An automobile accident may flip a normal day upside down. One minute you are cruising around DC the next you are in pain, fixing your car, making calls and paying expenses. What do you need to do before submitting a vehicle accident claim? Your early actions can safeguard your health and maintain useful evidence. They also can make it easier to explain afterward what happened. A DC Car Accident Lawyer can analyze your situation if youâve been injured and let you know what your legal options are.
First Things First: Seek medical help
Your health is more important than the claim. If you are injured in a crash, get medical attention immediately. Some injuries are obvious from the get-go. Some can take hours or days to become painful. Neck discomfort, back pain, headaches and soft tissue damage may develop later. Don’t ignore new symptoms just because you felt great at the crash scene. Follow your doctorâs care plan. Keep your medical records. Come to your follow-up appointments. These records can also help establish the injuries you sustained and the care you received.
When to Report the Crash
DC has certain requirements for reporting motor vehicle crashes. If there is an injury, the DC DMV advises drivers to call 911. DC DMV also recommends drivers should tell their insurance company following a non-injury crash. A CRASH DC report can provide a fast record of the incident. It may have vital information on the vehicles, drivers, witnesses and accident scene. If police respond, obtain report info when it becomes available. Do not speculate on what happened when talking to an officer. Stay in your place.
Take Pictures Before the Scene Changes
The truth is, crash scenes don’t stay the same for very long. Cars are shifted. Debris is cleaned. Traffic starts moving again. Weather. Witnesses depart. If you feel safe enough, take pictures before the scene changes. Take:
- All vehicles damaged
- Your wounds
- The road and traffic around it
- Traffic signs and signals
- Scuff marks and trash
- Close-by cameras or buildings
- Roads and weather conditions
- License Plate
Shoot both close-ups and wider photos. A close-up photo shows Dent. Hereâs a wide photo of where that dent was. Adding context can matter.
Gather Witness Information
Did anyone notice the accident? If so, get the name and contact information of that person. Note down what you recall about what they witnessed. Donât ask witnesses to change their account. Donât tell them what you believe they ought to say. Let them speak their story. A neutral witness can aid if drivers differ about who had the right of way. Their account may possibly shed light on what transpired right before impact.
Keep All Medical Records and Bills
A catastrophic crash can leave you with big medical expenditures. Keep your hospital documents, doctors notes, test results, prescriptions, therapy records and bills. Create one folder for accident paperwork. A physical file is okay. A safe digital folder does too. Track miles to medical visits, if applicable. 2. Also, keep receipts for expenses that are connected to the accident. You don’t require a complicated system. You want the full one.
Keep a record of any work you miss.
An injury can damage your health and your paycheck. You can take time off work for medical appointments. A catastrophic injury might keep you out of your job for weeks or longer. Save copies of pay stubs and employment records that reflect the time you missed. Ask your employer for any records that indicate the days missed and the pay lost. If you are self-employed keep records of invoices, work schedules, contracts and other documentation of lost money. These details may be useful when calculating your losses.
Get the Other Driverâs Insurance Information
If possible, get the other driver’s insurance information. DC DMV offers an insurance record search for crashes involving automobiles registered in DC. You can pay to have the search return insurance information associated with a vehicle tag number. According to the DMV, this record does not contain personal information of the owner of the car. It offers insurance information reported to the DMV for use in an insurance claim. Get a copy of the other driverâs license information, insurance information, and license plate number if available. Don’t panic if you can’t get this information at the scene. Other data may be helpful in identifying the car and its insurance.
Do not make a rash statement.
An insurance company may contact you quickly after an accident. You should report the accident as your policy requires. But be careful with explicit claims regarding culpability, injuries or future medical needs. Maybe you donât know how badly youâre hurt yet. You may not know all the facts of the crash either. Be honest. Donât guess. If a question is not clear, ask what the insurer means. If the incident resulted in serious injuries, receiving legal guidance before delivering a recorded statement will help you understand your rights.
Be careful with social media.
