Car accidents happen in an instant, but their aftermath can last months or years. In Virginia alone, thousands of crashes occur annually, resulting in injuries ranging from minor strains to life-altering conditions. If you’ve been involved in a collision on busy highways like I-95, rural roads in the Shenandoah Valley, or city streets in Richmond or Northern Virginia, knowing the right immediate steps on what to do after a car accident in Virginia can protect your health, preserve evidence, and safeguard your legal rights.
As a Virginia attorney with over 15 years of prior experience as a medical provider, I’ve seen firsthand how early actions influence both medical outcomes and injury claims. The adrenaline rush after a crash often masks pain, leading many to downplay injuries that later prove serious. As I used to tell my patients, symptoms often develop and/or worsen through the night following a motor vehicle accident.
This guide draws from Virginia law, official state resources, and practical insights to help you navigate those critical first moments and days.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Virginia
Step 1: Prioritize Safety and Check for Injuries
Your first priority is safety. If possible, move your vehicle out of traffic to a safe location, such as the shoulder, without obstructing flow (Virginia Code § 46.2-888). Turn on hazard lights and set up flares or triangles if available.
Assess yourself and others for injuries. Common issues include:
- Whiplash: A rapid back-and-forth neck motion that strains muscles and ligaments. Symptoms like stiffness or headaches may not appear immediately.
- Concussions or mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs): Even without direct head impact, the brain can jostle inside the skull, causing dizziness, confusion, or nausea.
- More severe TBIs: From impacts leading to bleeding or swelling, requiring urgent or emergent care.
Call 911 immediately if anyone appears hurt, unconscious, or complains of pain. Emergency responders can provide on-scene evaluation and assess for serious injuries, if indicated.
Do not assume you’re “fine” because you can walk away. Delayed symptoms are common—I’ve evaluated patients who felt okay initially but later discovered significant issues like post-concussion syndrome. I also saw countless patients in the ED who complained of severe onset of neck, back, or shoulder pain upon waking the morning after an accident, convinced they had sustained a fracture. Accidents can lead to musculoskeletal disorders, ranging from mild, acute complaints to chronic painful and debilitating conditions.
Step 2: Comply with Virginia’s Legal Duties at the Scene
Virginia law requires specific actions to avoid penalties:
- Stop immediately: Failing to stop after a crash involving injury, death, or property damage is a serious offense (Virginia Code § 46.2-894, hit-and-run).
- Render aid: Provide reasonable assistance, such as calling for medical help.
- Exchange information: Share your name, address, driver’s license number, vehicle registration, and insurance details with other involved parties.
- Report to police: Call law enforcement for any crash with injury, death, or apparent property damage over $3,000 (updated threshold as of recent legislation).
Regardless of the extent of damages sustained, involving police creates an official record, which is invaluable later. Even in cases where it is obvious who caused the accident or where the negligent party admitted guilt, stories change and it becomes a “he said, she said” situation. Therefore, involving the police at the scene of the accident will allow law enforcement officers to create a record, gather witness statements, and (sometimes) issue tickets.
Step 3: Document Everything Thoroughly & Do Not Admit Guilt
Evidence fades quickly, so act fast (once it’s safe to do so):
- Photograph the scene: Capture vehicle positions, damage, skid marks, road conditions, traffic signs, and weather.
- Note details: Time, location, weather, and how the crash occurred.
- Get witness information: Names and contacts of bystanders who saw the event.
Avoid discussing fault at the scene. Statements like “I’m sorry” can be misinterpreted, especially under Virginia’s strict contributory negligence rule—if you’re found even slightly at fault, you may recover nothing.
Step 4: Seek Medical Evaluation Promptly
If and when symptoms develop, get checked. Many injuries, particularly musculoskeletal or head trauma-related, worsen over time.
- Go to the ER or urgent care immediately if symptoms emerge.
- Follow up with your primary doctor or specialists as directed.
- Document all visits, diagnoses, and treatments—this links injuries directly to the crash.
Early intervention for whiplash can prevent or mitigate chronic pain, and prompt neurological assessments can catch issues like concussions before they escalate.
Step 5: Notify Your Insurance Company
Report the crash to your insurer promptly—most policies require this. Provide basic facts but avoid recorded statements without guidance, as adjusters may seek ways to minimize claims.
Step 6: Understand Virginia’s Unique Legal Landscape
Virginia’s rules make recovery challenging:
- Contributory negligence: If you’re deemed even 1% at fault, you may be barred from compensation entirely—one of the strictest standards nationwide.
- Statute of limitations: You have two years from the crash date to file a personal injury lawsuit (Virginia Code § 8.01-243). Delays can forfeit your rights.
- No “no-fault” system: Virginia is not a “no-fault” state for car accidents, meaning you pursue claims against the at-fault party, not automatically through your own insurance.
These factors underscore why professional review early on is crucial. Contact us to learn more and to preserve your rights.
Step 7: Watch for Common but Overlooked Injuries
Car crashes exert tremendous force, leading to:
- Whiplash and neck strains: Affecting millions yearly; can cause ongoing headaches or reduced mobility.
- Concussions: Mild TBIs from brain jostling; some symptoms include headaches, dizziness, confusion, sensitivity to light, memory issues, and/or fatigue.
- Severe TBIs: Potentially causing long-term cognitive or physical impairments.
Other frequent issues: Back strains, fractures, or internal injuries. Seek additional care from a specialist if symptoms persist—neurologists for head injuries, orthopedists for musculoskeletal problems.
Step 8: Avoid Common Pitfalls That Jeopardize Your Health and Claim
- Delaying medical care: Gaps in treatment can weaken injury claims.
- Posting on social media: Insurers monitor posts; avoid sharing crash details.
- Accepting quick settlements: Early offers often undervalue long-term costs.
- Signing releases without review: This may waive future claims.
Contact an attorney for guidance on what to do after a car accident in Virginia to protect your potential claim.
Step 9: Consider When Professional Guidance Helps
While minor fender-benders may resolve via insurance, crashes involving injuries, disputed fault, or significant damage often benefit from objective analysis. An experienced professional can review evidence, handle communications, and ensure compliance with deadlines.
Step 10: Long-Term Recovery and Prevention
Focus on healing: Follow treatment plans, attend therapy, and track progress. Virginia roads see preventable crashes from distractions, speed, or impairment—drive defensively.
By acting decisively in those first hours and days, you protect your well-being and position yourself strongly moving forward. Contact us for further legal advice on what to do after a car accident in Virginia.
This article on what to do after a car accident in Virginia provides general information based on Virginia law as of December 2025 and is not legal or medical advice. Laws can change, and individual circumstances vary. Consult qualified professionals for your specific situation.