What to Do After a Car Accident in Virginia: A Step-by-Step Guide
What to Do After a Car Accident in Virginia | 14 Steps to Protect Your Claim
A car accident can happen in seconds. What you do during the minutes, hours, and days afterward can have a major impact on your health and any potential Virginia car accident claim.
You may be injured, shaken, confused, or unsure about what to do next. Meanwhile, insurance companies may begin investigating the accident almost immediately.
Knowing what to do after a car accident in Virginia can help you protect yourself, preserve important evidence, and avoid mistakes that could potentially hurt your claim.
Here are 14 important steps to take after a Virginia car accident.
1. Check for Injuries
Your first priority after any Virginia car accident should be the safety of everyone involved.
Check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If possible, determine whether anyone in the other vehicles needs emergency assistance.
Call 911 immediately if someone is seriously injured or needs medical attention.
Keep in mind that car accident injuries are not always obvious at the scene. Adrenaline and shock can temporarily mask symptoms.
Neck pain, back pain, headaches, dizziness, numbness, stiffness, and other symptoms may develop later.
2. Get to a Safe Location
If your vehicle can safely be moved and it is creating a traffic hazard, move to a safer location when appropriate.
Turn on your hazard lights and remain alert for approaching vehicles.
Never risk another collision or injury simply to inspect vehicle damage or retrieve something from the roadway.
3. Call the Police and Report the Accident
Contact law enforcement and report the crash.
When officers arrive, provide an accurate description of what happened. Stick to the facts and avoid guessing about details you do not know.
The responding officer may investigate the collision, speak with drivers and witnesses, document the scene, and prepare a crash report.
Ask how you can obtain a copy of the report before leaving the scene.
4. Exchange Information With the Other Driver
Get the other driver's identifying and insurance information.
Collect the driver's:
Full name
Telephone number
Driver's license information
Insurance company
Insurance policy information
License plate number
Vehicle make and model
Name of the vehicle owner if different from the driver
Provide the information legally required from you as well.
Avoid getting into an argument over who caused the accident. Fault can be investigated later using physical evidence, witness statements, photographs, video, police reports, and other information.
5. Take Plenty of Pictures and Videos
One of the most important things you can do after a Virginia car accident is document the scene.
If you can safely do so, take more photographs than you think you need.
Photograph:
Damage to every vehicle
The entire accident scene
Vehicle positions
License plates
Skid marks
Broken vehicle parts and debris
Traffic lights
Stop signs
Road markings
Intersections
Construction areas
Weather and road conditions
Nearby businesses or buildings
Visible injuries
Take both close-up and wide-angle photographs.
Video can also be extremely helpful because it allows you to capture the entire accident scene and surrounding area.
Keep the original files.
6. Identify Witnesses
If someone witnessed the collision, ask for that person's name and contact information.
An independent witness can become extremely important if you and the other driver disagree about how the accident happened.
You don't need to conduct an investigation at the roadside. Getting accurate contact information is the priority.
7. Seek Medical Attention for Your Injuries
If you are injured after a Virginia car accident, get appropriate medical treatment.
Do not assume that an injury is insignificant simply because you can walk away from the crash.
Some injuries become more noticeable after the initial shock of the accident wears off.
When receiving medical treatment, accurately explain your symptoms and tell your healthcare provider that you were involved in a motor vehicle accident.
Follow your medical provider's instructions and attend recommended follow-up appointments.
8. Notify Your Auto Insurance Company
Report the accident to your automobile insurance company as required by your policy.
Provide accurate information about the crash, but avoid speculation.
If you do not know the answer to a question, don't guess.
Be particularly careful about making definitive statements regarding your physical condition immediately after an accident. You may not yet know the full extent of your injuries.
9. Be Careful When the Other Driver's Insurance Company Calls
The other driver's insurance company may contact you after the accident.
Remember that the insurance adjuster represents the insurance company—not you.
You may be asked to explain the accident, discuss your injuries, provide a recorded statement, sign documents, authorize access to information, or discuss settlement.
Understand what you are being asked to provide before agreeing to anything.
If you have suffered significant injuries, consider speaking with a Virginia car accident attorney before giving detailed statements or accepting a settlement.
10. Save Every Document Related to Your Virginia Car Accident
Create a physical or digital folder for your accident.
Keep:
Medical bills
Medical records
Prescription receipts
Insurance letters and emails
Repair estimates
Vehicle photographs
Towing bills
Rental car expenses
Police reports
Witness information
Accident photographs and videos
Receipts for accident-related expenses
If your injuries cause you to miss work, keep documentation of your missed time and lost income.
Good documentation can make it much easier to demonstrate your losses later.
11. Document Your Recovery
Consider keeping a simple journal describing how your injuries affect you.
Record your pain, symptoms, medical appointments, medications, physical limitations, missed work, sleep problems, and activities you can no longer perform normally.
Be accurate.
The goal isn't to exaggerate your injuries. It is to preserve a record of what you actually experienced while recovering from the accident.
12. Be Extremely Careful With Social Media
What you post online after a Virginia car accident could potentially become relevant to an insurance claim or lawsuit.
A photograph or comment that seems completely innocent to you may look different when viewed without context.
