The Mottley Law Firm has strong connections to the Mechanicsville, Virginia community because our founder, Kevin Mottley, was raised in Mechanicsville, he went to school in Mechanicsville (graduating from Lee-Davis High School, now Mechanicsville High School), and he remains very proud of his Hanoverian roots.
We serve the town from our office in Richmond’s west end, which is just a short 20-minute drive from most areas of the Mechanicsville community.
The Mottley Law Firm’s lawyers are devoted to helping people who have been injured in a car accident, a motorcycle accident, or any other sort of accident or mishap. This includes clients in the Mechanicsville, Virginia area, as well anywhere else in the Commonwealth of Virginia. To schedule a free consultation, please call us at (804) 409-0876.
Knowing the appropriate actions to take after a crash is critical for protecting yourself legally and ensuring you make a financial recovery when the repair costs and medical bills start rolling in. However, the shock and chaos of a car accident often make it difficult for victims to think through what to do next. You may be tempted to avoid dealing with insurance or remaining at the scene to speak with law enforcement. Unfortunately, failing to report the accident may cause significantly more problems than it solves.
When and Why You Need to Contact Law Enforcement in VA After a Crash
The bottom line is that you should call local law enforcement as soon as possible after any vehicle accident, or have someone else call if you are seriously injured and need to remain stationary. In any car, truck, bus, or motorcycle accident involving a human injury or property damage, you are required by Virginia law to:
- Stop your vehicle as close to the accident site as possible without blocking traffic
- Render assistance to anyone hurt in the crash
- Report the incident
Here’s why that last step is important in absolutely any type of vehicle collision, regardless of injuries. It’s necessary to get details of the event into a written record that can be used later to negotiate with insurance. A police report lends substantial credibility to your claim when dealing with an insurance adjuster.
Having a paper trail of the accident to refer to, such as a ticket if the other driver was cited, is also crucial to protecting your legal rights. Of course, simply being ticketed by a police officer doesn’t automatically make that person liable for your damages, but it is extremely useful evidence to have on hand.
You still need to call the police even if the other driver flees the scene, or if the vehicle damage seems minor and you don’t feel particularly hurt. Car accidents, even at low speeds, come with the possibility of internal injuries that may cause extreme medical problems if they aren’t discovered quickly. Soft tissue injuries, organ damage, or a traumatic brain injury (TBI) may not immediately show symptoms at the scene.
If you don’t report the accident but then discover you have a TBI or some other injury a few days later, it will be much more difficult to receive a settlement from the at-fault party’s insurer or to win a personal injury lawsuit.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Helps After a Virginia Car Accident
Making a full financial recovery after a serious car accident injury requires more than simply calling the police, of course. Crash survivors need to know what steps to take, and which to avoid, after the adrenaline rush from the accident wears off.
There is one extremely crucial pitfall to avoid in particular. Do not admit fault in any capacity to either the police or the other driver. Don’t even admit partial fault to try to make the other driver feel better if they are hurt. Instead, allow the lawyers and insurers to determine who is responsible.
A simple offhand remark here could drastically reduce your ability to recover the compensation you are owed. By following a skilled attorney’s advice, you can also handle other common defenses the liable party or an insurer may use to avoid paying what is actually deserved. The initial police report produced when an officer arrives on the scene is just one piece of evidence needed when recovering damages, however.
That’s why you need an experienced Virginia car accident attorney to perform a more thorough analysis of the accident. Your lawyer can determine exactly who is liable and the best potential sources of financial compensation. When that person is identified, an attorney then assists in pursuing a full and fair recovery for factors like medical costs, pain and suffering, property damage, and lost income.
Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney in Mechanicsville With Experience You Can Trust Now
We serve the Mechanicsville community from our office located conveniently off of Interstate 64, near Henrico Doctors’ Hospital, a short drive from the Mechanicsville area. We welcome clients from throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, including the communities of Mechanicsville and other areas in Hanover, such as Old Church, Studley, Atlee, Elmont, Ashland, Montpelier, Rockville, and Beaverdam.
At last count, our Virginia personal injury attorney has achieved over $20 million in recoveries for our seriously injured clients over the last several years, and we have helped many, many clients who’ve suffered a life-changing injury due to someone else’s negligence. We have a reputation for excellence.
If you or a loved one have been injured, and are considering speaking with a personal injury attorney, please call us today at (804) 409-0876, and one of our team members will be there to help schedule a free consultation.