What should I do after a T-bone accident in Virginia?

Protect Yourself After a T-Bone Injury With These Steps

There are certain cases when defective parts like malfunctioning brakes are actually the cause of the crash, or when the hiring and training practices of a commercial trucking company may be responsible. However, the driver is typically at fault in most Virginia side-impact accidents. That means you will likely need to recover damages through insurance, or by pursuing a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent driver who struck your vehicle. For a successful outcome in either case, what you do immediately after the accident is critical. 

In many T-bone crashes, the victims can’t exit the vehicle because the doors are smashed in and stuck. If you can safely leave your car or truck, be sure to always:

• Call 911 to have law enforcement examine the crash
• Photograph as much of the scene as possible (vehicles, broken glass, skid marks, weather conditions, your injuries, etc.)
• Talk to any bystanders who saw the collision and get their contact information
• Visit the emergency room to check for broken bones, internal bleeding, or TBI and start a paper trail on your injuries

While your actions in the hours just after the crash are crucial, there are also important steps to take in the days and weeks ahead. After seeking medical attention to discover the extent of your injuries, you then need to: 

Get help from a Virginia car accident attorney as soon as possible

A Virginia car accident lawyer can investigate the cause of the T-bone crash, which may involve acquiring security footage, getting black box data if a commercial truck was involved, accident scene reconstructions, and other sources of evidence.

Follow your doctor’s orders

Engaging in physical activity against a doctor’s advice, missing appointments, or failing to take prescribed medication can cause you problems when seeking compensation.

Politely decline to provide a recorded statement to insurance, or any requests for a blanket release of all your medical records

Let your attorney handle the insurance adjuster so there is less opportunity to deny your claim.

Refrain from social media posting as much as possible

Innocent photos or any discussion of the accident can be twisted and used against you to deny a legitimate claim.