I Was Just in a Car Accident in Springfield, MA. What Should I Do First?

Short answer: After a car accident in Springfield, Holyoke, or anywhere in Hampden County, your first 30 minutes matter most. Check for injuries, move to safety, call the police, exchange information, document the scene, and do NOT admit fault. Then see a doctor within 72 hours, even if you feel fine, and contact a car accident lawyer before talking to insurance companies.

The First 10 Steps After a Car Accident

Here is the exact order we recommend, based on over 40 years of representing accident victims throughout Western Massachusetts.

Step 1: Check for Injuries

Before anything else, check yourself, your passengers, and anyone in the other vehicle. If anyone is hurt, unconscious, bleeding heavily, or trapped, call 911 immediately. Do not try to move someone who may have a back or neck injury unless there is an immediate danger like fire.

Step 2: Move to Safety (If You Can)

If your vehicle is drivable and you are not seriously hurt, move it out of active traffic. Pull onto the shoulder of I-91, the side of Main Street, or into a nearby parking lot. Turn on your hazard lights immediately.

If the vehicle cannot be moved safely, stay inside with your seatbelt on until police arrive. Getting out of the car in the middle of the Mass Pike or I-291 is one of the most dangerous things you can do after an accident.

Step 3: Call the Police

Even if the accident seems minor, call the police. Always. Massachusetts law requires you to report any accident involving injury, death, or property damage over $1,000 within 5 days anyway, and a police report is the single most important piece of evidence in your case.

• Emergency (injuries or traffic blocked): Call 911
• Springfield non-emergency: (413) 787-6300
• Holyoke non-emergency: (413) 322-6900
• Chicopee non-emergency: (413) 594-1730
• West Springfield non-emergency: (413) 263-3210
• Massachusetts State Police (highway accidents): (413) 750-2100

Step 4: Exchange Information

Get the following from the other driver(s):

• Full name and phone number
• Driver's license number
• Insurance company name and policy number
• License plate number
• Vehicle make, model, and color
• Name and phone number of the vehicle's owner (if not the driver)

Give them the same from your side. Be polite and factual, nothing more.

Step 5: Document Everything with Your Phone

Take lots of photos and videos. Later, you will be glad you did. Capture:

• Damage to all vehicles (multiple angles, close and wide)
• License plates of every vehicle involved
• The overall accident scene from multiple angles
• Street signs, traffic signals, stop signs, skid marks
• Road conditions, weather, lighting
• Any visible injuries on yourself or passengers
• The other driver's insurance card and license (snap a photo)
• Any debris or unusual conditions (oil, ice, potholes)

If you cannot take photos because of injuries, ask a passenger, witness, or bystander to do it for you.

Step 6: Get Witness Information

If anyone saw the accident, get their name and phone number before they leave. Witnesses disappear fast. A single witness statement can be the difference between winning and losing your claim.

Step 7: Do NOT Admit Fault or Apologize

This is one of the most common mistakes Springfield drivers make. Even saying something casual like "I'm so sorry" or "I didn't see you" can be used against you later. Stick to facts only:

• DO say: "I'm glad no one is seriously hurt."
• DO say: "Let me get the police and my insurance information."
• DO NOT say: "I'm sorry" or "It was my fault" or "I didn't see you"
• DO NOT speculate on why the accident happened
• DO NOT discuss injuries with the other driver (you may have delayed symptoms)

Leave the fault determination to the police, insurance companies, and lawyers.

Step 8: Seek Medical Attention Within 72 Hours

Even if you feel fine, see a doctor within 3 days. Common injuries like whiplash, concussions, and internal damage often do not show symptoms immediately.

Massachusetts PIP Rule: To collect Personal Injury Protection benefits from your insurance, you MUST seek medical treatment within two weeks of the accident. Wait longer and your PIP claim can be denied.

