Every year, there are more than 10 million car accidents in the U.S. Statistically speaking, there is a good chance you will be involved in at least one car accident during your lifetime. By planning ahead and knowing what steps to take after an accident, you will have an easier time protecting your rights.
We encourage you to review the follow tips from the Houston car accident lawyers at Tracey & Fox. If you have any questions, you can also contact our firm at 713-955-7854.
#1: Stay calm and move away from traffic - After an accident, it's easy to panic. However, the best thing to do is stay calm. If it is safe to do so, move your vehicle away from traffic. If this is not possible, turn on your hazards, set up warning triangles or flares, and wait for help to arrive.
#2: Call 911 and file a police report - If your accident was serious, call 911. This is particularly important if you or another party is injured, or if there is significant damage to the vehicles. Once help arrives, you should also make sure to file an accident report with the police.
#3: Get contact information from witnesses - If there are witnesses, ask for their contact information and see if they would be willing to give a statement to the police. Having a third party account of the accident could be highly beneficial to your personal injury claim.
#4: Do not admit that you were at fault - While you should cooperate fully with the other driver and the police, you should avoid making any statements that could be interpreted as an admission of fault. Avoid speculating on what may or may not have caused the accident.
#5: Do not make any deals or promises - If another driver was at fault, they may try to offer immediate compensation or promise to pay for the damages outside of insurance. Just say no! You are in no position to assess the damage to your property or the extent of your injuries.
#6: Take pictures of the scene of the accident - If you are able, document the scene of the accident by photographing the damage. Just use your cell phone to snap a few pictures. While your memories are still fresh, you should also write down any details about the accident.
#7: Exchange information with the other driver - Next, exchange information with the other driver. All you need is their name, insurance company, policy number, and phone number for their insurance company. If they will provide it, you can also ask for their number.
#8: Seek medical attention right away - After a serious accident, you should seek medical attention immediately. Even if your injuries appear to be relatively minor, it's impossible to know how you were impacted by the accident until you have been checked out by a doctor.
#9: Contact your insurance company - You will need to report the accident to your insurance company. This is a requirement. However, you are not obligated to give a statement to the other party's insurance company about the accident. In fact, it is recommended that you don't.
#10: Call Tracey & Fox for a free case review - The last and most important step is to contact a Houston personal injury attorney at Tracey & Fox. Once we are on the case, we will handle all interactions with the insurance company, as well as any settlement negotiations.