Car Accident Do’s & Don’ts

Do’s

Do notify your insurance company of the accident, they may need information to assist in their investigation to confirm you were not at fault. Be careful though, do not EVER give a recorded statement without consulting a lawyer. 

Do contact a Personal Injury Attorney. Insurance companies are focused on limiting payouts and may try to minimize the value of your claim or pressure you into settling too early. An experienced attorney can step in to protect your rights, negotiate on your behalf, and ensure you aren’t taken advantage of during this stressful time. At our firm, we bring decades of combined experience fighting for accident victims—experience you can rely on to maximize your compensation and guide you through every step of the legal process.

Do call the police, a report is indispensable when making a claim. According to Virginia law, police must prepare and file a report for any accident totaling damage of $1,500 or more within 24 hours. Want to learn more about how a Police Crash Report helps you? Click here!

Do take photos of damage to your vehicle and of any injuries resulting from the accident. Be thorough, any visible scars, bruises, or wounds to your body resulting from the accident should be documented. These photographs may provide important evidence at later stages of your case, particularly if your case goes to trial.

Do file your medical bills with your health insurance if you have one. Keep prescription receipts, log any time missed from work as well as all miles for all accident-related errands and appointments. Be aware, insurance companies normally will not pay for any medical bills until they settle your claim; due to this we often partner with treatment centers who will delay payment until disbursement.

Do keep a list of all the doctors you have seen since the accident. Also keep a detailed log of how you have been inconvenienced by the accident. (i.e. pain and suffering, disruption in normal routines, etc.) Such details may assist in enhancing the value of your claim.

Don’ts

Don’t give a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster or your own insurance company, consult with an attorney first. Such statements could significantly decrease the value of your claim, and the “friendly” insurance adjuster may not really be trying to “help” resolve your claim. Always give us a call, it’s free and our lines are open 24 hours day, seven days a week. 

Don’t sign any documents or releases relating to your injuries without having an attorney review it first. You may be waiving important rights which may jeopardize or significantly impact the value of your claim. Remember, once you sign a release, you may be waiving your right to recover additional compensation if you are still suffering from your injury.

Don’t delay seeking medical attention. Remember, hard impact soft tissue injuries may be internal and not be obvious or painful until later. Many injured clients report feeling much worse after waking up the next morning. While not as visible, these injuries are often serious, seek help from a medical professional.

Don’t forget about your scheduled medical appointments! Missed appointments and gaps in treatment adversely impact your case. Be forthright with the doctor about all aspects of your injuries, both before and after the accident. Failure to do so may hurt the value of your case. Make sure to inform the doctor of all injuries related to your crash.

Don’t neglect yourself. Recovery may take days, weeks or even months. Make sure you take it easy, abide by the doctor’s restrictions, if any, and do all prescribed therapies and exercises. Allow yourself the opportunity to heal to help you reach maximum medical improvement. Failure to comply with job restrictions, medication, or home exercise prescribed by the doctor may affect the value of your claim.