After a car accident, your first concern is getting help and protecting your health. Insurance calls, medical paperwork, and missed shifts can follow before you have had time to understand what happened. You do not need to solve the entire claim at the roadside. Take the immediate safety steps first, then preserve the information that will help explain the collision and its effect on your life.
1. Address safety and medical needs first
Call 911 for an emergency and follow instructions from responders. Do not stand in traffic to photograph a vehicle or retrieve an item. Tell medical providers what happened, what you are experiencing, and when your symptoms began. Let qualified professionals decide what examination or treatment is appropriate.
Virginia Code § 46.2-894 requires drivers involved in specified crashes to stop, provide identifying information, and render reasonable assistance. It also addresses a driver whose injuries prevent immediate compliance. These are duties at the scene; an insurance claim is a separate process.
2. Record where the crash happened
In Hampton Roads, a route name alone may leave important questions unanswered. If the collision occurred on I-64 or I-264, record the direction of travel, nearest exit or mile marker, approximate time, and responding agency. For a city intersection, record both street names. Do not guess a location or sequence you cannot remember.
- Keep the officer’s name, agency, and report or incident number.
- Save the other driver’s identifying and insurance information.
- Keep witness names and contact information without coaching their accounts.
- Preserve original photographs and dashcam recordings if they can be obtained safely.
A family member can help organize this material while you recover. If you could not collect it, tell us what is missing. That does not by itself determine whether you have a claim.
3. Request the crash report through the proper channel
The Virginia DMV crash-report page explains who may request a complete report and the information needed. Drivers, passengers, injured people, and qualifying representatives are among the eligible requesters. Keep the report you receive, but bring any apparent factual error to your attorney’s attention. A report helps organize an investigation; it is not a substitute for examining the underlying evidence.
4. Keep treatment and work records together
Create a folder for discharge instructions, appointment records, bills, prescriptions, referrals, and written work restrictions. Keep an accurate calendar of missed work and help needed with ordinary tasks. Explain prior injuries and treatment gaps honestly. Records are most useful when they show what actually happened, including improvements as well as limitations.
5. Keep insurance communications, and identify what is being requested
Save letters, emails, claim numbers, and proposed releases. Before giving a recorded statement or signing a broad authorization, identify which insurer is asking and what the document covers. Duties to your own insurer may differ from requests made by another driver’s insurer. Ask for advice about the actual policy and request instead of assuming one response fits every situation.
6. Get the dates reviewed early
Virginia Code § 8.01-243(A) generally provides two years for a personal injury action after accrual, subject to exceptions. Other notice requirements can apply. An insurance conversation should not be treated as an extension. We review the dates and potential parties early, even when medical treatment is continuing.
How we help you move forward
We investigate responsibility, review medical and wage documentation, identify potentially available coverage, and explain settlement or litigation options. Read our Hampton Roads car-accident guide and injury claim-process guide for more detail.
Common questions
Can I contact you before treatment is finished?
Yes. An early conversation can identify evidence and deadline questions while your providers continue your care.
What if I was a passenger?
Tell us which vehicle you occupied, who was driving, and any insurance information you have. We examine the potentially responsible parties and coverage; we do not assume only one driver matters.
Do I need every document before calling?
No. Start with the date, location, basic circumstances, and your questions. We can identify what additional records may be useful.
Talk with Phoenix about your injury claim
The Phoenix Trial Firm is Black-owned and military-owned. We help injured people from our Hampton office at 2 Eaton Street, Suite 900, and our Smithfield office at 1807 S. Church Street, Suite 200C. Call 757-777-9285 or request a free personal injury consultation.
Learn more about our personal injury representation and attorney fees and case expenses. Representation and fee terms are governed by a written agreement.
About the author: Maxie Lawton is a Phoenix co-founder and former Army Ranger who represents injured people. His own recovery from serious injury informs his approach to client communication and preparation.
Virginia sources checked October 14, 2026. This article provides general information, not advice about a particular claim. Outcomes depend on the facts, law, proof, and available coverage. Contacting us does not establish an attorney-client relationship; representation requires our agreement. Please avoid confidential details in an initial inquiry.
