You hear the sound of squealing tires first, quickly followed by the crackle of shattering glass and the crunch of another car running into yours. You’ve become one of the millions of Texans involved in an auto accident. What do you do next?
Even if you did not cause the accident, there are certain procedures you should follow. If you are concerned about what should be done after a auto accident, see the steps below to find out what you should do immediately following the crash.
Contact the Authorities
When a driver has the misfortune to be in an automobile accident, he or she should immediately call the authorities to the scene. When the authorities arrive at the scene of the accident, they will file an incident report that will detail what happened.
Law enforcement officers provide a reliable, independent third party account of the facts of the accident. A Houston car accident attorney will rely on these authorities and the incident report when a lawsuit is filed.
Providing a Statement
Once the police officer arrives at the scene of the accident, he or she will ask all parties involved to give a statement. It is important that you provide all the information you know or witnessed, because this document will be vital in any potential lawsuit. The statement contains all the facts of the accident, which a Houston car accident attorney will use to help an injured party recover compensation for what they are experiencing.
Keeping records
If you require medical treatment as the result of an auto accident, be sure to keep any and all related documents, especially receipts for any money paid out of pocket for these expenses. Whether you are taken by ambulance to the nearest hospital or make a visit to the doctor the next day about injuries related to the accident, keep meticulous records. Your Houston car accident attorney can include these expenses in any potential lawsuit if you have records.
Contact a Houston Car Accident Lawyer
After providing your statement to the police officer who arrives on the scene and receive medical treatment if its needed, then your next step should be to contact a Houston car accident attorney. These highly educated and experienced individuals will provide you with the advice you need and begin to deal with other aspects of the case, such as contacting the insurance company.
Your Houston car accident lawyer can answer any questions you have, including whether you should file a lawsuit, what you are entitles to and what steps to take next. After providing a statement to the police officer at the scene of the accident, it’s important that you not talk to anyone else about the crash, other than your attorney. Any statements made about the accident can be used against you in court, which could hurt your case.
If you’ve been the victim of an accident, contacting the Houston accident attorneys at Ricardo N. Gonzalez & Associates is the best way to recover any damages and medical expenses incurred and give you peace of mind.