The Parrish Car Accident & Personal Injury Law Firm | September 25, 2025 | Personal Injury
Getting the comprehensive compensation you deserve following a personal injury accident doesn’t happen by chance. The choices you make from when you’re hurt to when your case concludes can significantly impact how — and for how much — your case is resolved.
Here are ten ways you can improve your chances of making a full financial recovery.
1. File Your Case Quickly
While you typically have two years to file a claim for damages in Virginia, it’s best to do so sooner rather than later. Finding and preserving evidence and witness statements will be much easier if you begin soon after the crash.
2. Don’t Make Assumptions About Your Health
Don’t say you’re “fine” or that you weren’t hurt “that bad” after a car crash or other accident. You may not be aware of the full extent of your injuries until you’ve seen a doctor. Therefore, you should refrain from commenting on your health and instead get to a hospital or urgent care clinic right away.
3. Follow Your Doctor’s Advice
Getting a medical evaluation after an injury accident is crucial to ensure that your injuries are properly treated and documented. It’s equally important to follow all directions from your doctor after your evaluation and diagnosis. This includes abiding by any recommended work restrictions and keeping follow-up appointments as best you can.
4. Never Admit Fault
Even if you think you might have contributed to the mishap, resist the urge to apologize or accept fault in any way. If the police or authorities ask you what happened, simply report the facts as you remember them without embellishing or speculating.
5. Don’t Give Uncounseled Recorded Statements
The insurance company may claim that it needs you to provide a recorded statement before it can process your claim. This isn’t true: it’s simply hoping that you’ll inadvertently say something it can use to reduce or deny your claim. If asked to give a recorded statement, tell the insurance company’s representative that you’d like to speak with your lawyer first.
6. Don’t Sign Anything Immediately
Insurance companies, property owners, and others might try to pressure you to sign statements or releases after the fact. Never sign any document without first going over it with your lawyer.
7. Take Photographs Of The Scene
There may be important details at the accident scene that will prove useful to your lawyer or the reconstruction specialists they work with. These can be forever lost if they aren’t documented immediately. If you’re physically capable of taking photographs and can do so safely, try to capture as much of the scene as possible.
8. Exchange Information With Others, Not Assurances
The party that caused your accident may not try to fight your claim. Instead, they may try to settle it on the spot, offering to pay you if you agree not to file a lawsuit.
While the promise of quick cash can be appealing, these arrangements rarely work in the injury victim’s favor. The individual may renege on their promise, or the amount they offer might be far less than what you need.
9. Save All Paperwork
Store all official reports, records, letters, and correspondence in a safe location until your claim has been resolved. Consider making both a physical copy and a digital backup of each document in case one gets damaged. The same goes for bills, invoices, and earnings statements.
10. Get Help From An Experienced Lawyer
Recovering damages in a personal injury or wrongful death case can be more complicated than it seems. An experienced attorney will understand the claims process and the games insurers play and how to move your case toward a positive outcome.
Contact The Parrish Car Accident & Personal Injury Law Firm For A Free Consultation With A Fairfax Personal Injury Lawyer
Do not discount the value of having an attorney’s assistance. Even if you are not able to do many of the things on this list, hiring the right attorney quickly can allow them to build a strong, compelling case for compensation for you.
For more information, please contact our experienced personal injury attorneys at The Parrish Car Accident & Personal Injury Law Firm to schedule a free consultation today. We have two convenient locations in Manassas, VA and Fairfax, VA.
The Parrish Car Accident & Personal Injury Law Firm Manassas
9208 Lee Ave, First Floor, Manassas, VA, 20110
(571) 229-1800
Open 24/7
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Manassas
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 38.7523907,-77.5566859
The Parrish Car Accident & Personal Injury Law Firm Fairfax
4000 Legato Rd #1100, Fairfax, VA, 22033
(571) 200-5424
Open 24/7
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Fairfax
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 38.8657713,-77.3652474