50,000 in medical and rehabilitation expenses
- Weekly income replacement for up to 104 weeks if you cannot work
- Housekeeping benefits of $100 per week for up to 52 weeks
Section B benefits are there to help you recover, and you are entitled to them even if the accident was your fault. You do not have to wait for a settlement or a court decision to access them.
Step 7: Be Careful What You Say and Post
Insurance adjusters may contact you quickly. They are not on your side. Anything you say in a recorded statement can be used to minimize your claim. You are not required to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer.
The same goes for social media. A photo of you smiling at a family barbecue can be taken out of context and used to argue that your injuries are not serious. Consider keeping your accounts private and avoiding posts about the accident or your recovery.
Step 8: Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer
You do not need to have all the answers in the first 24 hours. But reaching out to a car accident lawyer early gives you a clearer picture of your rights and your options. A lawyer can handle communication with insurance companies, help you access your Section B benefits, and make sure critical deadlines are met.
If your injuries are serious, or if the insurance company is already pushing back, legal guidance becomes even more important. The two-year limitation period for filing a personal injury claim in PEI starts from the date of the accident, so time does matter.
Our Charlottetown office serves clients across Prince Edward Island. If you were recently in an accident in another Atlantic province, we have guides covering car accidents in New Brunswick and car accidents in Nova Scotia.
CLG Injury Law offers free case reviews across Atlantic Canada. You do not have to figure this out on your own.
A car accident on a Prince Edward Island road can turn an ordinary day into something overwhelming. Whether it happened on the Trans-Canada near Charlottetown or on a quiet stretch outside Summerside, the steps you take in the first 24 hours matter. They protect your health, your rights, and your ability to recover fair compensation down the road.
Here is a clear, step-by-step guide for anyone involved in a motor vehicle accident in PEI.
Step 1: Stay at the Scene and Check for Injuries
Take a breath. Check yourself first, then check on your passengers and anyone in the other vehicle. If anyone is hurt, call 911 right away. Do not move someone who may have a spinal injury unless there is an immediate danger like fire.
Move your vehicle to the shoulder if it is safe to do so and you are able. Turn on your hazard lights. In winter, this is especially important on Island roads where visibility drops fast.
Step 2: Report the Accident to Police
PEI law requires you to report an accident to police immediately if there is a death, an injury, or property damage over $2,000. Given the cost of vehicle repairs today, most collisions will cross that $2,000 threshold. When in doubt, report it. A police report creates an official record that can be valuable later.
If police attend the scene, get the responding officer's name and badge number. Ask how to obtain a copy of the accident report.
Step 3: Document Everything You Can
Your phone is one of the most useful tools you have at the scene. Use it to:
- Take photos of all vehicles involved, from multiple angles
- Photograph the road, traffic signs, skid marks, and weather conditions
- Capture any visible injuries
- Record the other driver's licence plate, insurance information, and contact details
- Get names and phone numbers of any witnesses
Write down what happened while it is fresh in your mind. Even a few notes on your phone can help weeks or months later when details start to blur.
Step 4: Get Medical Attention, Even If You Feel Fine
This step is one that people skip most often, and it can hurt your case the most. Adrenaline masks pain. Soft tissue injuries like whiplash often take hours or days to show up fully. A visit to the emergency room or your family doctor creates a medical record linking your injuries to the accident.
Tell your doctor about every symptom, no matter how small. Headaches, neck stiffness, trouble sleeping, anxiety behind the wheel. All of it matters.
Step 5: Notify Your Insurance Company
In PEI, you must notify your auto insurer within 30 days of the accident. You then have 90 days to submit a formal proof of claim. Missing these deadlines can jeopardize your access to benefits, so mark them on your calendar right away.
When you call your insurer, stick to the basic facts: the date, time, location, and vehicles involved. You do not need to give a recorded statement or accept blame. Be honest, but brief.
Step 6: Understand Your Section B Benefits
Regardless of who caused the accident, you have access to Section B benefits through your own auto insurance policy. These benefits can cover:
- Up to $50,000 in medical and rehabilitation expenses
- Weekly income replacement for up to 104 weeks if you cannot work
- Housekeeping benefits of $100 per week for up to 52 weeks
Section B benefits are there to help you recover, and you are entitled to them even if the accident was your fault. You do not have to wait for a settlement or a court decision to access them.
Step 7: Be Careful What You Say and Post
Insurance adjusters may contact you quickly. They are not on your side. Anything you say in a recorded statement can be used to minimize your claim. You are not required to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer.
The same goes for social media. A photo of you smiling at a family barbecue can be taken out of context and used to argue that your injuries are not serious. Consider keeping your accounts private and avoiding posts about the accident or your recovery.
Step 8: Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer
You do not need to have all the answers in the first 24 hours. But reaching out to a car accident lawyer early gives you a clearer picture of your rights and your options. A lawyer can handle communication with insurance companies, help you access your Section B benefits, and make sure critical deadlines are met.
If your injuries are serious, or if the insurance company is already pushing back, legal guidance becomes even more important. The two-year limitation period for filing a personal injury claim in PEI starts from the date of the accident, so time does matter.
Our Charlottetown office serves clients across Prince Edward Island. If you were recently in an accident in another Atlantic province, we have guides covering car accidents in New Brunswick and car accidents in Nova Scotia.
CLG Injury Law offers free case reviews across Atlantic Canada. You do not have to figure this out on your own.
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People Also Ask
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What are Section B benefits in PEI?
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