What to do after an Accident

McAllen Auto Accident Injury Lawyers

If you are involved in an automobile accident, you must stop. Never leave the scene of an accident, even if it’s a minor one. Leaving the scene of an accident may result in criminal prosecution or driver’s license penalties. Stay and assess the damages or injuries. Call the proper authorities immediately. If possible, move your vehicle out of the roadway to avoid being struck by another car. If accessible, place cones or flares to direct traffic away from the stopped vehicles. Take steps to preserve evidence of the accident and any resulting injuries or damage. Never move an injured person. An injury may be further aggravated if repositioned. Call an ambulance if necessary. Inform emergency personnel of how many injured victims there are, if it is distinguishable.

If you are unable to, ask someone else to report the accident. Allow the police to investigate the accident and to file a report. The information in the report may provide valuable evidence in the future. Also, try to document as much as possible about the incident on your own.

Obtaining Information

After the accident, you should contact a local McAllen area auto accident attorney. Your McAllen auto accident injury lawyer will take steps to insure the following information is preserved and/or obtained:

• Information involving the other driver: Name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, insurance information, license plate.
• Information involving witnesses: Name, address, phone number.
• Information involving police officers: Ask the investigating officer to provide an “incident number” for the accident report.
• Information involving the location: Take photos and notes about where the accident occurred, road conditions, speed limits, traffic control devices, weather, lighting and what the vehicles were doing at the time of the collision. Also, the date, time and location of the accident.
• Information involving the accident: Take notes about how the accident occurred, the direction the vehicles involved in the accident were traveling, what the vehicles were doing at the time of collision, the year, color, make and model of all vehicles involved.

You may have to share your notes with the person you are suing or the person who might be suing you.

Never admit liability, even if you consider yourself to be responsible for the accident. There may be unknown factors that could have played a role in the accident. It might turn out that the other driver was more at fault than you.

Do not make statements to anyone at the scene of the accident, except for the police. Tell them only the facts of what happened. Allow the officers to draw their own conclusion from the specifics.

Seek Medical Treatment

Seek medical attention as soon as possible. Delaying treatment could result in further damage. In order to be covered under the “no fault insurance law” you must seek medical attention immediately after the accident. If you refuse, the insurance company may argue that your injuries arose after the accident, from something else. Sometimes the effects of the accident aren’t apparent until much later. Minor pain could also be an indication of a more severe injury. Be sure to report any memory loss, headaches, blood or fluid in your ear, ringing in your ears, dizziness, disorientation, nausea or confusion, or any unusual physical or mental feeling. Sometimes people hit their heads or suffer brain injuries in car accidents and don’t realize they are injured. A doctor will be able to diagnose a concussion.

Document all your losses, including medical bills, transportation costs relating to the injuries, future medical treatment, lost wages, future loss of earnings, the effect on your life and family.

Because of the magnitude of a car accident, consulting with an attorney should be a high priority. You will be advised of your options and the appropriate steps to follow. The attorney will evaluate your evidence and can help determine if more is needed. Call us today for a free confidential consultation and case evaluation at 210-223-9200 or 1-888-501-9299 or send us an email by using the form below.