Are you or a loved one suffering from injuries in a car accident caused by someone else’s reckless driving?
Collisions are stressful. Injured parties face a multitude of stressors after a wreck including navigating medical bills, filing and tracking insurance claims, and recovering from injuries. At Shaw Cowart, LLP, our experienced Hutto car accident attorneys understand your circumstances. We can assist you in navigating insurance by helping investigate your claim and fighting for your right to a full and fair recovery following your loss.
Someone Hit My Car. What Do I Do?
Even the best defensive driving does not prevent all accidents, and navigating the aftermath of a car accident is challenging. From dealing with insurance to assessing injuries, individuals are faced with a wide range of stressors. Many people experience shock after a collision. Following simple, common sense guidelines can help you take control of your circumstances and begin working towards physical, emotional, and financial recovery.
- Call the police. Don’t leave the scene of an accident until you have called the police. While calling immediately after a collision is always best practice in all car accidents, it is sometimes required by law. In Texas, individuals involved in serious car accidents that result in physical injuries, death, or severe vehicle damage must notify local police immediately by the quickest means of communication.
- Medical care. Quickly seeking medical care will help you clearly establish the accident as the cause of your injuries. This will make it easier to receive full compensation for your loss.
- Consult an attorney. Contacting an attorney to understand your legal options will help you maximize recovery. An experienced lawyer will investigate your accident to determine the compensation you deserve and advocate on your behalf.
- Preserve documents. Keep a copy of all documents relevant to your accident. This includes police reports, contact information for any witnesses, and medical records/bills.
I Hit Someone’s Car. Am I at Fault?
If you were in a car accident after hitting another vehicle it does not necessarily mean you are at fault. After a collision, the circumstances of the accident should be thoroughly investigated. Furthermore, even if you bear some responsibility for the wreck, it does not mean you cannot seek compensation for injuries or property damages.
In Texas, plaintiffs are able to recover for injuries as long as they are found to be fifty percent or less responsible for a car accident. This is why it is recommended to contact an attorney immediately after a collision.
What to Avoid After a Collision
- Settle. Do not accept an insurance settlement before contacting an attorney. Insurance agents work for a company, not your best interests. You are entitled to receive full compensation for your loss, and you deserve to have your settlement evaluated by an attorney who can fight for you to receive adequate compensation for your injuries and losses. Evaluating any insurance settlement with an attorney will ensure your rights are protected.
- Handle your claim alone. In addition to avoiding settling for an unfair payout, contacting an attorney sooner rather than later is advisable. Working with an experienced attorney early allows him or her more time to investigate your claim, increasing the likelihood you will receive full and fair compensation for all losses sustained. You may know someone who handled their insurance claim alone, but this is not wise. In the wake of a car accident, your focus should be on recovering from injuries, not navigating complex legal claims.
- Skipping medical visits. Don’t assume you are okay and skip medical care after a car accident. It is always better to be safe than sorry. Additionally, by checking with a physician you can better document the cause of your injuries, facilitating a smoother insurance process.
Common Causes of Car Accidents
There are many dangers on the road and each accident is highly fact specific. However, certain behaviors dramatically increase the likelihood of a car accident. These include:
Texting
Thousands of accidents every year are caused by using cell phones while driving. This problem has prompted states, including Texas, to pass laws making it illegal to text while driving.
Distractions
While cell phones are a common problem, drivers face many other distractions on the road. Distracted driving is anything that takes your eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, or makes you lose mental focus. These distractions cause accidents by removing a driver’s attention from the road making it more likely he or she will be unable to respond appropriately to road conditions, resulting in a collision.
Passing
There is always the possibility of an accident when drivers pass one another on the road. This is because passing requires vehicles to travel in another driver’s blind spot. If a car, or semi-truck, is unaware of a vehicle in his or her blind spot, he or she may attempt to move into the vehicle’s lane, causing an accident.
Tailgating
Drivers who tailgate do not allow adequate space when traveling behind other vehicles. Tailgating is tempting, especially when you are running late, but it creates unnecessary risks on the road. Tailgaters cause thousands of accidents every year by failing to control their need to quickly get to their destinations.
Aggressive Driving
Aggressive drivers bully others by tailgating cars, quickly weaving in and out of lanes of traffic, and cutting other drivers off. These behaviors lead to accidents because they do not allow the aggressive driver – or other drivers – adequate time to respond to constantly changing road conditions, and when drivers do not have time to stop, they collide.
Call Shaw Cowart LLP
The aftermath of a car accident is difficult for injured parties. From dealing with physical injuries to assessing property damage, and navigating insurance, injured parties face multiple stressors.
You don’t need to handle this stress alone. The attorneys at Shaw Cowart LLP can assist you by helping investigate your claim, negotiating with insurance, and fighting to maximize your recovery. After a collision, your top priorities should be physical and psychological healing.
Let us handle your legal claim. Call today for a free consultation to learn more about your claims and any available legal options.