Consider limiting posts about your:
Accident
Injuries
Medical treatment
Physical activities
Travel
Insurance claim
Lawsuit
Never post something about your injuries that is inconsistent with what you have reported to your doctors, insurance company, or attorney.
13. Don't Rush to Accept an Insurance Settlement
An insurance company may offer you money to resolve your injury claim.
Receiving an offer does not necessarily mean you should immediately accept it.
Before settling, consider whether you understand the full extent of your injuries, medical expenses, lost income, future treatment needs, and other losses.
Settling a personal injury claim generally involves signing a release that ends the claim.
That makes it especially important to understand what you are agreeing to before signing settlement documents.
14. Talk to a Virginia Car Accident Lawyer
Not every minor automobile accident requires an attorney.
However, consider speaking with a Virginia personal injury lawyer when you have suffered significant injuries, liability is disputed, multiple vehicles are involved, an insurance company refuses to pay your claim, or you are being pressured to accept a settlement.
A Virginia car accident attorney may be able to investigate the collision, preserve evidence, identify responsible parties, communicate with insurance companies, document your damages, and explain your legal options.
Virginia's rules regarding fault can also make the circumstances surrounding an accident particularly important. If there is a dispute about who caused the collision, getting legal advice early may help you avoid mistakes that could affect your ability to pursue compensation.
What NOT to Do After a Car Accident in Virginia
Just as important as knowing what to do is knowing what to avoid.
After a Virginia car crash, avoid:
Leaving the scene when you are legally required to remain
Arguing with another driver
Making unnecessary statements about fault
Guessing about how the accident happened
Ignoring pain or other symptoms
Posting details of your injuries on social media
Throwing away accident-related documents
Signing documents you do not understand
Giving inaccurate information to an insurance company
Accepting a settlement without understanding what your claim may involve
Virginia Car Accident Checklist
If you have just been involved in a crash, remember these steps:
1. Check for injuries.
2. Move to a safe location when appropriate.
3. Call 911.
4. Exchange driver and insurance information.
5. Photograph and video the scene.
6. Get witness contact information.
7. Seek appropriate medical care.
8. Report the accident to your insurer.
9. Be cautious when speaking with insurance adjusters.
10. Save all accident-related documents.
11. Document your injuries and recovery.
12. Be careful about social media.
13. Don't rush into a settlement.
14. Consider speaking with a Virginia car accident lawyer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Virginia Car Accidents
What should I do immediately after a car accident in Virginia?
First, check yourself and others for injuries and call 911 when necessary. Get to a safe location, report the collision, exchange information with the other driver, photograph the scene, identify witnesses, and seek medical care for injuries.
Should I call the police after a car accident in Virginia?
Depending on the circumstances, Virginia law may require an accident to be reported. Even when you believe an accident is relatively minor, having law enforcement respond can provide important documentation of the collision.
Should I take pictures after a Virginia car accident?
Yes. If it is safe to do so, photograph the vehicles, damage, roadway, traffic signals, signs, skid marks, debris, license plates, and surrounding accident scene. Photographs may later help establish how the accident happened and the extent of the damage.
What if I feel fine immediately after the accident?
Some injuries may not produce obvious symptoms immediately. Pay attention to how you feel after the accident and seek appropriate medical care if you experience pain or other symptoms.
Should I give the other driver's insurance company a recorded statement?
NO. Be cautious before providing a recorded statement to another driver's insurance company. If you have suffered significant injuries or there is a dispute regarding fault, consider obtaining legal advice before making detailed statements about the collision or your injuries.
What if the insurance company says I was partially responsible for the accident?
Do not assume the insurance company's determination is necessarily the final word. Fault disputes can involve complicated factual and legal issues. If you were seriously injured and fault is being disputed, consider discussing the circumstances with a Virginia personal injury attorney.
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Virginia?
Virginia imposes deadlines on personal injury claims. The applicable deadline can depend on the circumstances of the case, and exceptions may apply. Because missing a legal deadline can prevent a claim from moving forward, you should not wait until a deadline is approaching to obtain legal advice.
How much is my Virginia car accident case worth?
There is no universal formula for determining the value of a car accident case.
Potential value can depend on factors such as the severity of the injuries, medical expenses, lost income, future treatment, available insurance coverage, evidence of fault, and how the injuries affect the person's life.
A lawyer needs to evaluate the individual circumstances before providing a meaningful assessment.
Injured in a Virginia Car Accident? Get Answers Before Dealing With the Insurance Company Alone.
A serious car accident can leave you facing medical bills, lost wages, vehicle damage, pain, and an insurance company that may already be investigating the claim.
You don't have to make important decisions about your claim without understanding your legal options.
If you were injured in a Virginia car accident because of another driver's negligence, contact our office to schedule a consultation.
We can review what happened, discuss the evidence, explain the Virginia laws that may affect your case, and help you understand your options for pursuing compensation.
Don't wait until important evidence disappears or an insurance company pressures you into making a decision.
Injured in a Virginia Car Accident?
Call today to schedule your consultation with a Virginia personal injury attorney.
Whether your accident occurred in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News, or elsewhere in Virginia, contact us to discuss your case and learn what your next steps should be.
Your consultation is an opportunity to get answers. Your next decision could matter.
Comments