According to the National Safety Council, in 2018, over 4 million people were seriously injured in car accidents. Unfortunately, collisions are common, which means there is a high probability that you could be involved in one. Because these are high stress, high anxiety situations, it can be difficult to process all the stimuli coming at you and know what to do after a crash.
Below are a few steps you can take to make the process less overwhelming:
- Stop your vehicle and move to a safe area: Under Texas law, drivers involved in accidents must immediately pull over and return to the scene of the crash. If possible, they are also required to move their vehicles to a nearby location so as not to obstruct traffic.
- Check for any injuries: If you are able to do so, determine whether you or anyone else involved in the accident has been hurt and if they require medical attention. You must also give reasonable assistance to anybody who was harmed.
- Call the police: If anyone suffered a serious injury or there was vehicle damage, call the police. Medical technicians can provide care or transport to those hurt, and law enforcement can make a written report of the accident. The report can help later on when filing an insurance claim.
- Remain on the scene: After a collision, you must remain on the scene until you have exchanged necessary information with other parties involved. You are required to provide your name, address, vehicle registration number, and insurance information. If asked, you must also show your driver’s license to others.
- Refrain from discussing the accident: Even though others were involved in the collision, it’s important not to talk about the details or admit fault. You should give information to law enforcement or medical personnel only.
- Document the accident: It is important to take photos and/or videos of the scene as soon as possible. Make sure to get pictures of the vehicles and surrounding areas. Also, it’s important to note when the collision occurred, on what road, and in which way the cars were traveling. You can either write this information down or record it on a voice app. Such documentation can be used during the investigation portion of an insurance claim.
- Seek medical attention: Even if it seems as if you sustained only minor injuries, it’s important to have a doctor examine you. Something seemingly small may later turn into a more significant health condition, requiring additional medical care and resulting in higher expenses.
Contact Rodriguez & Gimbert for Skilled Legal Representation
If you were involved in an accident, call our team for legal help with the claims process. We will use our knowledge and resources to review the evidence you collected after the collision to determine liability. Our team will work hard to obtain just compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain/suffering, and other damages you might have sustained.
To discuss your case during a free consultation, call us at (979) 559-3599 or contact us online.