If you’ve been in a car accident, it’s important to know your rights and how to protect them. This includes contacting a Houston car accident attorney as soon as possible.
Texas is a fault state, meaning that injured people can file a claim against the at-fault party. To win a claim, the injured person must prove negligence.
Remain at the Scene
Remaining at the scene of a car accident is essential, as it prevents you from being charged with leaving the scene of an accident and can help strengthen your injury case. It also gives you the chance to speak with police officers and exchange information.
If you are unable to remain at the scene, call 911 and request emergency assistance immediately. This will ensure that your medical needs are taken care of and a police report is created, which can help you to file an insurance claim for damages related to the crash.
The next thing to do is get the other driver’s name, address, phone number, insurance company and policy number. This information can be extremely helpful if you decide to file a lawsuit against the other party.
Once you have the information, it’s time to start collecting evidence. If you have a camera in your vehicle, or one on your cell phone, take pictures of the other party’s car, the damage and any injuries.
Make sure that your photos are as clear as possible and don’t obscure any valuable evidence. The photographs you take at the scene of an accident can be very persuasive at trial.
In addition to taking pictures, you should also ask the other driver for their insurance information. This will help you to determine which party is at fault and to figure out who will be responsible for paying your claims.
When you have all of this information, it’s time to call an attorney. Your lawyer can then begin to build a strong case on your behalf, which can be especially important if you are injured.
Remember that insurance companies always want to reduce their liability and make a low-ball offer to their clients, so it’s critical to speak with an experienced Houston car accident attorney as soon as possible after the crash. A reputable firm will have an in-depth knowledge of the law and can help you receive full compensation for your losses.
Once you have collected all of the necessary information, it’s time to call an experienced Houston car accident attorney. Your lawyer will then begin to build a strong case on you behalf, which can be especially important if your injuries are severe.
See a Doctor
If you are injured in a car accident, it is vital to seek medical attention immediately. Even if you feel fine after the accident, it is crucial to see a doctor to ensure your injuries are properly diagnosed and treated.
If a victim does not seek treatment, their injury may worsen or they could develop chronic health conditions that can have a long-term impact on their quality of life. Injuries like concussions or spinal cord injuries are serious, and they require immediate care to prevent them from getting worse.
Many car accident victims do not realize they need to see a doctor until a few days or weeks after the accident. This is because pain and other symptoms may take several weeks or months to fully manifest.
When a person is involved in a car crash, they often feel a rush of adrenaline that overshadows any pain or discomfort. However, these surges of energy are temporary and do not always result in a full recovery.
A lot of people are unsure of what to do after a car accident, and whether to visit their primary care physician first or a specialist. While your regular doctor will treat you and help with any medical insurance claims, they typically refer you to a specialist such as an orthopedic doctor to explore a specific injury or condition.
Regardless of what type of doctor you see, you should keep good records of your treatment. These include all receipts for prescriptions, travel expenses, and any doctors or hospitals you go to. This helps ensure that you are compensated for all of your medical bills and treatment.
It is also essential to be as clear and truthful as possible when discussing your injury with your doctor. This is because they will need to make notes in your medical record that can be used for future medical care and for a personal injury case if you decide to pursue legal action against an insurance company.
It is important to note that there are various types of doctors you can see after a car accident, including emergency medicine physicians, general surgeons, physical therapists, and chiropractors. The right physician will be experienced in treating people who have suffered injuries from car accidents, and will be able to provide thorough medical care. (1)
Collect Evidence
If you were injured in a car accident, it’s important to collect as much evidence as possible. This will help your Houston car accident attorney build a strong case on your behalf.
Get the police officer’s name and badge number if they are responding to the scene of the crash, and ask for an official police report. These reports contain a lot of useful information, including the officer’s assessment of who was at fault for the accident. They may also have some witnesses on hand that you can interview, which will be very helpful for bolstering your case later on.
While the police officer is conducting their investigation, try to get the names and contact information of all other drivers involved in the crash. This will include their drivers’ license numbers, insurance policy numbers, and other relevant information.
Obtaining the names and contact information of all passengers in the other vehicle(s) can be beneficial, too. This can help you get a better understanding of the other party’s insurance coverage and make it easier to negotiate with their insurance company.
After the accident, take photos of both your car and any damage to the other vehicle. You can do this with your smartphone, and you should try to get photos from several different angles.
It’s crucial to photograph any signs of tire tread patterns or skid marks from the collision. These are valuable pieces of evidence, but they can disappear quickly if not photographed.
If you can, contact businesses in the area to see if they have video cameras or surveillance systems that could be capturing the accident scene. These footage can be a big help in proving the other driver’s negligence.
You should also seek treatment for your injuries within 24 hours of the crash. This is particularly important if you are suffering from delayed onset symptoms such as whiplash, a concussion or a traumatic brain injury. The sooner you can begin treatment, the sooner you can recover from your injuries and start receiving compensation for your losses.
Contact an Attorney
Whether it’s a minor fender bender or a devastating car wreck, you should always contact an attorney. This could make all the difference in how you pursue compensation after an accident and ensure that you get the financial resources you need to recover fully.
If the accident was caused by another driver’s negligence, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your injuries and damages. At Adley Law Firm, our Houston car accident attorneys are committed to fighting for the rights of everyday people like you who have been hurt in a negligent vehicle crash.
Our team of tenacious auto accident lawyers can help you pursue both economic and non-economic damages from at-fault insurance companies. Our goal is to put you on the path toward recovery for your losses by obtaining a fair and appropriate settlement that includes all of your damages.
A major part of the case will involve your injuries and the extent of your pain and suffering. Our team has extensive experience assessing all the details of your injuries to determine what they are worth and how much compensation you should seek.
Injuries that result from a car accident can be catastrophic, including brain trauma, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and even torn ligaments in the lower extremities. If your injuries are severe enough, you can expect to spend months or even years unable to work, requiring ongoing medical care and treatments.
Moreover, your medical bills and lost wages are likely to pile up if you’re not able to work as a result of your injuries. Your health insurance might pay for some of these expenses, but it usually doesn’t cover all of them.
When you have a lawyer by your side, however, negotiations with the at-fault insurance company can become much easier. If they deny your claim or offer a low settlement, you can ask to submit additional information and evidence that will help them understand how significant your injuries are and what you’re truly owed. (2)
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