Car Accident in St. Louis? Your First 72 Hours (What to Do Medically, and What to Document)

The crash takes a few seconds. The next 72 hours decide a lot more: how well you heal, and whether there's a clear record of what happened to your body.

I treat auto accident injuries every week in St. Louis. Here's the checklist I give patients, broken down by time.

(We're chiropractors, not lawyers. Nothing here is legal advice. For questions about claims, deadlines or settlements, talk to a personal injury attorney.)

At the scene: hour 0

• Safety first. Get out of traffic if you can, turn on your hazards, and call 911 if anyone is hurt or the cars can't be moved.
• Get checked by EMS if they're there. Turning down an evaluation because you "feel fine" is the most common mistake I see. Adrenaline is masking pain right now.
• Exchange information: names, phone numbers, insurance, plate numbers and vehicle descriptions.
• Take photos: both cars, the damage, the scene, the road conditions, and any cuts, bruises or seatbelt marks.
• Get a police report number if police respond.
• Keep it short. You don't need to say "I'm fine" or "it was my fault." Stick to facts.

Go to the ER now if you have any of these

Don't wait to book a chiropractic visit if you have:

• A severe or worsening headache, confusion, or you blacked out, even briefly
• Vision changes, slurred speech, or trouble walking or balancing
• New weakness or numbness in the arms or legs, or loss of bladder or bowel control
• Chest pain, shortness of breath, or abdominal pain or swelling
• Severe neck pain after a high-speed crash or a rollover

These need emergency imaging and care first.

Hours 1–24: the adrenaline window

• Start a symptom log tonight. Note the date, how you feel, and where it hurts, even if the answer is "nothing yet." A simple phone note works.
• Write down how the crash happened while it's fresh: direction of impact, your speed, whether you were looking sideways or in the mirror, where your headrest was, and whether you braced for it.
• Notice the small stuff. A stiff neck when you check your blind spot, a dull headache, trouble sleeping.
• Report the accident to your insurance company as your policy requires. Be careful with recorded statements. Facts only, and it's reasonable to talk to an attorney first.

Hours 24–72: when symptoms usually show up

This is when most people realize they're hurt. Inflammation builds, and the adrenaline is gone.

Watch for:

• Neck pain or stiffness, especially when turning your head
• Headaches at the base of the skull (more on those in headaches after a car accident)
• Pain in the upper back, between the shoulder blades, or in the low back
• Tingling or numbness in the arms or hands
• Jaw pain, dizziness, brain fog or poor sleep

Get examined in this window, even if symptoms are mild. An early exam does two things:

1. It catches injuries before they settle in and heal tight, weak and out of balance.
2. It creates a clear, dated record of your injuries close to the crash. A long gap between the accident and your first visit makes the connection harder to show, medically and on paper.

What your first visit should include

Don't settle for "where does it hurt?" and a quick crack. We don't guess, we test. An auto injury exam at Gateway includes:

• A detailed crash history: the mechanics matter
• Orthopedic and neurological testing: range of motion, reflexes, strength, sensation
• Motion Study X-Rays when appropriate. These positional images show how your spine is moving after the impact, which can reveal ligament injuries a standard X-ray misses.
• Documentation at every step, written clearly, because in an accident case the record matters as much as the care

Then you get a plan: what's injured, what we'll do, how long it should take, and how we'll measure progress. If you need advanced imaging, a specialist or an attorney referral, we'll tell you.

What to keep in one folder

• Photos from the scene and of any visible injuries
• Police report number and the other driver's information
• Your symptom log
• Every medical visit, note and receipt
• Missed work dates
• Every letter and call log from insurance companies

The bottom line

The first 72 hours are for three things: rule out an emergency, write everything down, and get examined before "a little stiff" turns into a long-term problem.

Already past 72 hours? Still come in. It's not too late to get checked and start documenting from here. (If you think you're fine, read why "I feel fine" is a trap.)

See how we handle auto accident injuries in St. Louis and whiplash, or book your exam.