What to Do After a Houston Car Accident

The aftermath of a car accident in Houston is overwhelming and confusing, especially if you or your loved ones suffered serious injuries. Protecting your safety and your family’s well-being is the top priority at the scene of the accident and during the days following. Sadly, in fault-based insurance states like Texas, car accident victims have to turn their attention away from their physical recovery to take on complex claims against the negligent driver or other party responsible for the accident. This requires proving the at-fault party’s negligence so you can recover compensation for damages like medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Fortunately, a Houston car accident attorney can help streamline the process, protect your rights, and advocate for your best interests.

By knowing what to do after a car accident in Houston, you can help ensure you have the evidence you need for prompt action in your Houston car accident claim.

What to Do at the Scene of a Car Accident In Houston

Car accidents are frightening and cause a rush of adrenaline that makes it challenging to keep a cool head. You could also have significant injuries that make it difficult to move, think clearly, or do anything other than wait in place for help to arrive. However, a cell phone becomes the perfect tool for documenting evidence that can protect your physical and financial interests after a car accident. If you are too injured to move safely, you could also hand your phone to an uninjured person, or ask them to use their cell phone, to take the following steps for you:

• First, call 911 to report the accident to the police and request emergency services
• Then, use the camera to take photos of the damaged vehicles
• Take photos of the entire accident scene before police clear the vehicles and destroy important evidence
• Capture photos of anything relevant to the accident like an intersection, skid marks, traffic signs, or a signal light
• Take photos of any visible injuries to prove they occurred in the accident
• Add the contact information of the other involved driver(s)
• Add the contact information of any eyewitnesses to the accident

In accidents that occur in places without traffic cameras, an eyewitness becomes the key to proving fault in a car accident. All too often; however, they disappear without leaving contact information, taking crucial testimonial evidence with them. Getting contact information from eyewitnesses is one of the best ways to advocate for yourself and your family right at the scene of the accident.

What to Do at the Hospital After a Houston Car Accident

It’s always best to go straight from the accident scene to a hospital, preferably with emergency services, but otherwise, by arranging transportation straight from the accident. At the hospital, the doctor will provide emergency treatment for your obvious injuries, but you should also ask for a complete medical evaluation to catch other injuries that may not show symptoms until days later. Not only does adrenaline mask symptoms after a car accident, but some injuries develop later as inflammation, internal bleeding, and stiffness set in. Not only does it prevent serious harm to identify and treat these injuries early, but it also documents evidence that the injury occurred in the accident.

Ask the medical providers for a detailed medical report listing your injuries, the doctor’s recommendations for treatment, and your prognosis for recovery. Always follow the doctor’s orders carefully and attend all appointments during the process of your claim for damages after a Houston car accident. Obtain a copy of the police report and call an experienced Houston car accident attorney before communicating with the insurance company of the party at fault. Often, the insurance company reaches out with a low settlement offer during the early days after an accident before you know the extent of your damages. An accident attorney can investigate the accident, document evidence, and negotiate from a position of strength with the insurer to maximize the amount of your settlement.