Hurt in a Texas Car Accident? Here’s What to Do

Our community is all too familiar with car accidents. A car crash happens every 58 seconds in Texas—and someone dies in a fatal wreck every two hours and 24 minutes. Our state is home to some of the most dangerous highways in the nation, including I-10 and 99 the Grand Parkway, which run right through Katy.

While you can do your best to drive safely, you can’t always account for others’ reckless actions. When the unthinkable happens, you need to act quickly and protect your rights. In this article, we outline what you should do after a car accident and how our law firm can help.

The moments after a crash, no matter how serious, are often filled with panic, pain, and confusion. We know how stressful navigating this situation can be, but you can take steps to protect yourself after a wreck.

1. Call 911 and Request Emergency Services

Once you’re out of harm’s way, call the authorities and let them know if someone’s injured. The 911 operator will send an ambulance and a police officer to the scene. The responding officer should create a crash report, which will be important to your case later.  If the officer declines or suggests you do not need a crash report, politely ask that he or she prepare one so that all drivers have a record of what happened.

2. Take Photos of the Crash (if it’s Safe to Do So)

Photos of the crash are valuable pieces of evidence. If it’s safe and you’re able, take as many pictures as you can of the damaged vehicles, their license plate numbers, the road, conditions, and anything else that seems relevant to the crash. These images can help your legal team fight for you later.

For example, an accident reconstruction expert can study images of skid marks, the positioning of the vehicles, and other crash scene details and pinpoint the likely causes of the car crash.

However, never put your life at risk to take pictures or video. There are other ways that our team can investigate crashes, using surveillance video, GPS and mobile phone data, telematic systems, and eyewitness and expert testimony.

3. Collect Other Evidence and Identify Witnesses

While photos will help your lawyer and their experts understand the circumstances surrounding your crash, there’s a lot more evidence at the scene of a crash. If possible, start taking notes right away. You should write down the following information:

• The name of the responding officer and their badge number
• Names of any eyewitnesses who stopped at the scene of the crash (and their phone numbers)
• Information about the at-fault driver’s insurance company

While you should never move evidence or tamper with the police investigation, you can document what you see and hear.

If someone saw your car crash, do your best to take down their name and contact information. We know that it’s not always possible to do so, but when it is, a witness account of the crash might strengthen your personal injury case.

4. Go to the Doctor as Soon as Possible

Emergency medical treatment is critical after a car accident, even if you don’t “feel hurt.” After a crash, adrenaline makes it all too easy to suffer from a hidden injury, like internal bleeding, and not even realize it. Getting treated quickly can help prevent unnecessary pain, suffering, and expense.

Additionally, medical records are essential to your personal injury case. When you see a doctor, they will write down important details about your injuries, symptoms, and limitations. This information will help a jury understand your damages and whether your injuries are linked to the car wreck.

5. Write Down All the Details

It’s not unusual for crash details, which feel so sharp at the time, to quickly fade. When you get home, carefully write down everything you can remember about the incident, including weather, road conditions, and any pain you feel later.

You should also track your symptoms after a crash. It’s easy to adjust to your “new normal,” ignoring the many ways that your injuries have changed your life. If you don’t already have a journal, it’s time to start one. Every day, document your pain and activity levels, noting any changes or difficulties that you have.

6. File Your Insurance Claims

Filing an insurance claim is typically the first step towards getting the compensation you deserve. While most personal injury lawsuits focus on the at-fault driver and their insurance company, you might have additional claims:

• Personal injury protection
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
• Product liability, if a defective or dangerous product contributed to the crash
• Dram shop liability, if a bar or restaurant knowingly overserved a drunk driver

Our team of Katy, Texas, injury attorneys have a reputation for identifying each and every insurance policy that covers our clients’ claims. We strive to get you every penny that you deserve, so it’s essential that we understand the full extent of your insurance coverage.

Once you’ve identified all the policies that cover your injuries, you can file your insurance claims. If you’re unsure about the process, what options you have for recovery, and how much your case is worth, contact a lawyer. We can help you understand your case’s full settlement value and ensure that you follow Texas’ procedural rules.

Notably, you only have two years from your crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss this deadline (sometimes called the statute of limitations), you might lose out of valuable compensation. If you need help calculating your filing deadlines, call our office right away.

Once you’ve identified all the policies that cover your injuries, you can file your insurance claims. If you’re unsure about the process, what options you have for recovery, and how much your case is worth, contact a lawyer.

Once you submit your claim, you’ll go back and forth with someone called an insurance adjuster. This person will investigate your claim and make an offer based on what they think your case is worth. However, they are not on your side. They work for the insurance company and want to settle your case as quickly and cheaply as possible.

Usually, the adjuster’s first few offers are far too low and will not reflect the true cost of your injuries and suffering. Insurance companies often try to take advantage of unrepresented crash survivors, pressuring them to settle. Unfortunately, many people need the money or don’t know they can push back and demand a fair settlement.

That’s where Will Adams Law Firm enters the picture. We know how to calculate what your case is worth and offer our clients trustworthy advice about when to settle—and when to take legal action. We’ve helped countless people like you get fair settlements after a crash, so if you’re not sure about the process or what to do next, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

We know how to calculate what your case is worth and offer our clients trustworthy advice about when to settle—and when to take legal action.

The process of recovering after a crash and filing an insurance claim is notoriously difficult. What makes it so challenging is not necessarily the process itself but the insurance company’s commitment to protecting its own interests rather than your needs after a crash.

If this sounds like your situation, you’re not alone. We have more than 25 years of experience fighting for people like you in the Greater Katy Area and across Texas and are ready to meet with you to help you understand your options and decide what to do next.

To speak with our team of personal injury lawyers in a complimentary case evaluation, call our office at 1-800-559-0593, or fill out our contact form.

We look forward to hearing from you!