In a matter of seconds, your life could be turned upside-down. A car accident, even a minor collision, can change everything. Suddenly, your car is gone, and you have no way of getting to work. How will you pay your bills? How can you afford your medical expenses? How will you figure out the mountain of paperwork thrown at you by the insurance companies and the DMV? With all the decisions coming at you, it can be tough to figure out what to do. Fortunately, there is only one choice you need to make. Contact the Norfolk personal injury law firm of Rutter Mills, and our team of car accident attorneys can help guide you through the rest.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has found that negligent or reckless driving causes most car accidents. When you have been the victim of such an accident, you are entitled to various legal claims against the other driver. Unfortunately, most people wait too long after a crash to file a claim or they get lost in tangles of red tape. You need an auto accident attorney at your side who knows the laws and how they work in order to get the full amount of money you deserve. Here at Rutter Mills, we have the knowledge and the skills necessary to help you get what you need. Call our offices today to find out how our experienced Virginia traffic collision lawyers can help you through this.
Our dedicated team of auto accident lawyers in Hampton Roads and Roanoke has won countless cases, worth millions of dollars, for our clients. We are passionate about protecting your legal rights and helping you live your life to the fullest. Throughout the Hampton Roads and Roanoke, Virginia areas, we are familiar with the laws and regulations about traffic accidents. Whether you’ve been injured in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Newport News, Hampton, Suffolk, Williamsburg, Gloucester, Warsaw, Accomack, Smithfield, Roanoke or anywhere else in Virginia and North Carolina, we can help you level the playing field in the courtroom. When you make the decision to work with the traffic accident attorneys at Rutter Mills, you are getting more than a lawyer—you will get a legal team working to make sure you are paid everything you need for a better life.
Your actions immediately after a collision can determine your chances of receiving adequate compensation from an insurance agency. After you have stopped your vehicle, taken care of any injuries and gotten everyone to safety, following these basic guidelines can save you major headaches when you file your claim.
• Call the police immediately. Even if it is just a minor accident and no one has any major injuries, the police will still need to file a report. Cooperate fully with their investigation, but do not admit fault or accuse another driver of fault. Anything you say at this point could be used to dismiss your claim with the insurance company.
• Be sure to get the names and contact information of any witnesses around. They may be able to provide evidence in the case of a dispute. Without contact information, it may be impossible to find these witnesses again when you need them.
• Take pictures of the scene if possible. Important evidence like skid marks may be washed away soon after an accident and pictures may be your only way of proving the details.
• Call your personal injury attorney as soon as possible. The experienced car accident lawyers of Rutter Mills will help you file your claim to the insurance company, see to the details, negotiate your recovery, and if all else fails, file and try your lawsuit in the proper court. In order for claims to be processed, most insurance companies require that you notify them immediately in the case of an accident. Do not accept a claims adjuster’s offer until you have consulted with a professional auto accident lawyer.
• Have the damage to your car evaluated by a licensed auto mechanic. Many insurance companies require you to have your car repaired at a specific shop, but you are absolutely within your rights to get a second opinion from a mechanic you trust.
• Visit a doctor and get a written catalogue of your injuries. Because injuries heal and marks fade, it is important to do this as soon as possible, even if your injuries are only minor.
• In most states, crash forms have to be filed with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles within a limited period of time after an accident. Failure to do so may result in fines or other penalties.
All of this may seem like a lot, but the dedicated car accident attorneys at Rutter Mills have the knowledge and the experience to help you through all of it. With Rutter Mills’ traffic collision lawyers in Roanoke and Hampton Roads on your team, the rest will be taken care of. We are dedicated to helping you get what you are entitled to after a car crash. Contact the law firm of Rutter Mills—where personal injuries get personal attention.