Blog · After the Accident

What to do after a car accident in Fredericton - from the side of the road to full recovery.

We respond to accident scenes across the greater Fredericton area every week, and we've noticed something: everyone knows to call a tow truck, but almost everyone skips the last step of an accident - taking care of themselves. Here's the complete playbook, including the part where we hand you off to people who fix bodies instead of vehicles.

Step 1

Secure the scene first.

Get to a safe spot. If the vehicle drives and it's safe to move, get it off the travelled lane. If not, stay buckled with hazards on until traffic allows a safe exit - especially on the Trans-Canada or Route 8, where approach speeds are highest.
Call 911 if anyone might be hurt or if the vehicles are creating a hazard. Police will tell you what reporting is required for your situation.
Photograph everything - vehicle positions, damage, licence plates, the road surface, weather, signage. Thirty seconds of photos saves weeks of insurance back-and-forth.
Exchange information - names, licence numbers, insurance details, plate numbers. Keep it factual and polite; fault gets decided later, not at the roadside.

Step 2

The tow - our part of the story.

Once everyone's safe and the scene is documented, call us at (506) 292-5604 - our 24/7 emergency towing in Fredericton answers around the clock, and we cover every Fredericton neighbourhood and 50 km beyond. Here's what happens next, so nothing surprises you:

We coordinate with police on scene - we work alongside the RCMP and Fredericton Police regularly, and we know the drill for scene clearance.
Your vehicle goes where it needs to go - our secure storage, your preferred repair shop, or wherever your insurer directs. You don't have to decide at the roadside; storage buys you time to make a good decision.
We document for your claim - photos, condition notes, and chain-of-custody handover that adjusters can work with. See our accident recovery service for the full rundown.
Grab your essentials before the truck leaves - wallet, phone, garage door opener, medications, kids' car seats. It's the thing people forget most.

Step 3

Start the insurance clock.

Call your insurer as soon as you reasonably can - same day is ideal. Have your photos, the other driver's information, and the police file number if there is one. If your vehicle came to our yard, tell your adjuster; we deal with the major Canadian insurers routinely and can provide whatever documentation they ask for.

One thing many New Brunswick drivers don't know: standard NB auto insurance includes accident benefits (often called "Section B") that can help cover medical treatment after a collision - regardless of who was at fault. That matters for the next step, which is the one most people skip.

Step 4 · The Step Everyone Skips

Get your body checked - even if you feel fine.

Here's what six years of accident scenes has taught us: the person standing at the roadside telling us "I'm fine, it's just the car" is often moving pretty stiffly when we see them around town a week later.

There's a reason for that. The adrenaline of a collision can mask pain and stiffness for hours or even days - soft-tissue injuries like whiplash are notorious for showing up well after the accident, once your body comes down from the stress response. By the time the soreness arrives, many people have already told their insurer they weren't hurt.

That's why our standing advice to every accident customer is simple: get assessed by a qualified health professional promptly, even if you feel okay. Your family doctor is always a good start - and for the musculoskeletal side of collision recovery, we're glad to point people to a team we trust.

Our recommendation: Fredericton Family Chiropractic

Fredericton Family Chiropractic: A Creating Wellness Centre is one of the top-rated clinics in the city, and motor vehicle accident recovery is a genuine specialty there - not a sideline. Dr. Scott Brayall is one of very few chiropractors in the province certified in both Chiropractic BioPhysics® and Functional Neurology, which matters for exactly the kinds of injuries collisions cause - from whiplash to concussion assessment.

Their site has an entire library on collision recovery worth reading before you decide you're "fine," including why pain can show up days after a car accident, how to tell whiplash from concussion, and how Section B insurance works in New Brunswick for covering treatment.

A note for our veteran customers: the clinic also works with Veterans Affairs (DVA) coverage for chiropractic care - something close to our heart as a veteran-owned company. Details on their Veterans page, or call them at (506) 472-7000 - 1-30 Hughes St, Fredericton, serving Fredericton, Oromocto and New Maryland.

The Checklist

Post-accident, in order.

Safe spot, hazards on, 911 if anyone might be hurt
Photos + exchange info
Call us for the tow: (506) 292-5604 - grab your essentials before the truck leaves
Call your insurer same-day; ask about accident benefits (Section B)
Get your body assessed within a few days - even if you feel fine
Keep every receipt and record from the day of the accident onward

This article is general information from a towing operator's perspective - it isn't medical, legal, or insurance advice. For health concerns after a collision, see a qualified health professional. For claim specifics, talk to your insurer.

In an accident right now?

Get safe first. Then one call and we're rolling - 24/7, insurance-coordinated, no phone tree.

Call (506) 292-5604