People get into accidents in Houston all the time. We see people on the side of the road on our way to work or school every day. We don’t think anything of it. It’s not until we’re the one involved in the crash that we really think about what to do after a minor car accident.
Thankfully, most accident don’t cause very serious injuries. Most people walk away from the crash with a few bumps and bruises. They may even just get their car fixed rather than report the accident to our insurance company.
But no matter how minor the car accident, there are still certain things you need to do. Just because the accident seems minor at first, you have no idea how bad your injuries may be. It could be days or weeks before you realize that you’ve been seriously hurt.
There are a few things you need to do, even after a minor car accident:
- Call the police
- Go to the hospital for treatment
- Call an experienced car accident lawyer in Houston
You need to call the police. You have to report the accident anyway. Let the officer conduct his investigation. You never know if you’re going to need his police report later on. Your Houston accident attorney will need that report if they have to file suit on your behalf.
Call the Cops
As soon as you check to see that you’re okay, you need to call the cops. You have no idea just how bad the accident really is. Also, you have no idea if the other driver is going to take off or stick around to exchange insurance information.
You don’t want to talk to the other driver by yourself. Let the cops do this. You could say something that hurts your case. You may admit that you were partially responsible for the crash. This can be used against you in court.
Often times., the other driver will ask you not the call the police. They’ll offer to pay for your repairs if you agree to just go your separate ways. Don’t agree to this. You have no idea why they don’t want the cops on the scene.
This is why, even if you think you’re at fault, you need to call 911. Let the cops determine who was at fault. If you have to file a claim later on, your Houston car accident lawyer will need that police report. There is valuable information in there that your lawyer can’t get on their own.
The cops will also get copies of both drivers’ license and insurance information. You don’t want to get this yourself and find out the other driver gave you false or expired information. By the time you find out, it’ll be too late to get the correct information.
Always Go to the Hospital – Even if You Don’t Think You’re Hurt
You may think at first that you’re not injured. But you don’t really know for sure. It could be days before you start to feel the impact of your crash. This is why your Houston accident attorney will always tell you to go to the hospital immediately following your crash.
The hospital will do all the necessary tests to determine if you have any injuries. They’ll do the following tests as a precaution:
- MRI
- CT scan
- X-ray
- Physical exam
If you are injured, your doctor will make notes of your injuries in your medical records. Your Houston car accident lawyer may need this information if they have to file suit later on.
Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer in Houston, Texas
Even for a minor accident, you should contact an experienced car accident lawyer in Houston right away. When you meet with them for the first time, remember to bring the following:
- The police report – This is a very valuable tool. It contains information that you can’t get on your own. It will have contact information for any eyewitnesses.
- Medical Records – Your lawyer needs to see your medical records. Were you hurt? Did your doctor confirm that your injuries were recent? This is the best way to prove your medical damages.
- Correspondence from the Insurance Companies – If you’ve gotten denial letters or other paperwork, you need to show them to your lawyer.
Call a Houston car accident lawyer at McDonald Worley right away to schedule your free initial consultation. The consultation is free and you pay nothing unless you settle your case.