What Information Will a Car Accident Lawyer Need From Me?
The aftermath of a car accident can be a blur of phone calls, doctor visits, and more. In the midst of recovery, you may not be thinking about the possibility of litigation or negotiating a settlement with an insurance provider. However, a car accident attorney will need to start building your case right away.
Reaching out to a car accident attorney needs to be on your radar after an accident. When you make the call, be prepared to answer questions and provide information. What information exactly? Well, the first call is usually a consultation used to establish the facts.
If you’ve been injured by the negligence of another, you could hire any car wreck law firm in Katy, TX, or you can hire a good car wreck lawyer in West Houston. Joe Stephens has been defending injury victims in Texas for over 3 decades from negligent individuals, companies, and greedy insurance companies. As a veteran personal injury attorney in Katy, Joe handles all cases personally, and his staff is always available to answer questions.
What Information Does a Lawyer Need for a Personal Injury Claim?
A personal injury claim may be the best path to take after an accident if you need to seek compensation for property damage or physical injuries. An insurance company may try to offer a quick settlement that does not fully cover the extent of your injuries.
But what details will a car accident lawyer need to strengthen your defense? Provide information like:
Time and Date of the Accident
It starts with basic facts – like when and where. You will need to provide a time of day, date, number of cars involved, and location of the accident.
Accident Description
The devil is in the details – especially when helping a car accident attorney understand what happened in an accident. The legal process can go so far as employing an accident reconstructionist to give a step-by-step recreation of the accident.
Your description should include what you were doing at the impact, the location, and anything unusual.
Whether You Admitted Fault or Not
If you admit fault to the other driver or to the investigating police officer in any way, shape, or form, it can seriously impact your case. Insurance companies will use this against you during the claims process. In a comparative fault state like Texas, it can be used to show you were more at fault and thus saddle you with financial responsibility.
Police Report Information
If any party breaks the law during an accident, the police report will document that. In addition, the police will file a report if there are physical injuries or death, or property damage that appears to exceed $1,000. If possible, you should provide a copy of this report to see if it shows fault. If not, you or your attorney can order a copy of it.
Injuries Suffered
Be prepared to disclose the full extent of your injuries and where you sought treatment after an accident. You may also have to provide copies of medical records, test results, and bills to show the expenses you need to recover. Injuries can include everything from physical bumps and bruises to mental anguish.
Insurance Claim Information
If you have already started the claims process, you should share all the same information with your attorney. Ideally, this process should be started within a week of the accident or after you have the police report. Remember, when talking to an insurance company, do not admit fault.
If You Were Injured in a Car Wreck Call West Houston Injury Attorney Joe Stephens Now
The personal injury claims process just starts with a call. If you have been injured in a Texas car wreck, get in touch with auto accident attorney Joe Stephens for a free consultation. If you do not know exactly what information we need to help you succeed, just ask. With decades of experience helping Texas drivers, attorney Joe Stephens can help you on the path to recovery.
The Stephens Law Firm, Car Accident Lawyers handles auto accident lawsuits across Texas, including these Houston cities.