When a car crash happens—whether it involves a distracted driver, poor road conditions, or someone driving under the influence—the aftermath is chaotic. Medical bills pile up. Insurance companies start calling. And every decision you make can impact your financial recovery.
At Bordegaray Injury Law, our Chesapeake auto accident attorney helps victims of all types of crashes, including DUI-related collisions. Here are the five most important steps to take after an auto accident—no matter the cause.
5 Critical Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Chesapeake (from an auto accident attorney)
1. Call 911 and Report the Crash Immediately—Especially if Impairment Is Suspected
The first thing you should do is get emergency services on the scene. A formal police report serves as foundational evidence for your case and documents key facts while they’re fresh. If the other driver appears impaired—slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, open containers, or erratic behavior—tell the officer. These observations could support a criminal DUI charge and strengthen your civil claim.
Even in non-DUI cases, a detailed police report can help an auto accident attorney demonstrate who was at fault, which is critical in Virginia’s strict contributory negligence system.
2. Seek Immediate Medical Attention—Even If You Think You’re Fine
Not all injuries are visible. Internal bleeding, concussions, whiplash, and spinal trauma can take hours or days to fully surface. The longer you wait to get treatment, the harder it is to connect your injuries to the crash—giving the insurance company an excuse to deny or underpay your claim.
An experienced auto accident attorney will use those early medical records as evidence to build a strong case for compensation. If alcohol played a role in the crash, those records also help a DUI accident attorney argue for punitive damages on top of standard compensation.
3. Document Everything at the Scene
Use your phone to take pictures of:
- Damage to all vehicles
- The full crash scene, including skid marks and intersections
- Any visible injuries
- Weather or lighting conditions
- The other driver’s behavior, if safe to do so
Get contact information from any witnesses and write down what they saw. If you suspect DUI, ask the officer whether field sobriety tests or a breathalyzer were performed. The more documentation you have, the more your Chesapeake auto accident attorney can do to protect your rights and refute false claims from the other party’s insurance carrier.
4. Do Not Admit Fault or Talk to the Other Driver’s Insurance Company
Virginia follows a harsh contributory negligence rule: if you’re even 1% responsible for the crash, you may lose your right to compensation altogether. Insurance adjusters are trained to get you talking and find ways to shift blame.
Don’t fall for it. Be polite, but don’t apologize or make guesses about what happened. And never give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer. Instead, refer them to your auto accident attorney, who can handle all communication and protect your case from day one. If alcohol was involved, your DUI accident attorney can also monitor the criminal proceedings for useful evidence.
5. Contact an Auto Accident Attorney in Chesapeake Right Away
Early legal guidance makes a massive difference. At Bordegaray Injury Law, we act fast to:
- Preserve crucial evidence
- Gather medical and accident reconstruction reports
- File all claims before deadlines
- Push for full compensation for your medical costs, lost wages, pain, suffering, and more
If the driver was drunk, we also pursue punitive damages to hold them fully accountable. Our firm has experience handling both standard crashes and complex DUI injury claims, and we bring deep knowledge of local traffic laws, court systems, and insurance defense tactics.
Don’t Wait to Protect Your Rights
Whether you were hit by a drunk driver or just someone not paying attention, what you do next matters. Every day you delay puts your claim at risk—and strengthens the insurance company’s defense.
Call 757-505-HURT (4878) to schedule a free consultation with a Chesapeake auto accident attorney. We can meet in person, at your home, or over video—whatever works best for you.
Let us handle the legal battle so you can focus on healing.
Additional Resource: Virginia DMV webpage on the topic of reporting an accident to them.
