Steps to Take After a Richmond Car Accident
Car crashes occur frequently in Virginia, and a majority of all reported collisions result from driver negligence or error. According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, car accidents are also rising across the state, with a steady increase of collision rates since 2020. In 2022, there were a total of 122,434 motor vehicle collisions reported in Virginia, which resulted in a total of more than 59,000 injuries and more than 1,000 deaths. Major causal factors reported included alcohol and speeding. When another party causes a collision, it may be possible to hold them accountable by filing a claim. To do so, it will be important to take certain steps in the aftermath of a crash.
When a collision does occur, anyone involved in the crash can be disoriented and seriously injured. As such, it can be difficult to think clearly about the steps you need to take. If you are able to do so, however, taking particular steps can help you immensely with the claims process later on. Our Richmond car accident attorneys recommend the following steps when possible.
Gather Information at the Crash Site
If you are physically able to do so, information gathered at the scene of the car accident can be extremely important in a future insurance claim or lawsuit. What kind of information should you gather? First, you should take photographs and/or videos of the accident scene. When you capture images, be sure to record close-ups as well as shots from a greater distance that depict the overall scene of the collision. You should also photograph injuries and vehicle damage.
In addition to taking photos and videos, you should obtain contact information from anyone who was involved in the accident, as well as from anyone who may have witnessed it.
Seek a Medical Evaluation
It is essential to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Even if you do not believe your injuries are especially severe, you should recognize that some serious forms of physical trauma can take hours or even days to appear, and if you do not seek medical help, they can worsen without proper treatment. Given that Virginia is a pure contributory negligence state, you do not want to give the at-fault driver any opportunity to argue that you are even minimally at fault for the severity of your injuries because your ability to obtain compensation could be barred.
Research Lawyers and Begin the Claims Process in a Timely Manner
Next, it is critical to seek help from an experienced car accident lawyer and to ensure that you file a lawsuit, if you need to do so in order to seek compensation, before the statute of limitations runs out. Under Virginia law, injury victims typically have two years from the date of the injury to file a civil lawsuit. After that time window closes, the injured person’s claim will become a time-barred claim.
Contact an Experienced Richmond Car Accident Lawyer
Were you injured recently in a motor vehicle collision in the Richmond area? You may have more than one option for seeking financial compensation, and you should discuss your case with an experienced Richmond car accident attorney at Latham & Martin, P.C. as soon as possible. We have years of experience representing clients in a wide range of personal injury cases, including car crashes and other motor vehicle collisions. We can answer any questions you have today and can begin working with you on your claim for financial compensation.
Sources:
dmv.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/documents/crash_facts_22.pdf
law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title8.01/chapter4/section8.01-243/
