How you respond to a car crash might affect your upcoming compensation claim in Austin. You can start by calling 911 immediately, so law enforcement officers can help document the accident. Any pictures you take may be strong evidence, as well, so be sure to photograph property damage, debris on the road, or anything else that appears relevant.
If you see eyewitnesses nearby, you can ask for their contact details. You should go directly to the hospital if you’re injured and in pain. Delaying medical treatment can have consequences, so prioritize your health. In the following days, contact our lawyers and start your case. We can swiftly start preserving evidence and building arguments that prove the defendant’s negligence. After we file your lawsuit, continue getting all the medical attention you need, and let our lawyers prepare you to testify in case you go to trial.
Get a free case evaluation by calling Cap City Injury Attorneys at (512) 612-3110 and speaking to our Austin car accident lawyers.
What Should I Do Right After a Car Accident in Austin?
Let our attorneys explain the most important steps to take after a car accident involving a reckless or negligent driver in Austin.
Call 911
Police reports are required for any accident where someone is injured, dies, or incurs property damage in excess of $1,000, Tex. Transp. Code § 550.062(a), meaning you must call the police for most collisions. Never listen to a negligent driver who argues to keep the police out of it. Police reports help us contextualize the accident, so yours is important to your claim.
If you’re too injured to call 911 yourself, ask the other driver or eyewitnesses to do so. You should call 911 to report the crash, even if the negligent driver flees the scene.
Exchange Information
Always exchange insurance and contact information with the negligent driver after a car accident. § 550.023 mandates the exchange of information, which includes the driver’s name, address, and vehicle registration number. If the at-fault driver refuses to give you their information, police officers can get it and put it in the police report.
Take Photos
You should also take photos immediately after a collision. We need pictures of your car and the negligent driver’s vehicle, so photograph both. It helps to have pictures from different angles and perspectives, and you can never have too many.
If you’re badly hurt, you might be unable to take pictures. In these scenarios, victims may ask first responders or eyewitnesses for assistance.
Talk to Witnesses
If you are able, talk to eyewitnesses. You shouldn’t discuss the collision in detail, but you can ask for their names and phone numbers or other contact information. Doing this makes it much easier for us to identify, contact, and interview eyewitnesses for your upcoming car accident lawsuit in Austin.
Get Medical Attention
Never deny medical assistance if you’re hurt. Tell the 911 operator if you need an ambulance, and paramedics can come to take you to the hospital. Documenting your immediate injuries is one of the best things you can do to help your compensation claim. When medical records align with the accident’s date and time, we can prove you were injured in that crash, specifically.
Adrenaline and shock delay the pain from some injuries. If you notice signs of whiplash, concussion, or other common car accident injuries in the following days, seek medical attention then.
How Soon Should I Contact a Lawyer After a Car Accident?
The sooner victims contact our car accident lawyers after collisions, the sooner we can start working on compensation claims. Some evidence is fleeting and only accessible for a short time after an incident. There’s also the statute of limitations to keep in mind, which our attorneys can abide by.
Call us in the days after your accident so we can initiate your case. Right away, we can survey the accident location. Stores, restaurants, other businesses, and even residential homes nearby may have security cameras. Let us contact the camera owners and request relevant footage before it’s deleted.
You have two years to sue after a car accident, according to Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(a). That doesn’t mean you should wait that long, however. The sooner we start building your lawsuit, the sooner we may file it in Austin. Statutes of limitations are strictly enforced, so don’t risk missing it and get in touch about your case right away.
What Should I Do After Filing My Car Accident Lawsuit in Austin?
What you do during your lawsuit and after we file it might also affect your recovery. Let our lawyers help make sure you don’t make any missteps that threaten your access to fair compensation.
Continue Medical Care
After filing your car accident lawsuit, make sure you continue following your treatment plan. Skipping or missing appointments leaves gaps in medical records. Even small gaps in medical records can jeopardize compensation claims. Do not let these gaps form, and keep a thorough track of your injuries, treatment, and healing progress throughout your lawsuit.
Prepare to Testify
After we file your lawsuit, we may prepare you to testify. You may not end up going to trial, as many personal injury cases settle outside of the courtroom. However, if your case does go to trial, your testimony can be some of the strongest evidence we present.
You can testify about the defendant’s negligence, helping us prove they caused the accident in question. You can also testify about the non-economic damages you have suffered. These include mental suffering, physical pain, loss of enjoyment of life, and many other intangible harms, all of which we can quantify on your behalf.
Call Our Austin Lawyers About Your Personal Injury Case
Get a free case assessment when you call Cap City Injury Attorneys at (512) 612-3110 and speak to our Texas car accident lawyers.