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Last Updated on April 7, 2023
Houston has some of the busiest highways and byways in the entire country and often has the most auto collisions in the state of Texas. As you know, getting into a car accident is one of the most terrifying events in life. Car crashes can cause serious injuries and even fatalities. Furthermore, they often cause hundreds of thousands—if not millions—of dollars in property damage and medical bills.
So, what do you do after the wreckage is cleared? Continue reading to get some tips on how to proceed after having a car wreck.
Make sure everyone in your vehicle is safe.
Whenever there’s an auto accident, your first priority should be making sure you and your passengers are okay. Assuming everyone in your vehicle is okay, your next step is to call first responders to the scene. Next, calmly go and check on the other driver and get their insurance information.
If you or your passengers are injured, it’s important to try to remain calm and stay still as moving could aggravate a serious injury. Once the EMTs arrive, they’ll provide basic medical care and get you and your passengers to the hospital.
Even if you don’t feel any pain in the immediate aftermath of the car wreck, it’s still wise to go to a hospital to get checked. Even whiplash, which is usually considered a minor personal injury, can have severe and long-lasting effects. The only way to be certain you’re okay is to go to a hospital and receive medical treatment.
Hire a car accident lawyer.
If you’re injured in an auto accident, your next step should be to start searching for a personal injury attorney. There are plenty of Houston car accident lawyers to choose from, so do your own due diligence to find the right attorney. However, you have to move quickly as there is a statute of limitations for the at-fault driver.
The most important things to look for in an attorney for your case are years of experience and a high success rate with car accident cases like yours. Once you have the right law firm and attorney, you can let them handle your lawsuit. They will take care of the negotiations and gather evidence, such as the TXDOT accident reports, photos, and witness statements. Thus, allowing you to focus on your family and your recovery.
Making sure you have legal protection is so important, and this is why you need to make sure you come up with some of the best ways of finding your ideal car accident lawyer. You need to have an experienced professional in your corner helping to fight for your rights, and this is one of the most important elements of the car accident process. You need to make sure you do as much as possible to focus on being able to improve your life and take the right course of action in the event of a car accident.
You might have been seriously injured, you could be due compensation, or there might be a legal dispute over who was to blame. Whatever the reasons, you need to make sure you hire the perfect attorney to work with you and look after your best interests. This is something you’re going to need to make sure you work on as much as you can, and it is one of the best elements that will allow you to improve things in the event of your traffic accident.
Notify your insurance company.
We didn’t make a mistake when we told you to find a personal injury lawyer before calling your insurance company. You don’t want to leave your insurer in the dark, but you don’t want to bring them into the light until you have someone protecting your interests.
When you talk to your insurer, it will be a recorded conversation, and it can be used against you in your lawsuit. Keep in mind, the insurance adjuster works for the insurance company—not you. With that in mind, only tell them what your attorney advises you to.
Recover mentally and physically.
The road to recovery after an automobile accident can be long and gruesome, especially if you’ve suffered a serious injury. In addition, many car accident victims get PTSD as a result of their accidents and injuries. Your attorney will make sure you get the medical treatment and physical therapy you need to bounce back physically, but don’t forget the mental part.
If you’re having bouts of depression and anxiety following your wreck, you should meet with a therapist who specializes in PTSD among accident victims. Speaking with a professional about your trauma won’t make it go away overnight. However, a mental health professional can help you develop a strategy to deal with your trauma.
If you suffer a severe injury in a car accident due to the negligence or recklessness of someone else, it’s important to make sure you get maximum compensation to get your life back on track. Before you contact the insurance company, find an attorney who will look out for your best interests. Having the right car accident attorney ensures that all you have to worry about is recovery, and let your attorney do the rest.