Have you recently been injured in an accident that was not your fault? If so, you probably have a lot of unanswered questions. What do I do now? Who should I call first? How much information should I give to the insurance companies? Who can I trust? Who will pay for the damages? Who is responsible for the accident? All of these are vital questions that our firm will be happy to answer. If you have been involved in an accident, it is important that you know what you should and should not do after your accident, in order to ensure a successful outcome in your case. Speak with a Houston personal injury lawyer from our firm today to find out what to do in your injury case.

Do’s

1. Do seek legal counsel- If you, a family member or a friends has fallen victim to negligence and was injured as a result, be sure to get an attorney involved as soon as possible.
2. Do learn your rights under the law- According to Texas personal injury law, injury victims are protected under certain circumstances and you could have a right to seek compensation from the negligent party. Knowledge is power in this case.
3. Do take down witness information- If anyone saw the accident occur, it is always wise to get their testimony and information written down. This way you have further evidence to support your case and you are able to contact them if they need to testify on your behalf.
4. Do notify law enforcement officials of the accident- If anyone is injured in the accident, then it could be of great benefit to notify the police. This way an officer will come to the scene of the accident, administer help and fill out a police report. The police report could contain evidence and claims to support your case, so it is also wise to ask for a copy of the police report.
5. Do take pictures or video- By taking pictures you can document all the evidence in case it is destroyed. You should take pictures of any property damage, injuries or accident surroundings, as well as any object that could have played a role in causing the accident in the first place.
6. Do request immediate medical treatment if you are in pain- If you feel severe pain after your accident, you should request that an ambulance be sent to pick you up. Make sure that you cooperate fully with the medics so you get the full treatment that you need.
7. Do report the accident to your insurance company- Once you fill your insurance company in, be sure to get a copy of the accident report and make sure that it is correct.
8. Do get estimates for the property damage- If your vehicle or any other property was damaged in the accident, be sure to get an estimate of how much it would cost to replace it. This way, you can give those estimates to the insurance company of the negligent party and they have an idea of how much compensation to give you.
9. Do keep thorough documentation- Make sure that you keep all physical evidence for your case. This includes all the medical bills, the doctor’s reports, written statements, photographs, insurance policies, the accident report, the police report and more. You should also keep your tax returns handy so that you can show just how much income you have lost as a result of the accident.

Don’ts

1. Don’t give any recorded statements to insurance adjusters- Some adjusters may call you but it is important to remember that they represent the negligent party and they do not have your best interests at heart.
2. Don’t sign any release forms that the insurance company gives you- If any legal document contains release language on it, then don’t sign it. It could be a trick and you always check with your attorney before signing a legal document in these cases.
3. Don’t simply settle your case- The insurance companies typically offer the lowest possible settlement because they want to pay the lowest out of pocket. However, you deserve better and you should not settle for less than you are entitled to.
4. Don’t discuss your case with outside parties- The less people know the better, you don’t want any statements that you make to be held against you later on.

If you would like to discuss the details of your case over a free case evaluation, contact our firm today!