What to do after a car accident in Alberta
Most of what affects a claim happens before anyone speaks to a lawyer.
Do
See a doctor even if you feel able to carry on; concussion and soft-tissue symptoms routinely appear days later. Report the collision to your own insurer within 30 days. Keep every receipt: prescriptions, parking, mileage to appointments, equipment. Attend treatment consistently, and tell your practitioner what you can't do, not just where it hurts. Write down what changed: sleep, concentration, lifting, driving, work you've had to hand off.
Be careful with
Recorded statements to the other driver's insurer: you are under no obligation to give one, though your own insurer is different because you have a contractual duty to cooperate with them. Early settlement offers, frequently made before treatment is finished, when nobody yet knows the extent of recovery. Social media: photos and posts are routinely used to argue an injury is less limiting than described. Stopping treatment early because you're improving but not recovered.
Common questions
Should I see a doctor even if I feel fine after a crash?
Yes. Concussion and soft tissue symptoms routinely appear days after a collision, and the medical record starts with that first visit.
Do I have to give the other driver's insurer a recorded statement?
No. You are under no obligation to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer. Your own insurer is different: your policy requires you to cooperate with them, and they should be notified within 30 days.
Should I accept the insurer's first settlement offer?
Early offers are frequently made before treatment is finished, when nobody yet knows the extent of recovery. Before accepting anything, it costs nothing to have a licensed Alberta injury lawyer review where your claim stands.
This page is general information about Alberta injury claims. It is not legal advice, and every claim turns on its own facts. A licensed Alberta injury lawyer can review your situation at no cost: start a free case review.