A swift and knowledgeable response to a car accident can help control the damages and consequences to an injured victim.
Quick response to a car accident is also necessary to ensure limited disruption of regular traffic flow and prevent even more catastrophic results. There are recommended ways of handling an auto accident in a populated city such as Houston. If someone is new to the big city, this information could be the difference between life and death.
Consider Safety First
The wrecked car should be pulled over immediately after the accident. The next step is to assess the damage and injuries and ensure everyone is safe and out of harm’s way. It is crucial to consider the safety of people involved in the accident and other road users. Moving the vehicle to a safe place and out of traffic is recommended in case of a minor accident. Never get of your vehicle without taking into account what the traffic around is doing in reaction to the car accident.
Access the Injuries and Call for Help
Accessing the degree of your injuries and those of your passengers should help in determining the urgency of seeking medical help. It is essential to understand the type of physical injuries that the car occupants may have suffered as they may require immediate medical attention. Some injuries do not have an immediate effect after the accident and the symptoms and pain could possibly not manifest themselves for a couple of days.
Common injuries resulting from car accidents include:
- Herniations – Injuries of the Spine
- Shoulder Injuries – They may result from a tight grip on the steering wheel during an accident.
- Traumatic Brain Injury – May entails concussions
- Broken Bones
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – May be experienced later when the people involved are afraid to drive or use a passenger vehicle.
Read also: Common Car Accident Injuries
Types of Injuries in Serious Car Accidents
Calling an ambulance is vital if any person needs quick medical attention. It is also recommended to call an ambulance if there are any doubts about the injuries’ intensity. It is better to be safe than sorry. Any signs of internal bleeding should be urgently reported to prevent fatalities.
Gather Information from Other Motorists
Gathering information from other drivers involved in the accident is recommended to understand their perspective on how the accident occured. Exchanging information is necessary so that the data collected can be used for the subsequent claim and lawsuit. The information that should be collected includes:
- Names and addresses of those involved
- Insurance Information
- Make, model and description of the vehicles
- Whether there are any photos of the vehicles
- Whether there is any video of the accident
- How many of those involved were injured
The law prohibits drivers involved in a car accident from leaving the accident scene even if the accident is minor. Collecting information from the other drivers involved also may require you to offer assistance where possible. The help may call 911 or even transport any injured person to the nearest medical facility.
When You Should Call 911
Calling 911 is also essential if other drivers involved in the accident attempt to leave the accident scene. The police should also be informed if the driver is intoxicated with drugs and alcohol. Additionally, Texas laws require Houston road users to call 911 if the damage caused by an accident likely exceeds $1000. Informing the insurance company is also recommended so that the process of making a claim can be initiated.
Read also: Most Common Car Insurance Topics
File a Claim
Having the right information and documents from the police and your insurance company is enough to start the case. Many personal injury lawyers are readily available in Houston due to the high number of accidents, but it is recommended that you do your own research to hire the attorney that better meets your needs.
You can verify your lawyer’s credibility and rating by searching for Houston Car Accident Lawyer, which can be done online. You will find out that personal injury lawyers that handle car wreck cases work on a contingency basis. It means that the money paid as the settlement will be used to fund the lawyer. Houston’s comparative negligence laws also determine the money you can claim based on the damages.
Get Medical Assistance
Car wreck victims may not always feel the full impact of their injuries until several hours after the accident. Often, swelling and bruising will not be immediately obvious but they are signs that internal organs, muscles, tendons or bones have been affected. Do not compromise your rights to seek medical attention for injuries you have suffered in a car wreck. You or your lawyer will never be able to fully assess your case if you do not seek medical attention for your injuries.
Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer will help you collect relevant information and evidence in your accident and they could assist you in getting the medical treatment that you need. This will ensure that you are not paying the price for the negligence committed by the other party involved.
Contact Sandoval Law Firm, PLLC at (346) 347-7777 to request an initial consultation to discuss your case.
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