Opinion: First Steps After a Winter Car Crash in Connecticut Can Shape Safety and Insurance Claims

We are in the season of ice and snow, slick roads, black ice, poor visibility. It is car crash season.

In all of 2024, nearly 100,000 motor vehicle accidents were reported to the state. More than 235,000 people were involved – and there were 203 fatalities.

After a motor vehicle crash, adrenaline and confusion can make even simple decisions difficult. Yet, what happens in those initial moments can shape everyone’s safety, the accuracy of the record, and the outcome of a potential insurance claim. This is true whether you caused the collision or were harmed by it.

After a crash, it should go without saying that everyone involved should endeavor to make the scene safe. If anyone is seriously hurt, call 911 immediately. If vehicles are drivable and it’s safe, Connecticut generally expects drivers to move them out of travel lanes to reduce secondary collisions.

In the haze of the moment, even simple steps can be overlooked. Turn on hazard lights, set out flares or triangles if available. Stay alert for slick pavement, poor visibility, or black ice – conditions that often trigger chain-reaction impacts.

Protect Yourself

Document what you can before memories fade. Take photos and/or video from multiple angles: vehicle positions, damage, skid marks, debris, traffic signals, and the broader roadway (especially if snow, freezing rain, standing water, or fog played a role). Capture the time and weather. Exchange names, contact details, plate numbers, and insurance information. Get witness names and numbers – independent witnesses matter.

From the victim’s perspective, the priority is health and preserving evidence. Even if you feel “mostly fine,” consider prompt medical evaluation; soft-tissue injuries, concussions, jaw injuries and back pain frequently present later. Keep notes on symptoms and physical limitations in the days that follow. If police respond, provide clear facts without speculating. Ask how to obtain the crash report. When an insurer calls, it’s reasonable to report the crash promptly, but be cautious. You probably are still sorting out injuries and details — don’t speculate. It is just fine to say, for example, “I don’t yet have an answer to your question.”

From the at-fault driver’s perspective, the priority is also safety – but paired with candor and restraint. Check on others, call for help, and cooperate with law enforcement. Do not argue on the roadside or pressure anyone. Focus on concern and assistance. Notify your insurer quickly and provide factual information. If weather contributed – whiteout conditions, untreated roads, sudden ice – say so, but don’t guess at speeds or distances you didn’t measure.

Weather adds Connecticut-specific wrinkles, including snow and ice on vehicles. Did your car get hit by ice or snow that flew off another vehicle?

Connecticut law says drivers must remove any accumulated ice or snow from their motor vehicle, including the hood, trunk and roof so that any ice or snow accumulated on such vehicle does not pose a threat to persons or property. Failure to do this exposes the offender of an infraction and $75 fine. For commercial vehicles that cause damage or injury, fines can be as much as $2,500. Violating this duty can become a key fact in liability disputes after winter crashes.

Finally, whether you were hit or caused the crash, protect the paper trail: save tow and rental receipts, keep copies of medical bills and work notes, and write down a short timeline while it’s fresh. In adverse weather, accuracy matters – because the story of a crash is often decided not just by what happened, but by what can be proven. Drive safely.

Attorney John M. Parese is a partner at the New Haven-based law firm of Buckley Wynne & Parese. His focus is on personal injury cases of all types. He can be reached at 203-776-2278 or [email protected].