What Steps Should You Take After Getting into a Car Wreck Out of Texas?
Being involved in a car wreck is a horrific process wherever you are. However, it can be easier to handle the aftermath when the car wreck occurred closer to home, i.e., within your state.
So what steps should you take after getting into a car wreck out of state? This guide covers how to proceed in the immediate aftermath and how to find legal assistance for an out-of-state car accident.
If you’ve been injured by the negligence of another, you could hire any car accident lawyer in Katy, TX, or you can hire a top rated West Houston car wreck lawyer. Joe Stephens has been defending injury victims in Texas for over 3 decades from negligent individuals, companies, and greedy insurance companies. As a client focused auto accident lawyer in Katy, Joe handles all cases personally, and his staff is always available to answer questions.
What Should a Texan Do After an Out-of-State Car Accident?
After being involved in an out-of-state car accident, the immediate steps you need to take are the same as for an accident anywhere. Here’s how to proceed.
1. Take Insurance Details and Seek Help
You should always take the insurance details of all other parties involved in the accident and provide your own. If there are injuries, contact the emergency services and give details of the injuries.
However, you don’t need to provide details of how the car wreck happened – your thoughts will be scrambled, and anything you say to emergency staff could be used as evidence against you if the claim is contested.
Once you’re back home, you should visit your usual doctor to follow through with checking up on injuries.
2. Claim Through Your Insurance
If the case has a clear-cut at-fault party and the damages aren’t too great, insurance companies can handle the process regardless of where the accident occurred. The at-fault party’s insurance will pay for damages, and you can move on.
However, things get more complicated if there’s a dispute over which driver was at fault. Insurance companies may also take a case to court if large sums of money are involved, e.g., if severe injuries have been sustained that require substantial compensation.
3. Getting Legal Assistance for Disputed Cases in Out-of-State Car Wrecks
If the case is disputed, you’ll need to obtain the services of a trusted auto accident attorney. This attorney must have a license to practice law in the state where the accident occurred. If the accident occurred in a neighboring state, there’s a good chance your local auto accident attorney can take the case.
However, if the accident occurred across the country, e.g., you live in Texas but were involved in an accident in Maine, you’ll need to take additional steps to find an attorney.
What to Do If You’re Involved in a Car Wreck in a Distant State
There is a stipulation in law called pro hac vice, which means that if your local lawyer has an associate in the relevant state, they might be able to handle your case in conjunction with their associate. This can make it far easier for you to communicate details to your trusted local auto accident attorney while benefiting from the local expertise of your attorney’s associate.
So what steps should you take after getting into a car wreck out of state? The best course of action is to speak to your attorney about their professional network. Lawyers who are members of bodies like the National Board of Trial Advocacy are more likely to have connections to other top attorneys across the country.
Once your attorney has authority to handle your out-of-state case, you can proceed with the same level of trust that the insurance company will be held to account as if you’d suffered a crash locally.
If You or a Loved One Have Been Injured in a Car Wreck, Call Auto Accident Attorney Joe Stephens Now
Car wrecks are traumatic events wherever they occur, and it can be even more stressful when it’s far from home. Joe Stephens is an NBTA-certified auto accident attorney who can ensure that your out-of-state car wreck receives the proper attention and that you get fair compensation. Call today to learn more and schedule a free consultation.
The Stephens Law Firm, Car Accident Lawyers handles auto accident lawsuits across Texas, including these Houston cities.