What should you do after a car accident? Who should you call and where should you go? These are all questions that people may have when they contact a car accident lawyer after an accident. Learn about the most important things you should know before you file a car accident lawsuit to compensate for your personal injuries and damages.
Ask a Car Accident Lawyer in Texas: Six Things You Should Know
1. You Should Call the Police Immediately
In Texas, you are required to call the police to report an accident if there are any potential injuries and damages. Contacting the police immediately gets the ball rolling for your recovery, both financial and physical, after an accident.
When you call the police, it’s common for EMTs to arrive at the scene to provide immediate medical attention. The police will gather information about the accident, including witness testimony, and file a crash report. You can search for the Texas crash report online with basic information about the accident, such as ZIP code, date, and the incident’s Case ID.
The Importance of Crash Reports
Crash reports can be essential for your claim, especially if your insurance company denies your claim and you end up having to go to court for compensation. Crash reports contain all relevant details about your accident, including the date of the accident, the time of the accident, and information such as weather and road conditions. The crash report can determine liability.
2. You Should Take Pictures and Collect Information
After an accident, you should take pictures and collect information about the other driver if possible. Pictures are worth a thousand words, but when it comes to your car accident claim for your insurance company, a picture can be the proof you need to secure your compensation.
Furthermore, collecting information will ensure that you have a way to contact the other driver if there are any issues with insurance claims. You should focus on information such as the other driver’s personal information, vehicle registration, and insurance coverage.
3. You Should Move Your Car If Possible
Under Texas law, it is recommended that you move your car out of the flow of traffic if possible. If there are only minor injuries or damages, it’s best to pull the vehicles involved in the accident over to the shoulder of the road or at least out of the middle traffic lanes.
If you do have to pull a car over or move it away from the scene of the accident, be sure to take pictures before you move the vehicle. Also, be sure to keep the vehicles within a short distance of the scene of the accident.
What If You Can’t Move Your Car?
If you’re too injured to get out of your car or your vehicle is too damaged to move, don’t worry. When you contact the police, the police may enlist the help of a towing company to move severely damaged vehicles. If you believe you were seriously injured, the best thing you can do is stay in your car and wait for immediate medical attention.
4. You Should Get Medical Attention
Ideally, you should receive medical attention at the scene of the accident from EMTs. Emergency medical attention will be the first step in logging any injuries you may have received because of the accident. It’s important to start your medical records on the same day as the accident, especially if you plan on filing an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit.
Do You Need Medical Care Even If You Aren’t Hurt?
After a car accident, you should receive medical care even if you don’t think you are injured. The shock and adrenaline caused by the accident may hide injuries, even minor ones, so it’s best to visit the hospital emergency room for x-rays, CT scans, and other standard tests to make sure you are not seriously injured.
5. You Should Contact a Lawyer
It’s a good idea to contact a lawyer as soon as you can. Not only can a lawyer give you personalized information about what to do after an accident, but your lawyer may also give you advice on how to deal with your insurance company.
A College Station car wreck attorney will understand the Texas insurance laws that may apply to your case. For example, if the other driver was uninsured, this will affect how you file your insurance claim or a lawsuit going forward.
6. You Should File an Insurance Claim ASAP
You should also contact your insurance company to file a car accident claim as soon as possible. Contacting your insurance company soon after an accident is a good faith effort to be open with your insurance company, which may make the insurance adjuster assigned to your case more sympathetic or willing to work with you.
After a car accident, there’s a laundry list of things you should do. Make no mistake, skipping any of the things on your to-do list can jeopardize your insurance claim or your personal injury lawsuit. For example, you should get medical attention, you should contact a lawyer, and you should file an insurance claim as soon as possible.
