Legal Actions After Car Accidents in Texas
Car accidents are by far some of the most daunting nightmares one can experience. The tragedies come with all sorts of detrimental consequences, such as psychological, physical, and emotional trauma. Not forgetting, accidents also affect our loved ones. In the United States alone, more than 6 million road accidents occur yearly. Statistics report that roughly 35,000 U.S. citizens lose their lives annually due to motor vehicle misfortunes. What is more, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration predicts that the figures will continue to heighten, especially due to speeding and drunk driving. Texas, for instance, records more road fatalities than other states. Evidence-based reports reveal that in Texas, every year records, over 600,000 road accidents coupled with a significant mortality rate. In brief, an accident occurs roughly every one minute in Texas State.
Road tragedies happen unexpectedly, and if you are lucky to survive, it is essential to know your right after a car accident. In the event of an accident, fighting the legal battle alone puts you at a risk of losing a lot. Remember that being on the right side of the situation does not guarantee you will get the deserved justice. Many people lose cases against their perpetrators for several reasons. That said, stay vigilant if you are a car accident victim. What happens when you get involved in a car accident in Texas State?
Texas State Motor Vehicle Accident Law
First, it is important to understand the specific regulations of Texas accident law. Do not leave the scene when an accident happens, even if you have no fault. Any involved party that leaves the scene before the authorities arrive may end up paying a $5,000 fine, or serve a 5-year jail term, or both. This depends on the intensity of the situation. No matter if the accident is minor, a leaver will still pay a fine. That said, you understand that the number one rule is staying at the scene. After this, what next? This phase is where you have to follow the Texas legal actions.
What should you do after a car accident?
The Ultimate Legal Actions to Take After a Car Accident in Texas.
1. Check for Everyone’s Safety
After an accident, the first thing to do is get out of harm’s way. Afterwards, check if everyone is okay. Investigate for any injuries or fatalities. If the car is in a dangerous position, move away and help others do the same. This does not only apply to you and your passengers. Suppose you are in the right state to walk; check if the other parties involved have injuries or worse. If possible, start performing first aid routines, especially for those who need emergency medical assistance. Call for help from other motorists and bystanders. It is the ethical action to take before you think of anything else.
2. Request Medical Assistance
Seek medical assistance immediately, even if you feel no intense effects. The slightest abnormal feeling, such as lightheadedness, requires medical attention. Accidents come with numerous injuries, such as concussions, broken bones, bruises, and internal bleeding, to mention a few. Even when you seem okay, getting a medical examination to ascertain that you are okay is noteworthy. Remember that even a minor accident can cause harm that leads to severe repercussions. Some complications may not be symptomatic until a few days or weeks after the incident. More so, medical examinations and reports are critical to handling your case in court. A medical report that shows proof of injury, including the smallest bruise, is enough evidence for fair compensation if you are not at fault.
3. Assess the Situation
Suppose you are in the position and conscious mind; perform a critical assessment of the situation. Look around and evaluate everything that you see. This includes the bystanders, other motorists, and the intensity of the circumstance, among other details. Take note of the extent of your injuries and those of other victims, including the other party involved. Also, be keen on the extent of damage and the angles of all the motor vehicles that are part of the accident. Remember that your insurance company representative will arrive and assess the damage. As with insurance, the goal is to spend as little as possible to compensate you. A critical evaluation of the situation comes in handy concerning charges and claims.
4. Contact the Authorities
At times, accidents may be minor, thereby not requiring police involvement. However, if the tragedy involves injuries and deaths, dialing 911 should be at the top of your priorities. When it comes to such circumstances, it does not matter if you are on the right or wrong side. At this point, the lives of others are at stake. If you may be the main cause of the accident, reporting the situation may help reduce the charges when the court finds you guilty. However, do not admit that you are at fault at the accident scene, as this move will worsen the situation by lowering your leverage in court.
5. Contact Your Insurance Company
You must get in touch with your insurance company even if you are not at fault. Remember, it is wise to inform them about the accident without concealing any information. This will help you get fair compensation. If you already filed a police report, let the insurance know so they can make a comparison. Also, an advantage of keeping everything open with the insurance organization is receiving immediate repair coverage. If the damage on your car is beyond repair at the moment, the insurance will provide an alternative as you await settlement. Another reason to immediately contact the insurer is that the other party may deny your claim with delay, especially if they have no insurance. Additionally, some damages may only be clear several days later, so it is best for the insurance company to know there was an accident. Therefore, the insurer will link damages realized afterward to the accident.
