What the insurance company does not want you to know about this: yes, the first 24 to 72 hours can decide what evidence still exists.

1. Photograph everything immediately. Take wide shots and close-ups of the vehicles, license plates, skid marks, debris, road conditions, injuries, torn clothing, and any work gear. In Soldotna summer traffic on the Sterling Highway, tire pieces, fluid stains, and vehicle positions can disappear fast once tow trucks and tourists move through.

2. Get the police report number before you leave the scene if possible. If Alaska State Troopers or Soldotna Police respond, ask for the case number. Alaska crash reports often become a key reference for insurers and employers. If nobody responded, report the crash promptly when required, especially if there was injury or major property damage.

3. Preserve dashcam and phone evidence right away. Dashcams often overwrite footage within hours or days. Save the file in more than one place. Keep your call log, texts, map history, and time-stamped photos. If a supervisor, coworker, or insurer contacted you right after the crash, those timestamps can matter.

4. Get witness names now, not later. Write down full names, phone numbers, and what each person saw. A short text or voice memo from a witness the same day is often stronger than a vague memory weeks later, especially with seasonal visitors passing through Soldotna.

5. Save medical and work records from day one. Keep the ER record, urgent care note, imaging orders, work restrictions, mileage to treatment, and incident report. If you were hurt while working, notify your employer quickly and keep a copy of every workers' comp form and email.

6. Use your Alaska coverages correctly. Alaska requires PIP no-fault coverage, so your own auto policy may pay certain medical bills and lost wages first, regardless of fault. That does not mean fault evidence is irrelevant. Save it anyway if another driver, a defective vehicle part, or a work-related claim is involved.