Suffering personal injuries during a car wreck can affect you physically, emotionally, and financially. Rising medical bills, lost earnings, and uncertainty regarding your physical recovery may cause you to experience depression and anxiety. Retaining a personal injury attorney can help you focus on healing from your injuries. The following steps to take after a car accident in Houston will help you document and accumulate evidence of your injuries to improve your chances of success when filing your claim for injuries.
Step One: Seek Immediate Medical Treatment
Sometimes people feel sore immediately after a wreck and think “this will probably just go away.” You may not believe you have any significant injuries at that point, but discernible symptoms may not arise until days or weeks after the date of your car accident. The bad news is that once the initial adrenaline and shock wear off, the injuries often get worse rather than better. No matter how minor your injuries may appear, it is wise to seek immediate medical treatment after being involved in an auto accident.
Step Two: Contact Law Enforcement
It is vital to contact law enforcement immediately after any car crash. A law enforcement officer will create a traffic collision report. The information contained in a traffic collision report can be used as evidence to prove which party caused the car accident. A traffic collision report will also document your injuries and whether or not you were transported by ambulance to a hospital.
Step Three: Document Injuries and Property Damage by Photographing and Recording the Accident Scene
Photographs and videos of property damage, physical injuries, and the weather conditions at the time of an auto accident in Houston can help strengthen a personal injury case. Providing an attorney with photographs and recordings of the accident scene can help bolster your case and improve your chances of recovering comprehensive compensation.
Step Four: Exchange Contact Information With the Other Drivers
Ask the other drivers involved in the car crash for their names, contact information, and insurance information. This includes the following:
- Full name
- Address
- Phone number
- Auto insurance company
- Auto insurance policy number
- Driver’s license number
- License plate number
If you have a cell phone handy and are able, snapping a picture of their driver’s license., insurance information, and license plate is the easiest way to preserve this information and ensure it is accurate. If there were any witnesses, you should ask if they would be willing to provide their contact information and a statement of what they saw before and during the car accident.
Step Five: Contact an Experienced Attorney
If you suffered personal injuries during a car wreck, you do not have to fight the insurance companies alone. Contact Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., Injury & Accident Lawyers. Since 1979, we have helped injured individuals throughout seek monetary compensation for their losses. Contact our firm today for a free consultation.
Author
