Top 3 Things To Do After a DC Auto Accident

Auto accidents can be jarring experiences, and dealing with the fallout of property damage, injuries, and expenses can be a confusing and frustrating experience. However, there are some important steps to take to help build a strong case down the line, if you choose to file a personal injury claim. We sat down with John Yannone to talk about the Top 3 Things To Do (Or Not Do) After a DC Auto Accident.

1: Do Not Talk to Other Person’s Insurance Company

Provided they are calling shortly after the accident, we advise them that, once represented, they should not talk to the other person’s insurance company. We hope that they have not done so before they have contacted us because they have no obligation to do so and should not do so, because the insurance company is not looking out for them, they’re looking out for their own insured.

Once represented, we inform the insurance company or the defendant of our representation and that should cause all communication or attempts of communication from the insurance company to them to stop. Once the client is represented, only the attorney can be spoken to on behalf of the client.

2: Seek Medical Treatment and Follow Up With Doctors

In terms of other aspects of the case, if they are injured they need to seek medical treatment. It’s very important to have their injuries documented as soon as possible and that they consistently follow the doctor’s instructions and advice about the care that they should receive.

Gaps in treatment can be a problem in a case, so if doctors are recommending treatment and it should be ongoing, then the patient/client should be following the instructions regarding the care that the doctor has recommended.

3: Do Not Move The Vehicle, and Call the Police

In general, about what we advise individuals even before having been involved in an accident is that on the scene they should not move the vehicle. If they have to for safety reasons, they should try to take pictures, and if they have the ability to and are not incapacitated, then they should call the police immediately because the police can document things that are observed by the police officer when they arrive at the scene.

Police officers talk to the various parties and those statements that are made are important to be able to get. Police talk to witnesses and gather information and put it on the police report. Many jurisdictions don’t do an actual, formal police report unless someone is injured and informs the police officer that there has been an injury, otherwise it’s just an exchange of information between the parties which is typically facilitated by the police officer.

But this information gathering on the scene, as far as pictures and witness information and statements, is very important, so it’s important to call the police to document what can be documented, and, of course, if the client is injured, it’s important to seek medical attention.

If an ambulance needs to be called, then that should be done. If asked by the police if they are in need of treatment, they should let them know so that an ambulance can be called. Generally speaking, the client should seek medical attentions as soon as possible to document whatever complaints and injuries are occurring at that time.