Nobody wants to find themselves in a car accident. Even minor fender benders can leave you feeling shaken, and more serious accidents that result in injuries or major vehicle damage can be traumatic. When an accident occurs, most people aren’t sure exactly what steps they need to take next. It’s important to know what to do after a car accident in Texas so that you can protect your rights as a victim, properly document the incident, get any necessary medical care, and avoid problems down the road. Here is an overview of the key things you should do if you are ever unfortunate enough to be involved in a collision in Texas.
Check for Injuries
The first thing you should always do after an accident is check to make sure that no one involved is injured. Even if the vehicles don’t seem too damaged or the accident was minor, there could still be injuries like cuts from broken glass, soreness or bruising from seat belts, or whiplash from the sudden impact. If anyone seems injured or complains of pain, call 911 immediately to summon emergency medical help. Don’t try moving an injured person yourself unless they are in immediate danger in their current location. Wait for trained medical personnel to arrive on the scene, properly stabilize the injury victim’s neck/back, and get them onto a stretcher.
Move Out of Traffic
If the accident resulted in the vehicles blocking a roadway and it is safe to do so, try moving out of the main lanes of traffic. This will help prevent secondary collisions and allow other cars to pass safely. Turn on your hazard lights and set up road flares or warning triangles behind your vehicle if you have them. However, don’t try moving the vehicles out of the roadway if anyone seems injured. Also, avoid moving the vehicles if doing so would alter their position from how they ended up after the crash. Leaving them in place will allow police officers investigating the accident to get an accurate picture of what happened based on damage patterns and final resting spots.
Call the Police
You’ll want to call the police after an accident in Texas, even for minor collisions. Under Texas Transportation Code §550.026, any accident resulting in injury, death, or total property damage of $1,000 or more requires contacting law enforcement. However, it’s a good idea to call the police and report any accident, no matter how minor it may seem. Having a police report documenting the crash can be crucial for insurance claims, establishing fault, and protecting yourself from civil liability down the road.
When the police arrive, cooperate fully with them. Be honest about what happened, but don’t admit fault or speculate. Let them investigate and piece together the events. Answer any direct questions they ask, but keep your own statements brief until you have spoken to your attorney. Anything you say to the police could later be used against you.
Exchange Information
While waiting for the police to arrive, go ahead and exchange relevant information with the other involved driver. This includes names, contact information, driver’s license numbers, insurance details, and vehicle/tag info. If there are any witnesses to the accident, try getting their contact information, too, in case the police want statements later. Make sure to take pictures of the accident scene, damage to vehicles, and injuries with your cell phone camera. These pictures can provide invaluable documentation.
Get Witness Statements and Contact Info
If anyone witnessed the accident, ask if they’d be willing to give a statement to the police or insurance companies. Try to get their full name and contact phone number. Having an objective third-party account of how the crash happened can help protect you from false accusations.
Seek Medical Treatment
Even if you don’t have obvious injuries after the car accident, it’s wise to get checked out by a doctor. Symptoms from injuries like concussions or soft tissue damage sometimes take hours or days to show up. A prompt medical evaluation will also document any physical problems before they potentially worsen.
Consult an Attorney
It’s highly advisable to contact an experienced car accident attorney after any collision where injuries or substantial property damage occurred. An attorney can deal with insurance companies on your behalf to make sure you recover full and fair compensation. They can also investigate who was at fault and negotiate reasonable settlements. Car accident cases involving complex issues of liability or damages often warrant legal representation to protect your rights.
Preserve Evidence
In the days following a car crash, be sure to take proactive steps to preserve all evidence related to the accident. This includes keeping the vehicles involved exactly as they were after the collision until auto damage inspectors have a chance to examine them. It also involves getting copies of all police reports, medical records related to accident injuries, eyewitness statements, and camera footage if applicable. An attorney can provide further guidance on preserving crucial evidence.
Follow Up on Insurance Claims
You’ll need to promptly report the accident to your insurance company. Find out if you should file a claim through your own collision coverage, the other driver’s liability insurance, or both. Your insurer will then begin a claims investigation process. Be responsive to all requests by your insurance company for information related to the accident. However, avoid recorded statements or lengthy interviews with insurers until consulting with a Texas car accident lawyer. Insurance companies may try getting claimants to unintentionally make statements against their own interests.
Hire a Lawyer
Accidents involving serious injuries, major vehicle damage, and complex legal claims often warrant working with experienced car accident attorneys Texas. An attorney can conduct their own investigation into the circumstances of the crash, determine all viable at-fault parties, estimate the full value of your damages, negotiate optimal settlements, and take the case to court if necessary.
An attorney may also be able to help you pursue injury claims through more favorable insurance policies even when an accident was determined to be your fault based on traffic violations or negligence. Many accident attorneys don’t collect legal fees until you win compensation.
Taking these steps can go a long way toward protecting yourself physically, legally, and financially following an unfortunate accident. Don’t hesitate to contact our office if you want to explore your options with regard to legal representation after being injured in a Texas auto collision. Our skilled Texas car accident lawyers are here to advise you and vigorously pursue maximum compensation for your unique case.
