The chaos and confusion following a car accident in Virginia can leave you feeling unsure how to proceed. The steps you take in the immediate aftermath and the days following the incident can significantly impact your physical recovery and your ability to protect your legal rights.
Prioritize Safety and Assess the Situation
Immediately following a car accident, your primary concern should be ensuring the safety of yourself, your passengers, and others involved. Swiftly assess the situation and check for any injuries that warrant immediate medical attention. If anyone appears seriously injured or unresponsive, promptly dial 911 for emergency assistance. Even in cases where injuries appear minor, trust your instincts and seek medical evaluation to rule out any hidden or delayed symptoms.
If the damage is severe or anyone is injured, leaving the vehicles in place is best unless they pose an immediate hazard. Turn on your hazard lights to warn oncoming drivers and wait for help.
Contact Law Enforcement and File an Accident Report
Regardless of the accident’s severity, involving law enforcement and filing an official accident report is extremely helpful. A police report can provide valuable documentation when dealing with insurance companies or potential legal proceedings. When the police arrive, provide a concise account of what happened, sticking to the facts without admitting fault. If the police cannot respond due to the minor nature of the accident or other priorities, file a report at the nearest police station or through Virginia’s online crash reporting system.
Gather Evidence and Document the Scene
Be sure to gather evidence and document the accident scene. Use your smartphone to take photos and videos of the damage to all vehicles involved, capturing multiple angles and close-up shots of dents, scratches, or broken parts, and the accident scene and any other relevant information, such the other driver’s license plate.
Exchange Information and Collect Witness Statements
Exchange essential information with the other drivers involved, including full names, contact details, insurance company names, policy numbers, and license plate numbers. If there are witnesses who saw the accident occur, collect their names and contact information as well. Witness statements can provide valuable third-party perspectives and help corroborate your account of the events.
When exchanging information, remain calm and professional, but avoid discussing fault or liability at the scene. Stick to the facts and let the appropriate parties determine responsibility based on the evidence.
Contact an Attorney Immediately
The best thing to do after you leave an accident scene, once you have taken care of your injuries, is to contact a personal injury attorney and understand your legal rights and how best to proceed. An attorney will help you obtain medical care, advise you of any deadlines, and take the lead in contacting the insurance companies. They will gather evidence and lead you through the process of successfully pursuing a claim.
Contacting the insurance company yourself, without first consulting with an attorney, can be stressful and dangerous to your claim, especially if you have not been through the process of bringing a personal injury claim. Anything you say can be used against you and the insurance company is looking out for their interests, not yours.
Notify Your Insurance Company and Initiate the Claims Process
Your attorney will promptly contact your insurance company to report the incident and provide them with the information that best advances your claim. This includes a factual account of what transpired, the documentation you gathered, and the evidence the attorney has gathered, including the police report, photographs, and witness details.
Seek Medical Attention and Prioritize Your Health
Even if you didn’t require emergency medical treatment at the accident scene, schedule a thorough medical evaluation as soon as possible. Some injuries, such as whiplash, concussions, or soft tissue damage, may not present obvious symptoms until hours or days after the accident. By seeking prompt medical attention, any injuries are properly diagnosed and treated, and you create a vital record of your medical care, which can be crucial for insurance claims or legal proceedings.
Keep Meticulous Records and Understand Your Legal Rights
In addition to medical records, maintain a file of all expenses related to the accident, such as vehicle repair costs, rental car fees, and hours missed from work. You can then send these documents to your attorney who can use them to pursue your claim and obtain full compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance company or in court, if necessary.
Consult with Our Skilled Virginia Car Accident Attorney
At Simeone & Miller, LLP, we understand the profound impact a car accident can have on your life. Our dedicated team of car accident attorneys possesses the knowledge and experience to guide you through the process, from navigating insurance claims to pursuing legal action when necessary. If you or a loved one has experienced a car accident in Virginia, we encourage you to contact us for a consultation.
