Car Accident Responsibilities: What Should You Do Right After?

Most people who are in a car accident don’t know exactly what to do in the moments after the crash. It makes sense to call 911 but sometimes the other driver convinces them not to. Or they may think the accident was so minor that it doesn’t make sense to call the police. The truth is that there are certain things you need to do after a car accident if you want to protect yourself. Beaumont auto accident attorneys know this better than most. It can be very difficult to represent someone when they don’t do what they should after a crash.

Essentially, there are 4 things you should do immediately after a Texas car accident. First, you have to call 911. Even if you don’t want to. Second, you have to go to the hospital. Even if you think you’re fine, you need to get checked out by a doctor. Third, you should let your insurance carrier know you were involved in the accident. And, finally, you should contact a skilled personal injury lawyer in Beaumont, Texas.

Here, we’ll talk briefly about the things you should do after your crash. We’ll also explain why it’s so important that you do these things. If you still have questions after reading this article, feel free to give us a call. We can schedule a free consultation in our office so you can discuss your case and decide how best to proceed.

Like it or Not, You Have to Call 911

Years ago, it wasn’t unusual for two people who had been in an accident to just exchange insurance information and go on about their day. You can’t do that today. Sadly, you just can’t trust people the way you could years ago. You have no idea if the information they’re giving you is legitimate or not. For all you know, they could have stolen the truck. Or they may have an old insurance card that they doctored up to look real. The only way you can trust that things will be handled properly is if you call the police to come out to the scene.

What most people don’t realize is that the police report contains vital information that your attorney can’t do without. There’s no way for them to get this information any other way. Some of this information includes:

• Description of the accident scene and road conditions
• Statements made by each of the drivers
• Contact information for any eyewitnesses along with their statements
• Pictures of the damage to the vehicles and any markings on the ground
• The license, registration, and insurance information for anyone involved in the crash
• Notations of any tickets that were issued at the accident scene

Once you leave the accident scene, none of this information can be recovered. And, without this information, it will be nearly impossible to prove your case.

You Have to Go to the Emergency Room and Get Seen by a Doctor

In the minutes after a car accident, you’re going to feel a lot of different things. First, you feel scared and angry. Then you feel a little frustrated. All the while, you aren’t thinking too much about how you feel physically. If you have other people in the car with you, you’ll certainly check to see if they’re okay. But when it comes to yourself, you may insist that you’re fine. With the adrenaline coursing through your body, you may actually feel fine too.

The problem is that you have no idea if you’re injured or not. Just because you don’t see any blood or broken bones doesn’t mean you’re fine. You could be suffering from internal bleeding or a concussion. You could have suffered a traumatic brain injury. If these things go untreated, they can prove fatal. The last thing you want to do is refuse medical care.

There’s another reason why you need to go to the hospital. The only way your Beaumont auto accident attorney can prove your case is with a copy of your medical records. There’s really no other way for them to prove that you were injured. And, if you can’t prove you were injured, then you can’t prove damages. This is the reason you sue in the first place. Our personal injury lawyers in Beaumont are always reminding people that you aren’t entitled to damages just because you were involved in a car crash. If you can’t prove you were injured, you aren’t entitled to anything.

Don’t Forget to Report the Car Accident to the Insurance Company

Even if you’ve already decided you want to hire a Beaumont auto accident attorney, you still need to report the accident to the insurance company. Our attorneys can deal with the insurance company after the fact. But you do need to report the crash right away.

Every insurance company is different when it comes to a filing deadline. Some are very clear and spell out exactly how long you have to file a claim. Others are intentionally vague. All they say is that you need to file your claim within a reasonable time.

Rather than risk having your claim dismissed for not being properly filed, get it done. Then, if your claim is denied or disputed, our personal injury lawyers in Beaumont can deal with the adjuster on your behalf.

Make Sure You Contact an Experienced Beaumont Auto Accident Attorney Right Away

Regardless of how you handle the aftermath of your car accident, you should still call our office for help. One of our Beaumont auto accident attorneys can deal with the insurance company on your behalf. They can also make sure you get the compensation you deserve.

Of course, your attorney can only work with the evidence they have. If you don’t do the things discussed here, you may be making your attorney’s job harder than it has to be. For example, if you didn’t go to the hospital for medical treatment, there will be no way to prove you were hurt. And if you don’t call the police, they won’t have the police report to use as evidence. Rather than put your attorney in this position, you need to just call the police and let them do their investigation.

We recommend that you call our office as soon as possible after your crash. Schedule your free, initial consultation with one of our staff. You can come in and talk to a personal injury lawyer in Beaumont who’s handled dozens of cases like yours in the past. Since the consultation is free, you have nothing to lose.