Helping Car Accident Victims Get Back On Their Feet
Epperly & Follis, P.C. ensures victims of vehicle accidents receive fair compensation, whether their injuries are minor, serious, or permanent.
We handle cases for:
- Drivers of vehicles involved in accidents in which another driver was at fault. Don’t make the decision on fault yourself. You should always consult with an attorney if you question who was at fault
- Passengers whose driver was to blame
- Passengers in a vehicle accident in which the driver of another vehicle is at fault
- Hit and Run accidents
- Accidents involving uninsured motorists
- Pedestrians hit by vehicles
- Cyclists hit by motorists
What to Do After a Car Accident
Car accidents can be a traumatic and stressful time. Unfortunately, these moments after the accident are also the most crucial. That is why it’s important to know what to do immediately after a car accident to protect your well-being and your potential case in court.
Here are some important but simple steps to take after you’ve been involved in a car accident:
- Check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If anyone at the scene of the accident is hurt, be sure to call 911 ASAP.
- Try to get your vehicles off the road and into safety, especially if the crash occurred at an intersection or on a highway.
- Even if no one is injured, call 911. Virginia requires drivers to call the police when they’re involved in an accident. This is important so the police officer can create documentation of the accident.
- Exchange information with the other driver. No matter who is at fault, you should exchange personal and insurance information with every driver involved in the accident. This is also required by Virginia law, and it makes it easier to contact each party after the accident.
- Once everyone is safe, make sure to take photos and try to talk to witnesses nearby. This could help you if you take your case to court. Get the contact information of all witnesses.
- Notify your insurance provider once everything is taken care of. If possible, try to call while at the scene of the accident to make sure you get all of the necessary information.
- Set up an appointment with a physician. While you may not feel any injuries, car accidents can lead to injuries down the road. It is always a good idea to get checked out by your doctor.
- The most important step is to stay calm, don’t accuse anyone of anything and don’t admit fault at the scene. If anyone at the scene decides to make a claim against you, they can use this against you in court, even if someone else is at fault for the accident.
After you’ve followed these steps, it’s time to call a trusted car accident attorney and discuss your case. The best time to meet with a lawyer is soon after the accident, while the events are fresh in your mind and you can still contact everyone involved.
Why You Need a Richmond Attorney for Car Accidents
The Commonwealth of Virginia is a “tort” state, meaning that vehicle operators are liable for any damage or injury they cause in a vehicle accident. In general, it is best to consult an attorney and seek damages against the driver of a motor vehicle who causes injuries.
If you are eligible for damages, your compensation may include medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and pain and suffering. We recommend that you contact a physician and an attorney following an accident because seemingly minor car accidents can cause prolonged pain and medical costs.
The Cold Truth of Insurance Companies
While insurance is designed to address your economic needs, insurance is first and foremost a business. What is best for you is not necessarily in the insurance company’s best interest. Insurance companies have a team of adjusters, investigators and attorneys whose goal is to minimize the amount of money that they pay to accident victims.
While you are recovering from the initial shock of the accident, those at fault may have already notified their insurance company, which will immediately try to minimize their payout. Simultaneously, your insurance company is also trying to limit their exposure.
We Understand You Need Time to Recover
If you are injured in an automobile accident, your physical trauma can be compounded by the uncertainties of your financial future. How will you pay medical bills and make up for lost income?
Epperly & Follis understands that accident victims are often overwhelmed with recovering from their injuries – emotional, physical, and financial. Thinking about your rights and responsibilities during this critical time is low on your list of priorities.
We know that by focusing our skills and expertise on the practical and legal aspects of an auto accident claim, we are protecting the injured and their families from being taken advantage of and are helping them focus on their recovery.
Our firm does not approach its cases as mere jobs, but as causes in which larger issues are at stake – causes in which our firm’s lawyers invest personal dedication to see that justice is done.
What We Bring to the Bench
Epperly & Follis, P.C. lawyers understand the unique provisions of motor vehicle accident laws and our experience has taught us to recognize the hidden complexities in many claims.
Our skilled legal team will gather, prepare and present the evidence that is critical to winning your claim. Epperly & Follis P.C. will act as your representative to the insurance companies and others involved in the compensation process. Proving negligence takes an investment of time, experience and resources. Epperly & Follis will work through this process with you. Epperly & Follis, P.C. lawyers know the law, the legal process and victims’ rights.
If You Have Suffered Injury or Loss
Please call us to have your case evaluated. It is important that you do not communicate with the other party’s insurance representatives until you have consulted an attorney. Do not settle for less than fair compensation.
We can help you make informed decisions, so please call the Richmond car accident law firm of Epperly & Follis, P.C. in Richmond, Virginia today at 1-888-703-0109 or (804) 648-6480, or contact us via our online Contact Form.