Understanding what to do after a car accident in Washington DC can significantly improve your chances of recovering the compensation you need for your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and other losses. By taking the right steps, you’ll put yourself in a favorable position.
If you were injured in a Washington DC accident, a knowledgeable and experienced car accident lawyer can review the accident details, explain your options for financial recovery, and walk you through the steps involved in pursuing a car accident claim.
Do Not Leave the Accident Scene
It’s crucial that you do not leave the accident scene after a car crash unless you believe you are at immediate risk of harm. Under Washington DC law, drivers involved in a crash resulting in injuries or property damage must remain at the scene and report the accident to the police, regardless of who was at fault for the collision.
Check for Injuries
The first step after a crash is to check yourself, your passengers, and the other parties involved in the accident for injuries. If anyone has a severe injury, seeking immediate medical treatment is vital to prevent their condition from worsening.
Call 911/Local Police
After checking for injuries, report the accident to the police by calling 911. You want to request that an officer come out to the scene to make an official accident report. If there are any injuries, you should request medical assistance.
Exchange Information with the Other Party
While DC requires drivers to initially file insurance claims with their own providers, it’s still important to exchange insurance information with the other party involved. You may have to file a claim with their provider to seek additional compensation.
Information to exchange directly after an accident includes the following:
- Your name
- Your address
- Your contact information
- Your driver’s license number
- Your insurance information
Document the Accident Scene
If you are physically able to, it’s important to document the scene following a car crash. You can do this by taking accident scene photos or videos that capture the damage done to the vehicles, your visible injuries, skid marks on the road, the road and weather conditions, and relevant traffic signs or signals.
You can have someone else document the scene for you if your injuries prevent you from doing so yourself.
At this point, you don’t need to obtain witness statements. However, you should collect the names and contact information of any eyewitnesses. Your lawyer can use that information to follow up with them and get their statements.
Do Not Admit Fault Before You Talk to an Attorney
Many people make the common mistake of speaking to the other driver’s auto insurance company after a car accident. Their insurance company may contact you for a statement about the accident. Even if they say they want to help resolve the case, it’s important to remember that the insurance adjuster does not work for you.
An insurance adjuster’s job is to reduce the liability of the insurance company they work for. One way they do this is by getting accident victims to admit full or partial fault for the accident, which they’ll use to deny or devalue your claim. By speaking to them, you expose yourself to the risk that they trick you into saying something false or twist your words against you.
Any time the other party’s insurance company contacts you, direct them to your lawyer. You should not speak with them without your car accident attorney present.
Contact Your Insurance Company
Even if you don’t believe you are at fault for the accident, you must report it to your insurance company. Washington DC follows a modified no-fault auto insurance system. You must report the accident to your provider to avoid encountering problems with your own insurance company.
If you don’t report the accident to your provider, it may deny coverage if the other driver files a third-party car accident lawsuit against you. Insurance policies generally require that you report all accidents so that they are covered. Failing to do so could leave you personally liable for the other party’s injuries.
See Your Doctor as Soon as You Feel Any Symptoms
Even if you initially feel fine after an accident, many times injuries are not immediately apparent. The adrenaline coursing through your body immediately after a crash can mask the pain of injuries, and some internal injuries may not begin showing symptoms until hours or days after the accident.
For example, whiplash, a common car accident injury affecting the soft tissues in the neck, may not show symptoms until days later, as inflammation sets in. Additionally, internal organ damage may not be noticeable until it worsens and spreads, which can lead to serious medical complications.
It’s also essential to seek treatment as soon as you feel pain, so your doctor can document your injuries in your medical records. This can be crucial for proving the extent and severity of your injuries to the insurance companies.
Get a Copy of the Police Report
Finally, don’t forget to request a copy of the police report. You may be able to request a copy from the officer on the scene. However, you can also obtain a copy by requesting it online.
When filing your auto insurance claims, you may have to provide a copy of the police report. These reports also include key information your lawyer can use to investigate your case.
Get Help from an Experienced Washington DC Car Accident Attorney
The Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC personal injury attorneys of Marks & Harrison have recovered millions for accident victims since 1911. Our firm also has a track record of success in some of the largest cases in Virginia’s history, exemplifying our commitment to seeking recovery for our clients regardless of the challenges they face.
We have a highly skilled team of 30 personal injury attorneys and over 100 support personnel, including research attorneys, in-house investigators, and lawyers who previously worked for insurance companies. If you were in a car accident in Washington DC, contact us today for a free consultation with a qualified member of our legal team about your case.
