Auto Accidents & Insurance

What to Do After a Car Accident in Minnesota

Reviewed by Dr. Dustin Dukart, DC

The first hours and days after a crash set up everything that follows — your health, and any claim. Here’s a plain checklist for Minnesota, plus an honest word on why “I feel fine” isn’t the same as “I’m not hurt.”

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Worth knowing: adrenaline masks pain. Neck, upper-back, and headache symptoms often don’t show up until the next morning or a few days later — get checked soon after the crash even if you feel okay, both for your health and your claim record.

At the Scene

Get to safety and call 911 if anyone is hurt. In Minnesota, call police for any crash involving injury or significant property damage and get the report or incident number.
Exchange names, license, plate, and insurance information with the other driver.
Take photos — both vehicles, the position on the road, damage, license plates, the intersection.
Get names and numbers of any witnesses.
Don’t debate fault at the scene. In a no-fault state your own insurer pays your medical bills first regardless.

Get Checked — Even If You Feel Okay

Adrenaline masks pain. It’s common for neck, upper-back, and headache symptoms from a crash to show up the next morning or a few days later, once that wears off — and whiplash-type injuries don’t always settle on their own the way people expect. Being seen soon after the crash does two things: it catches anything serious early, and it creates a clear record that your symptoms started with the accident. A long gap between the crash and the first visit is the thing insurers question most.

Go to an emergency room or call 911 — not a chiropractic visit — if you have any of these after a crash:

Loss of consciousness, confusion, repeated vomiting, or a severe or worsening headache
Numbness, weakness, or tingling that is spreading or getting worse
Severe neck pain with the head “locked,” or midline spine pain that’s severe to the touch
Trouble breathing, severe abdominal or chest pain
Any loss of bladder or bowel control

Report It to Your Own Insurer — Promptly

Minnesota is a no-fault state: you claim medical and wage-loss benefits through your own auto policy’s Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which every Minnesota policy carries. Call your insurer, open a claim, and get your claim number and adjuster. Minnesota law sets deadlines for giving notice and for filing a claim — if you’re unsure what applies, ask your insurer or an attorney early rather than late. How PIP works in detail: does Minnesota no-fault insurance cover a chiropractor?

Keep Records From Day One

The police report / incident number and the other driver’s info
Every medical bill and visit summary, and your auto claim number
Mileage to and from appointments
Missed work and any pay lost
A short daily symptom log — what hurts, how bad, what you couldn’t do
Any X-ray, MRI, or CT reports (bring copies to appointments)

Where Chiropractic Care Fits

An accident visit here starts with a trauma-specific exam to rule out fracture or serious injury before any hands-on care. From there we grade and document the injury using the classification insurers and attorneys expect, and build the plan around where you are in recovery — hands-on care matters most early, targeted exercise becomes the bigger lever later. Details on the auto accident and whiplash page, and see how insurance covers chiropractic care in Minnesota.

This is general information, not legal advice. For a serious injury or a disputed claim, talk to an attorney.

Recently in a Crash?

Most new patients are seen within a few days. Bring your auto claim number and any imaging reports if you have them.