# What should you do after a crash in the Roanoke Valley? Title: Roanoke Crash Help: What to Do After a Car Accident URL: https://roanokecrashhelp.com/ Last reviewed: October 13, 2026 Site: Roanoke Crash Help > You're safe. Here's what to do next: get checked by a doctor, make sure police were told, take photos, and tell your own insurer. Then get the crash report and check your claim deadline. Virginia's rules are strict, so write things down early. You are not alone, and you do not have to do everything today. This page is a gentle map. Take one step, then the next. ## Where should you start? Six steps, in this order. Each one opens a short page you can read in a few minutes. 1. [The first 72 hours](https://roanokecrashhelp.com/first-72-hours/): At the scene, that evening, and the days after: a calm checklist, one step at a time. 2. [Get the crash report](https://roanokecrashhelp.com/roanoke-crash-report/): Roanoke City, Roanoke County, Salem or the Virginia DMV: who has it and how to ask. 3. [Talking to the insurance adjuster](https://roanokecrashhelp.com/insurance-adjuster/): What to say, what not to say. 4. [Who pays medical bills](https://roanokecrashhelp.com/who-pays-medical-bills/): MedPay, health insurance and liens. 5. [Check your claim deadline](https://roanokecrashhelp.com/claim-deadline-checker/): A free tool. Enter your crash date. 6. [Virginia's fault rule](https://roanokecrashhelp.com/contributory-negligence-virginia/): Why being partly careless matters here. ## How long do you have? Check your claim deadline with the free tool: https://roanokecrashhelp.com/claim-deadline-checker/ A deadline is the last day to file. Miss it and a court may refuse to hear your case. Virginia sets different deadlines for injury, property damage and wrongful death claims, and shorter notice windows when a government body is involved. The [free deadline checker](https://roanokecrashhelp.com/claim-deadline-checker/) shows your dates in a few seconds. ## Why does the first week matter so much? Because a lot of Virginia's rules turn on early details. Photos fade, memories blur and records get harder to find. A short note, a saved receipt or a name written down today can save you hours later. You do not need to be perfect. You only need a folder and a little time each day. ## What kind of crash was it? Some crashes come with extra rules. Pick the one closest to yours. - [I-81 truck crash](https://roanokecrashhelp.com/i-81-truck-crash/): who may be responsible and what to save. - [Bicycle crash](https://roanokecrashhelp.com/bicycle-crash-virginia/): the road rules that apply to riders and drivers. - [Motorcycle crash](https://roanokecrashhelp.com/motorcycle-crash-virginia/): the helmet law and how fault is judged. - [The other driver had no insurance](https://roanokecrashhelp.com/uninsured-motorist-virginia/): uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. - [A loved one died](https://roanokecrashhelp.com/wrongful-death-virginia/): we are sorry. This page explains who can bring a claim. - [How long will it all take?](https://roanokecrashhelp.com/injury-claim-timeline/): the usual stages, in plain words. ## Where did it happen? The police agency that responded usually holds your report. You can tell which one by the card or report number the officer gave you. | Where it happened | Who has the report | | --- | --- | | Roanoke City | Roanoke City Police: online Traffic Accident Report Request Form on the city website | | Roanoke County | Roanoke County Police Records Division: (540) 777-8605 | | Salem | Salem Police Records and Detective Division: (540) 375-3083 | | A state trooper responded | Request it from the [Virginia DMV](https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/records/request-police-crash-report) | Want the details? Read [how to get your crash report](https://roanokecrashhelp.com/roanoke-crash-report/), or the local pages for [Roanoke County](https://roanokecrashhelp.com/roanoke-county-crash/) and [Salem](https://roanokecrashhelp.com/salem-va-crash/). In any emergency, call 911. ## What should you do first, in short? - [ ] Get medical care, even if you feel fine. - [ ] Make sure the police were told. Virginia law says a driver must stop, give their name, address, driver's license number and vehicle registration number, and help anyone who is hurt ([§ 46.2-894](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/section46.2-894/)). - [ ] Take photos of the cars, the road and any injuries. - [ ] Tell your own insurance company. - [ ] Start a folder for bills, notes and names. - [ ] Write down what happened tonight, while you remember it. - [ ] Be careful what you say about fault. Virginia has a strict fault rule, explained on our [contributory negligence page](https://roanokecrashhelp.com/contributory-negligence-virginia/). ## Who can help with a claim? You can handle many of these steps yourself. If your injuries are serious, a government body may be involved, or an insurer is pressing you, a local lawyer can look at your situation. Below are Roanoke-area firms to consider. Ask each one how it charges before you decide. Firms that handle these cases, chosen by our editors. These are not rankings, and they are not promises about results. - Fishwick & Associates PLC (Car accident, Truck accident, Motorcycle accident, Bicycle accident, Brain injury, Personal injury, Uninsured motorist accidents): 30 Franklin Rd SW Ste 700, Roanoke, VA 24011 · (540) 345-5890 - Marks & Harrison (Car accidents, Commercial truck accidents, Uber, Lyft, and ridesharing accidents, Motorcycle accidents, Bicycle accidents, Pedestrian accidents, Wrongful death): 34 Campbell Ave SW, STE 130, Roanoke, VA 24011 · (540) 258-4215 - Williams DeLoatche, P.C. (Personal Injury, Car Accident Attorneys, Truck Accidents, Pedestrian-Car Accident Lawyer, Motorcycle Accidents, Bike Accident, Wrongful Death): 3042 Brambleton Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24015 · (540) 385-5555 Not sure what to do next? A three-question quiz on https://roanokecrashhelp.com/accident-lawyers/ points you to the right pages and a short list of Roanoke-area firms. ## Common questions ### Do I have to call the police after a crash in Virginia? If anyone is hurt or killed, or the damage is $3,000 or more, Virginia requires a written crash report. Officers file it when they investigate, so call 911 at the scene. If you cannot stay, the law says to report to State Police or local police as soon as reasonably possible. ### How long do I have to make a claim? For a car-crash injury lawsuit, Virginia's general limit is two years from the crash. Property damage is five years. Claims against a city, county or the state have much shorter notice windows. Use the free checker on this site to see your dates, then confirm them with a lawyer. ### Should I see a doctor if I feel fine? It is a good idea. Some injuries show up hours or days later, and a medical record made soon after the crash helps show what happened and when. This is a practical suggestion, not medical advice. If you are unsure how you feel, a quick check-up is a calm, low-risk choice. ### Who do I call for a crash report? Call the police agency that investigated. Roanoke City has an online Traffic Accident Report Request Form. Roanoke County Police Records is (540) 777-8605. Salem Police Records is (540) 375-3083. If a state trooper responded, request it from the Virginia DMV. ## Sources - [Code of Virginia § 46.2-894, duties after a crash](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/section46.2-894/) - [Code of Virginia § 46.2-373, written crash reports](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter3/section46.2-373/) - [Code of Virginia § 8.01-243, injury and property limits](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title8.01/chapter4/section8.01-243/) - [City of Roanoke, request an accident report](https://www.roanokeva.gov/2680/Traffic-Crash-Report-Request) - [Roanoke County, request police reports](https://www.roanokecountyva.gov/1865/Request-Police-Reports) - [City of Salem police FAQ](https://salemva.gov/m/faq?cat=33) - [Virginia DMV, request a police crash report](https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/records/request-police-crash-report)