Car accidents usually happen when people least expect it. A fun family vacation can suddenly turn into a horrible nightmare, leaving people with injuries and a wrecked vehicle.
In 2017 alone, more than 250,000 suffered from car accident injuries in Texas. In other words, at least 684 people suffer from injuries daily from vehicular-related accidents.
Here are things you should do after a car accident besides talking to car accident lawyers in Houston.
Get Medical Treatment
Initially, check yourself for injuries and don’t leave the scene. If all is well, check other injured people and your family members. Call 911 in the soonest possible time to get immediate medical treatment.
If possible, consider gathering all the receipts from your medical treatment. This can help get the appropriate insurance value for your accident. You’ll be able to calculate the damages for pain and suffering from your accident to discuss with your lawyer, not only for what you’ve suffered physically but mentally too.
File a Police Report
File a police report immediately. Usually, police officers will directly arrive at the scene after the 911 call. Interview witnesses and get the sketch of what happened.
Alternatively, go to the nearest police station to report the accident if no police officers are present. Keep in mind that the police report is an essential document, especially if you are filing for injury claims.
Gather Information Yourself and Write it All Down!
Gather as much information as possible. Among the following details you should get from the other driver include:
- Name
- Address
- Cell Phone Number
- Vehicle Number and Model
- License Plate Number
- Insurance Company Policy Number
Also, take the statements and accounts of the witnesses nearby. Get their personal information as well as contact numbers for future reference. Keep all these details in a notebook as it could help speed up the release of claims.
If possible, take a photograph of the area and include the damage done to your ride. This can be used as a tool to prove the extent of your claim and will come in useful should you need to speak to a car accident lawyer.
Do Not Make Any Statements on the Scene and to the Insurance Companies
Unnecessary statements like “I’m quite dizzy while driving” or “My kid was crying; I can’t concentrate on the road.” will not help your case. This might be used against you to lower or worst invalidate your insurance claims.
Keep your statements to yourself. Consider hiring a lawyer before the insurance company calls you to avoid further complications.
Hire a Car Accident Lawyer
Car accident lawyers in Houston know the ins and outs of the insurance industry and can get around the law to ensure that clients get the best settlement possible.
While hiring a lawyer will cost you upfront, doing so will help prevent contributory negligence and other cases that may void your insurance claim.
Plus, these accident lawyers can also calculate the total costs of your injury by taking into account factors such as psychological, mental, and financial damages. If you are planning on getting a car accident lawyer, then you might want to consider using someone like lamber goodnow to help you with your case.
Before talking to a lawyer, consider gathering a list of your injuries and take some time to work out what happened. Once you have an accurate recall of the events, tell a Personal Injury Attorney about your injuries and how the accident occurred to ensure that they can confidently fight for your rights and help you achieve any compensation if you’re entitled to it. Having reliable legal support around you is essential after a car accident.
This allows lawyers to get an accurate estimate of the accident and ensure that you won’t get the bitter end of the spectrum. Furthermore, hiring car accident lawyers will also help prove that the other party was at fault for your accident and not the other way around.
