What to Do After a Car Accident

Aug 10, 2015 | Auto Accidents

No one wants to be involved in a car accident, but odds are you will experience at least one during your lifetime. The actions you take immediately after an accident can have a huge impact on your later dealings with insurance companies and lawyers, so it’s important that you know what to do before the situation arises.

Check out our top 6 things to do after a car accident to help you keep a cool head in a tough situation and save you a lot of headaches in the future.

1. Check for Injuries

If you are not too badly injured yourself, check all other drivers and passengers for injuries. The safety of everyone involved is most important. Call an ambulance if you have any doubt, as the full extent of injuries may not be immediately obvious.

2. Call the Police

You should call the police to the scene of any accident more serious than a minor fender bender. Make sure that a police report is filed, and ask for the case number. Also get the names and badge numbers of all officers at the scene. Police officers handle many accidents each week. You want to be able to easily identify which one is yours weeks or months down the line.

3. Take Pictures

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and that’s definitely true when it comes to car accidents. It’s fortunate, then, that most of us have a camera in our purses or pockets almost all the time. Take as many pictures as you can, and try to capture as many different angles as possible. Also take pictures of the general area and any traffic indicators. These photos may be important evidence later on.

 4. Get All the Information You Can

Start by exchanging insurance information with the other driver, as well as names and phone numbers. Write down the insurance company, the name of the insured (who may not be the driver), and the policy number. Also get the names and numbers of any passengers or witnesses. The more information you gather at the scene the better. Having these names and numbers will come in handy when you …

5. File an Insurance Claim

Call your insurance provider as soon as possible to inform them of the accident and start the claim process. Explain the facts clearly, and be truthful. You will probably have to give your statement several times, so you may want to write down the main points—human memory is not as reliable as we like to think.

 6. Consider Hiring a Lawyer

Insurance claims are a messy business, and an experienced attorney can help guide you through the process. If you are injured in an accident, hiring a licensed car accident lawyer will help you get the best recovery possible. Don’t accept a settlement offer until you consult with an attorney.

If you’ve been injured in an accident, contact us for a free consultation.

Geoff McDonald and Associates: 804-888-8888.

FREE CONSULTATION

No Fees Unless We Win





    By checking this box, you agree to receive text messages from McDonald & Associates. You can reply 'STOP' to opt out at any time. This is our privacy policy https://www.mcdonaldinjurylaw.com/privacy-policy/.




    5 Steps To Take After an Uninsured Driver Hits Your Car in Virginia

    Until very recently, Virginia was one of the few U.S. states that didn’t require drivers to carry auto insurance. A new law mandated that all drivers must have insurance by July 1, 2024, but as with any change to the status quo, there are always some stragglers. What...

    How Failed Motorcycle Inspections Can Impact Your Accident Case

    According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Virginia is home to nearly 200,000 registered motorcycles. If you own one, you’ll need to arrange to have an annual motorcycle inspection performed to help avoid liability in case of a potential motorcycle...

    How Long After a Car Accident Can Injuries Appear?

    In the immediate aftermath of a car accident, you might feel fine and not think you sustained any significant injuries. You might even refuse medical treatment on the scene of a car crash because you don’t sense anything is wrong. But you might be surprised to...

    How To Secure a Police Report for a Car Accident: A Complete Guide

    The first thing you should do after being involved in a car accident is call 911. A 911 operator can send police out to the accident scene to investigate your crash and create a police report. From there, it’s up to you to figure out how to secure a police...

    How Do Most Motorcycle Accidents Happen in Virginia?

    In 2022, over 2,000 motorcycle crashes occurred in Virginia, accounting for only 1.7% of all traffic collisions but over 10% of serious traffic injuries. If you’re a rider, you should be extra careful on the roads and avoid the motorcycle collision causes we mention...

    Our Case Results

    $4,700,000
    Industrial Plant Accident

    Attorneys for the Plaintiff: Jeffrey A. Breit and Justin M. Sheldon Our client was killed in an industrial accident when an unauthorized worker was operating an overhead crane and pinned our client between…

    $1,750,000
    Rear-End Crash

    Our client suffered a traumatic brain injury, facial trauma, a dislocated hip and severe abdominal trauma when she was rear-ended at a traffic light by a tractor trailer. Suit was commenced shortly after…

    $1,250,000
    Assault of Log Truck Driver

    Attorneys for the Plaintiff: Geoffrey R. McDonald, Frank H. Hupfl, Justin M. Sheldon.
    Our client suffered a traumatic brain injury after being assaulted and knocked to the ground while fueling his logging…

    $860,000
    Drunk Driving Crash

    Our client suffered neck/head trauma and a broken wrist after his vehicle was struck by a drunk driver while he was stopped at a traffic light. Upon rejection of a settlement offer of $325,000, our litigation…

    $700,000
    Rear-End Collision

    Attorneys for the Plaintiff: Justin M. Sheldon and Geoff R. McDonald, Richmond
    GMA’s client was injured as a result of a rear-end collision in the greater Richmond area. The crash occurred a little after…

    Client Reviews

    Cheryl and Rich were wonderful and patient with me throughout the case. All of my questions were answered. They really helped me through this tough time and made sure to let me know what was going on. I really thank Geoff…

    Troy Saxby

    My experience with GMA staff was first rate. They always represented in a professional way and made sure I had everything as far as paperwork. Kara and Theo made sure to answer all my questions, was always available and so…

    Shirley Brown

    Geoff McDonald & Associates is the team that you want on the field if you’re in need of top notch legal defense! Mr. Taj Henley demonstrated true customer service skills and his expertise made me feel comfortable throughout the…

    Julian Reeves

    Geoff McDonald & Associates: Thank you Taj Henley for all of your hard work and dedication! Very expeditious in my case and I was very satisfied with my settlement. Will recommend to all my friends and family!

    Shareema Williams

    Geoff is number one in my book and I especially appreciate the support of Mr Henley

    Ebony Conwell

    I was so pleased with the knowledge and support from Mr. Taj Henley

    Kideem Frierson

    Thank you Geoff McDonald &Associates. A special thank you to Mr. Taj Henley

    Denise Conwell

    Mr. Taj Henley displays exceptional professionalism for Geoff McDonald & Associates, along with commendable communication skills and customer service. By his work ethic and commitment to the people he serves his value to any…

    Justin Fitzgerald