Texas City Accident Attorney: Do's and Don'ts After A Car Accident

DO EXCHANGE INFORMATION WITH THE OTHER DRIVER

Always exchange personal and insurance information with the other driver, even if the accident was not your fault. 


DON'T GIVE THE INSURANCE COMPANY A RECORDED STATEMENT

While it is important to promptly report the claim to your insurer if you are involved in a Texas City accident, it is equally important not to talk to the other driver’s insurance company until after consulting an attorney.  The other driver’s insurance adjustor has one job:  limit what is paid to you.  The first thing they will attempt to do if they get an opportunity to speak to you is take a recorded statement.  Do not agree to one. 

DO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS OF BOTH VEHICLES

Take photos of all of the vehicles involved in the accident.  If possible, never leave the scene before you take photos.  Stories tend to change after a person has had time to think about what happened.  The best evidence is generally the scene photographs which should show the damage to all of the vehicle and the point of impact.  The easiest way to take the pictures is to imagine your vehicle as a clock.  Start at twelve o'clock (the front center of your vehicle), and work your way around taking pictures at every hour on the imaginary clock.  This will help you document the damage and help establish how the accident occurred. 


DON'T ACCEPT ANY MONEY FROM THE FRIENDLY INSURANCE ADJUSTOR

Many insurance companies attempt to send adjustors out to meet with accident victims immediately.  Their goal is twofold: number one, they want to get to you before you have had a chance to talk to a Texas City accident attorney about your legal rights; and second, they want to offer you a little money to settle your claim early.  If you accept the insurance company's money, you have just eliminated your rights to ever pursue a claim against the at-fault driver and his insurance company.  Don't make this mistake.   


DO SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION IF YOU ARE INJURED

If there is any doubt in your mind whether you are injured, go to the emergency room to be checked out.  Some injuries are obvious.  If you are bleeding, have obvious broken bones, or lost consciousness in the wreck, you need to be evaluated by trained medical personnel in an emergency room.  Some injuries aren’t obvious.  Head, neck, and some spinal injuries are not always obvious at the scene.  If you feel any tightness or pain, you should go to the emergency room to be evaluated.  The ER staff will conduct a full examination and use all of the diagnostic tools available to them, including x-rays, CT scans, and MRIs to determine the extent of your injuries. 

Often, injuries are not apparent the day of the wreck.  It may take a few days for neck, back pain and stiffness to set in.  If that is the case, as soon as you feel pain, seek medical attention from your family doctor.  Insurance companies are very critical of people who do not claim injuries at the scene and wait for days to seek medical attention.  If this happens to you, contact an attorney as soon as possible to fight for your rights against the insurance company and their insured. 


DO GET ALL WITNESS INFORMATION BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE SCENE

If there are witnesses to the wreck, get their name, address, and phone number, even if the investigating police officer talks to them.  In most instances, an investigating officer will only list an eyewitness on the accident report if there is some dispute as to who caused the wreck.  The investigating officer always tells the drivers that everything will be on the accident report, but there is no obligation to list eyewitnesses.  If the officer thinks it is a clear case of liability, he usually will not list the eyewitnesses, instead opting to protect their privacy.  So, even in the clearest case of liability, if an eyewitness is not listed on the report and you do not have their contact information, the other driver is free to change his story about the wreck facts and there is little you can do to counteract it.

If you find yourself in this position, call the Texas City accident attorneys at Denena & Points as soon as possible. We may be able to help you file a personal injury claim against a negligent driver, earning you financial compensation for the injuries you have sustained.

Call the Texas City accident attorneys at Denena & Points today at (877) 307-9500 to schedule your own free, no-obligation consultation about your case. You can also download our free book, What Every Houston Accident Victim Needs to Know, to learn more.