6. Document Your Details
You must have a copy of all the details connected to the accident. While accessing the scene, record what you see on a piece of paper, notebook, or phone. It is easy to forget critical details about the whole ordeal. More so, you may not be in a good condition to give accurate details days later due to physical, psychological, or emotional trauma. What if you forgot a little information that can save you at a certain phase during a court appearance? It would be best to have at least two hard and soft copies of the same data. Put every detail in your records, including the police report and the name and badge numbers of the officers in charge. In conjunction with that, record your medical information, remembering the doctor’s name that attended to you, bills, and receipts. Take pictures as evidence. Please provide accurate details, as they are the strongholds of making your settlement.
7. Get Witness Information
Typically, the authorities request witness information about every incident. There must be passengers, bystanders, pedestrians, and other uninvolved parties who witnessed the accident. You might have the details, pictures, and videos of the incident’s aftermath, but the law still needs proof of what happened before and during the accident. Get information from people who saw the incident, their names, and contacts. It is not wise to wait for the police to get this information as they may not record all the first-hand information. When several people report similar incidences, they are backing up your credibility. Also, they are helping resolve potential conflicts that may arise during settlement charges. Furthermore, many witnesses notice several events that motorists do not see during an accident. Therefore, multiple witnesses may help increase your settlement to the amount you did not expect.
8. Avoid Early Advancement Officers
Do not accept prior payment at any point, no matter how tempting the offer seems. If you are the victim, the other party might liaise with officers to give you a settlement that will prevent them from paying what you fairly deserve. A wise advice is to avoid sharing your details with the other party. If you are the one at fault, do not try to offer any payment. The action will be used against you in court. It also provides clear proof that you are the perpetrator. In turn, you may pay a hefty amount than required.
9. Contact an Attorney and File a Lawsuit
A mistake that many motorists make is trying to solve an accident case by themselves. You ought to understand that even if you are the victim of someone else’s carelessness, you can easily lose the case. Assuming that you suffered physical, emotional, and psychological trauma, among other losses, what if the law denies you fair compensation? Alone, it is easy to make mistakes that may even make the perpetrator win against you—it happens a lot. A certified attorney knows exactly what to do with such cases. Are you wondering why hiring an attorney is your biggest bet to fair treatment and compensation? Below are the reasons.
Benefits of Hiring a Professional Attorney
• Evading Unfair Play
While handling a case alone, the high chances are that you will not notice when the other party is playing an unfair game. You may think they are following a legal process, but due to your lack of legal knowledge, proceedings go against many of your claims. Professional attorneys know how it goes and will take action to protect you.
• Fair Compensation
As much as the job of an insurance company is to protect your interest, they will follow paths to ensure you get less than you deserve. The majority of insurance companies are stubborn when it comes to compensation. They will try to negotiate while offering the minimum from their end. Insurance companies are perfect in luring you into deals that you may think are fair enough while they are aware you deserve better the whole time. You will escape their tactics with the right legal representative by your side and get fair compensation.
• You will Save Time and Money.
Think about all the paperwork you must file by yourself before the case concludes. Remember that you must dedicate a lot of time to the case if you want to win. The process will likely consume all of your time, not forgetting spending a lot of money on printing papers and moving to and fro. An attorney saves you the stress by handling all the paperwork. All you have to do is provide the required information and be present at the court when necessary.
• Compile Evidence
Winning a court case is not a walk in the park, even if you are the plaintiff. Although you have personal recordings of what transpired, an attorney is an expert at compiling the evidence and bringing it to the bench. They know the evidence to produce at a specific time. Compiling and presenting evidence follows particular processes. The attorney needs to split proof into different categories: testimonial, demonstrative, documentary, and real evidence. Through such professional presentation and processes, you stand a significant chance to win against your defendant or plaintiff. Moreover, an attorney will keep you from making mistakes that diminish your chances of having your rights.
Accident Legal Actions Texas
Car accidents happen every other minute, and many of them cause adverse effects. If you are injured in a car accident, you have a right to claim compensation depending on the severity of the situation. Although the circumstance may have clear proof that you need justice, it is still important to seek help from the authorities and legal representatives. This is because motor vehicle cases become complicated along the way. Therefore, taking the matter into your hands mostly leads to a losing battle. Different states have contrasting rules and regulations following motor vehicle accidents. Before contacting an attorney, the guidelines above provide in-depth details of the legal actions to take after a car accident in Texas, United States. Texas harbors multiple top-tier attorneys with the credibility to give you quality representation in court. You can contact one of the finest representatives through proper background research and certified reviews.