How to Protect Your Rights After a Car Accident in West Houston
Being involved in a car wreck is a life-changing experience. Even if you’re lucky enough to escape with minor injuries, the initial shock of the ordeal can make it hard to get your thoughts in order in the aftermath.
However, knowing what actions to take after a car wreck to protect your rights can give you a much higher chance of obtaining fair compensation.
So, what should you do to protect your rights if you’ve been involved in a car accident in West Houston?
Actions to Take After a Car Wreck to Protect Your Rights
What should you do following an accident to guarantee your best case in court?
By following these steps, you maximize your chances of receiving the appropriate medical attention, protecting your rights, and obtaining critical information to help you with your claim.
1. Call for Medical Assistance and Law Enforcement
Unless the accident was a minor scrape or bump between vehicles, and it’s clear that nobody is hurt, you must immediately call for medical assistance. In most collisions, it’s also important to contact law enforcement (you should be provided with the option to ask for both when you call 911).
The sooner medical professionals arrive on the scene, the higher the chances are that injured parties can be treated swiftly and given the best chance of recovery. It can be the difference between life and death.
Law enforcement will also deal with aggressive behavior or make arrests if the crash was due to out-of-control driving.
2. Know What (Not) To Say
Discussing the circumstances and consequences of the crash can wait until later. Your priority is to have injuries treated and to obtain the information you need to make your claim.
Telling medical professionals that you feel fine can feel like the right thing, but you might be in shock: you should still be examined. Likewise, keep answers to law enforcement questions brief and to the point – note what other drivers did to cause the accident. Don’t say, for example, “I should’ve slowed down,” because this can later be used against you in court.
Feeling guilty immediately after a crash is natural, especially if it has severe consequences for others. But, still – don’t reveal any more information than is necessary for medical staff and law enforcement to do their jobs. It’s also important to remain brief and to-the-point with witnesses and other drivers.
3. Obtain Other Drivers’ Insurance Information
You should immediately obtain the insurance information of all other parties involved in the crash if they’re in a fit state to provide you with this information. Otherwise, take down their registration and the make and model of the vehicle, and their name if possible.
It’s a good idea to keep a pad of paper and a pen handy for this purpose. You can use your phone, but that could have been damaged in the crash.
4. Obtain Witnesses’ Contact Information
Witnesses will play a key part in determining that you were not at fault for the crash. Speak to witnesses and ask them what they saw, take down their information, and ask them to appear in court on your behalf. Be polite and don’t appear aggressive or vindictive towards other drivers.
5. Document Your Injuries and Damages
If possible, take photos of the wreck from several angles. If your phone is damaged, ask a witness to do this and send you the pictures. This can help show where your vehicle was at the time of the crash and demonstrate that you were where you were meant to be (and that other parties were not).
Write down every injury you suffered and obtain written confirmation from medical professionals where possible.
6. Contact an Auto Accident Attorney in West Houston
The most important of all actions to take after a car wreck to protect your rights is contacting a top-quality auto accident attorney. They will be able to use the evidence you’ve gathered to present a strong case in court and advise you of how to approach a cross-examination. This is vital to getting the compensation you deserve after a car wreck.
If you’ve been injured by the negligence of another, you could hire any car accident attorney, or you can hire West Houston car lawyer. Joe Stephens has been defending injury victims in Texas for over 3 decades from negligent individuals, companies, and greedy insurance companies. As a local injury lawyer in Katy, TX, Joe handles all cases personally, and his staff is always available to answer questions.
If You or a Loved One Have Been Injured in a Car Wreck in Texas, Call Auto Accident Attorney Joe Stephens Now
It’s not easy to remain calm on the scene of a car wreck. However, memorizing these steps gives you the best chance of protecting your rights and obtaining proper compensation after an accident. Contact the Joe Stephens law firm today to learn more and get representation from a top West Houston auto accident attorney.
The Stephens Law Firm, Car Accident Lawyers handles auto accident lawsuits across Texas, including these Houston cities.