Getting into a car crash can range from a mild inconvenience to a life-altering accident. As traffic increases on Houston roads, so does the number of motor vehicle accidents that occur every day in the area. With the rise in accidents also comes the potential for victims’ serious injuries and death.
If someone else’s negligence caused the crash that resulted in your injuries, you may be able to hold them accountable. You can speak with an experienced Houston auto accident lawyer who can help you pursue the compensation you deserve and move on with the rest of your life.
Steps to Take After a Car Crash In Houston
After a car crash, many people feel confused and do not know the right steps to take. Whether the accident is a more serious one or just a fender bender, here are some tips to follow after a car accident:
- Immediately assess your injuries- After a car crash or other type of motor vehicle accident, many victims have to deal with the aftermath of different types of injuries. Identify whether you or anyone in your vehicle suffered any crash-related injuries and determine their severity. In some cases, a serious injury may not be readily apparent right away. This is why it is so important to seek assistance from trained medical professionals after any kind of accident on the road. In most cases, the best thing to do is to take an ambulance from the scene of the crash to a local emergency room for assessment. Some of the most serious types of injuries may only become symptomatic hours or days after an accident. In addition, failing to seek attention for injuries you suffered in a crash can compromise your ability to seek compensation in a legal case after the fact.
- Notify the appropriate people- After a car accident, it is important to notify the appropriate parties that a crash occurred. This includes contacting local law enforcement to file an official police report of the accident, calling a medical professional for treatment, and reaching out to all parties’ insurance companies about the incident. In some situations, this can be something as simple as dialing 9-1-1. Reporting the accident appropriately can protect the victims later on, as well as help to establish the negligent party’s fault in causing the crash.
- Remain at the scene of the accident- Leaving the scene of a car crash too soon can result in serious legal consequences for an individual if they are later caught by law enforcement officials. This is because fleeing the scene of a car crash or accident may indicate that an individual is trying to avoid reporting the incident or paying damages for their illegal actions. Fleeing the scene can be punishable under criminal law in Texas.
- Keep track of evidence from the crash- After you are involved in a vehicle accident, it can be important to keep track of all related evidence, as this can be used later to build a case against another party to prove their negligence. Evidence can include the other driver’s license plate number, insurance information, official police reports, pictures or video of the accident scene, contact information for witnesses, photographs of injuries, and damaged property. If someone was injured in the automobile accident, they would also need to keep track of all medical expenses that they incurred as a result of injuries sustained during this incident.
- Do not discuss the accident with others- Perhaps most important, do not apologize for anything at the scene and do not admit any fault in the crash. When someone has been injured in a Houston car accident, it can be important for them to keep certain information to themselves, and this includes not discussing the incident with other people involved before speaking with an experienced attorney. This includes not disclosing fault for the incident, admitting guilt, or telling another person what to say on the witness stand if the case goes to trial. Discussing the accident with other people can negatively affect a victim’s legal rights because it can potentially lead to misunderstandings about what actually happened at the scene of an incident.
- Seek help accident lawyer- If you or someone you love has been injured in an automobile crash in Houston, then you should strongly consider looking into hiring a local personal injury lawyer to help handle a potentially complex case. An attorney can provide valuable representation and advice for their clients, especially if the victim is someone who will have to deal with insurance companies or the negligent party’s legal team. A lawyer can also provide victims with guidance on what information they should or should not disclose to avoid hurting their chances of winning a claim for financial damages against those responsible for their injuries.
Common Auto Accident Injuries in Houston
If you were injured in a car accident, it is important to contact an experienced Houston Car accident lawyer as soon as possible. They can review your case and determine whether the at-fault party’s insurance company is offering an amount that reflects your injuries.
Auto accidents can leave victims with injuries that can take a long time to heal or affect them for the rest of their lives. Some of the most common types of injuries that people incur in car crashes include:
Broken bones- Car accidents can cause broken bones, and sometimes even multiple fractures.
If you broke a bone but your insurance company is not offering a fair settlement, a Houston car accident lawyer may be able to help you receive compensation for medical treatment and time missed from work due to your injuries.
They can also make sure that all of your medical expenses are paid and that you receive a fair amount for future medical care, as well as pain and suffering.
Neck and back injuries- Whiplash is a common injury that results from car accidents. In addition to pain, this type of neck injury can cause stiffness in the neck and shoulders, which can lead to back problems down the road. These injuries can also make it hard for people to do their jobs or enjoy life to the fullest.
You may incur additional expenses if you have to take time off work and pay for physical therapy. A severe neck or back injury can require surgery, which is another type of expense you may not have foreseen. An attorney can help ensure that your medical bills are covered and that any surgeries or procedures you undergo in the future are also paid for.
Traumatic brain injuries- When someone is injured in a car wreck, often the biggest concern is whether that person will survive. Often overlooked are the long-term effects that a brain injury can have on a victim. If you suffered a severe head injury in an accident, your case may be more complex than others.
The effects of brain injuries can be hard to predict, but an attorney who has experience handling these cases should be able to give you some idea of what to expect when it comes to any settlement.
Brain injuries can lead to a loss of cognitive function, which means that you may have problems with memory, coordination, and problem-solving. Brain injuries can also cause seizures and affect one’s vision or hearing.
A settlement for any of these types of injuries may include compensation for:
- Future medical costs
- Lost wages due to time off from work
- Decreased future earning potential
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
By hiring a Auto accident attorney in Houston, you can help to ensure that all of your rights are protected after a crash. Some insurance companies will refuse to offer fair compensation for injuries incurred in a crash because they are unsure how much the treatment will cost or what kind of effect it will have on the victim’s life in the long run. An experienced Houston personal injury lawyer can help you fight for the compensation you deserve and hold the negligent party responsible.
How A Houston Personal Injury Attorney Can Help?
It is important for car accident victims to understand that many people who are injured in motor vehicle crashes have no idea of how complicated the legal system can be. This is why anyone who has been in a crash should consider hiring an injury attorney for strong representation.
Our lawyers have extensive experience working with all of the major insurance companies, which can be notoriously difficult with regard to fair settlements and require a strong negotiator to reach the compensation that victims deserve. We can provide you with valuable legal advice if you or someone you care about has been injured in a car crash.