Car Accidents

I’ve just been in an automobile accident. what should I do?

Call the police and first responders

The first thing you need to do if you are involved in an accident is get the police and EMTs to the scene. Once they arrive, and depending on the extent of your injuries, you will likely be asked to give a statement to the police or be given medical attention. After getting information, the ambulance crew will check you for injuries and likely ask if you would like to ride the ambulance to the hospital. Please err on the side of caution. Just because you may not feel any pain at that moment, you need to understand that the adrenaline from being in an accident can keep the pain from surfacing and revealing any injury in the moment. And if you do not go to the hospital when the accident occurs, but you go to the hospital later, the insurance company or its representative will likely suggest or argue that you later did so to increase the value of your claim.

Get the other driver’s information

You will want to get the other driver’s license information, license plate number, and insurance card information. The police will be attempting to obtain the same information and you can request it from the officer as well.

Take photographs of the scene

If you are able to do so, take pictures of the vehicles, specific damage, injuries, and the general location. 4. Get contact information from all witnesses If you are not physically able to speak with witnesses, ask the police officers to interview the witnesses before they leave. Their contact information and statements may become very important if the matter goes to trial.

Do NOT admit fault

In Virginia, a person who is injured in an accident cannot recover from the other driver if the injured person is found to be even 1% at fault. Anything you say can be used against you at trial. Accordingly, make no admissions of fault.

Estate Planning

How often should my estate plan be reviewed?

Estate planning should be considered a lifelong process. TURNER & WIGGINS recommends that your estate plan should be reviewed if you acquire significant wealth that may put you in a new income tax bracket or when there are changes in the economy or the tax code that may impact your current plan.

Additionally, you should review your estate plan soon after any major life event, such as marriage, divorce, birth of a child, death of a person named in your Will, or a move to a different state.

Other reasons to consider an Estate Plan review:

  • Buying real estate in a state in which you do not live

  • A decision to change the Executor, Trustee or Guardian

  • Retirement

  • Inheritance

  • A beneficiary whom you have named in your estate plan has become disabled, incapacitated or has died.

  • Divorce of a child or grandchild

  • Birth of a grandchild for whom you want to provide future tuition assistance

We recommend that you make it a point to review your estate plan periodically to ensure that it will work as desired when it is needed. TURNER & WIGGINS is here to help.