This one gets missed. Maybe you want to publish a pic or update after the crash. So think twice. Sometimes posts, pictures, comments and videos are part of a dispute over your injuries or losses. You donât need to share every piece of your recovery online. Concentrate on healing and keeping good records.
Remember DC has special fault rules
Fault is often a crucial component in a DC automobile accident case. Most injury claims in DC are subject to contributory negligence standards. This indicates that the personâs own fault can influence their capacity to recover damages. DC has its own rule for specific pedestrians and vulnerable road users. Under D.C. Code § 50-2204.52, their carelessness does not limit recovery if their negligence caused the damage and was greater than the aggregate negligence of the defendants who caused the injury. The rule is factual and depends on the type of person engaged in the crash. So donât think a dented bumper or traffic ticket makes culpability clear. The whole tale is important.
Keep your insurance documents together
Keep copies of all letters, emails, claim numbers, estimates, and payment records from the insurance. Please write down the name of each person you speak to. Note down the date and the general subject of each call. This may seem picky. Nope. You may have multiple calls and emails to recall weeks later. A basic log will save you from headaches. The DC DMV requires a minimum of $25,000 third-party liability per person and $50,000 per accident. It also sets uninsured motorist coverage standards. Depending on the conditions of your own policy, your individual policy may give further coverage.
Donât Leave It Till The Last Minute
Legal time limits can affect a claim. DCâs general limitation statute provides a three-year timeframe for some actions involving injury to real or personal property. Different claims may have different deadlines and exceptions. D.C. law also has its own set of regulations for personal injury protection claims. Some PIP proceedings have a three-year statute of limitations under Section 31-2411. That does not mean you should wait three years. Evidence can go missing. It can be more difficult to find witnesses. Memories fade. The sooner you begin the sooner you have time to acquire the facts.
When Should You Consult a Lawyer?
You Donât Have To Wait For A Claim To Be Denied. If you have sustained major injuries , lost a lot of work , have large medical bills , or the other driver is denying responsibility , it may be time to contact an attorney . If more than one car was involved, legal assistance could help too. The same applied to a business truck, bus, motorbike, bicycle or pedestrian. Price Benowitz Accident Injury Lawyers, LLP is located in Washington, D.C. We represent clients in motor vehicle accident cases including cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, buses and pedestrians. The firm also handles catastrophic damage cases such as burn and spinal cord injuries. Facts are the basis of a vehicle accident claim. Protect your health, save your documents, keep the details of the crash fresh. Start there. You donât need to have it all figured out on day one. Slow down.
Common Questions
1. Should I see a doctor after a car accident in DC?
Short answer: Yes, if you are hurt or have symptoms following the crash.
Detailed answer: Some injuries arenât painful immediately. Medical treatment can help detect concerns and document your condition. Keep track of visits, treatment, bills and follow-up care;
2. How can I prepare for a Washington, D.C. car accident claim?
Short answer: Go to the hospital, report the crash when necessary, gather evidence, and save your records.
Detailed answer: Take pictures of the scene, get witness information, retain medical bills, save insurance documentation, and record lost work. These methods can help save facts before they become tougher to prove.
3. What if the other driver is not insured?
Short answer: There may be alternative insurance options for you.
Detailed answer: Under the mentioned minimum coverage regulations, DC requires uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Your personal policy may cover it, depending on the terms.
4. Can I still file a claim if the other motorist is blaming me?
Short answer: Yes, but fault can be a big legal issue.
Detailed Answer: In most injury instances, DC applies the laws of contributory negligence. Some pedestrians and vulnerable road users have special laws. Before you assume you canât recover, check the details of the crash.
5. How long do you have to bring a car accident lawsuit in DC?
Short answer: D.C. has a three-year statute of limitations on some property and personal injury claims.
Detailed answer: DC Code Section 12-301 provides three years for certain actions for injury to real or personal property. Other claims may have different standards or exclusions. Donât rely on a broad deadline but look at the rules that apply to your case.