Local hospitals and urgent care in Hampden County:

• Baystate Medical Center — 759 Chestnut St, Springfield (413) 794-0000
• Mercy Medical Center — 271 Carew St, Springfield (413) 748-9000
• Holyoke Medical Center — 575 Beech St, Holyoke (413) 534-2500
• Baystate Wing Hospital — 40 Wright St, Palmer (413) 283-7651
• Any AFC Urgent Care or Baystate Urgent Care location

Step 9: Notify Your Insurance Company

Report the accident to your own insurer promptly, usually within 24-48 hours. Stick to the facts. Do not speculate. Do not admit fault.

Important: If the other driver's insurance company calls you, you are NOT required to give them a recorded statement. Politely decline and tell them to contact your attorney. Anything you say to them can be used to minimize or deny your claim.

Step 10: Contact a Springfield Car Accident Lawyer

Before signing anything, accepting any settlement offer, or giving recorded statements to the other driver's insurance, call a personal injury attorney. Most consultations are free. Most personal injury lawyers in Massachusetts work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless you win.

What to Do in the Days After the Accident

The first 30 minutes are critical, but so are the first 30 days. Keep up these habits:

• Save everything. Medical bills, repair estimates, prescription receipts, lost work documentation, correspondence with insurance.
• Keep a symptom journal. Note pain levels, sleep quality, missed activities, and any new symptoms each day.
• Follow your doctor's orders. Missed appointments or ignored advice give insurance companies a reason to deny your claim.
• File a Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report (Form CRA) with the Massachusetts RMV within 5 days if damage exceeds $1,000 or anyone was injured.
• Do not post about the accident on social media. Insurance companies search Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for posts they can use against you.
• Do not sign any settlement offer without a lawyer reviewing it. Early offers are almost always lower than what your claim is worth.

Common Springfield-Area Accident Scenarios

Highway accidents on I-91, I-291, or the Mass Pike

Call 911. Stay in your vehicle with seatbelt on unless it is unsafe. Wait for State Police. High-speed highway accidents often have delayed injuries, so see a doctor even if you think you are okay.

Accidents at intersections in downtown Springfield

Places like State Street and Main Street, or Boston Road and Parker Street, see a high volume of T-bone and side-impact collisions. Witness statements are especially important at intersection crashes.

Parking lot accidents (Holyoke Mall, Eastfield Mall, grocery stores)

Still call the police and still exchange information. Private property does not change your legal responsibilities or rights.

Hit and run

Get the license plate, vehicle description, and direction of travel if you can. Call 911 immediately. Take photos of damage. Uninsured Motorist coverage may apply.

Accident involving a truck or commercial vehicle

Evidence from commercial vehicles (electronic logs, dashcam, maintenance records) can disappear quickly. Call a lawyer as soon as possible.

Drunk driver, reckless driver, or road rage

Call 911. Do NOT confront the other driver. Wait for police. Document everything.

What NOT to Do After a Car Accident

• Do not leave the scene
• Do not apologize or admit fault
• Do not accept money at the scene in exchange for not reporting
• Do not refuse medical attention out of pride or concern about cost (PIP covers initial medical expenses)
• Do not give recorded statements to the other driver's insurance without a lawyer
• Do not accept the first settlement offer
• Do not sign medical releases without legal review (they can give insurers access to your entire medical history)
• Do not post about the accident on social media
• Do not wait to seek treatment if you are hurting

Massachusetts Car Accident Law Basics

Quick facts every Massachusetts driver should know:

• Massachusetts is a no-fault state. Your own insurance covers initial medical expenses through PIP, regardless of who caused the accident.
• PIP requires treatment within 2 weeks. Wait longer and you may lose coverage.
• Crash reports must be filed with the RMV within 5 days if damage exceeds $1,000 or anyone was injured.
• Statute of limitations is 3 years for personal injury claims from the date of the accident.
• Comparative fault applies. You can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault, as long as you were less than 51% responsible.

Get Help Now

Attorney Daniel A. Pava has represented accident victims throughout Springfield, Holyoke, Chicopee, West Springfield, and all of Hampden County for over 40 years. Free consultations are available in English and Spanish. No pressure. No obligation. No fees unless we win.

Phone: (413) 781-8700
Email: daniel@pavalaw.com
Office: 1380 Main Street, Suite 301, Springfield, MA 01103