If you've ever filed a claim with your auto insurer, you probably heard the same thing: "You should read our policy before you file a claim." But what does that really mean? What if you didn't read the fine print? What if you didn’t understand the terms and conditions? How could you possibly get fair compensation when you didn’t even know what you were signing? You might think you need an attorney, but attorneys charge thousands of dollars upfront just to review your claim. And if you hire an attorney, you'll still have to pay them out of your own pocket. That's why we wrote this guide. We hope you enjoy reading it and will never have to worry about filing a claim again.
It is important to remember that even though the loss will be devastating, you are not alone. You can get help from an attorney, financial advisor, family member, friend, or other trusted source. If you are feeling overwhelmed, you should seek out professional help.
You might not realize it, but car accidents happen every single day. There are millions of cars on the road today, and thousands of them get into accidents each year. If you're unfortunate enough to be involved in a car accident, you need to know what to do right away. First, call 911 to report the accident. Next, stay at the scene until emergency responders arrive. Don't leave! If possible, remain calm and wait for the police to arrive. Do not attempt to drive yourself to the hospital. Instead, ask someone else to give you a ride.
What Happens If You Are At Fault In a Car Accident?If you are at fault in an auto accident, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your injuries and damages. You should contact a personal injury attorney in Harris County, Galveston County, Fort Bend County, Montgomery County, Brazoria County, Houston, Sugar Land, Missouri City, Stafford, Texas at Thornton Esquire Law Group, PLLC, and contact us today for a free consultation.
Your legal rights depend on many factors including whether you were speeding, distracted, intoxicated, or otherwise negligent. A skilled personal injury attorney can help you determine what type of insurance coverage you have and whether you qualify for any additional benefits.
What to Do After You Think You Caused a Car CrashIf you cause an accident, don’t panic! Stay calm and follow these steps to help yourself and others. First, if there is damage to property, call 911 immediately. Do not attempt to move injured parties or remove them from the roadway. Remain at the scene until emergency personnel arrive. You will likely be cited for leaving the scene of an accident, but you will also be responsible for the damages caused by your negligence.
You will probably not be asked to render aid to injured parties, but you must still exchange contact and insurance information with them. You should also file an official police report. If there is any property damage or if someone was injured, you will probably be required to report it to the police. For example, under Texas law you are required to report collisions involving injury, death, property damages exceeding $1,000 or property damage that makes your car undriveable.
You should always call the police if you witness an accident. You shouldn't get out of the vehicle until the police arrive. If the other driver tries to confront you, remain calm and polite. Don't admit fault or apologize for anything. Stay focused on staying safe and helping others.
Before the accident, you were going through your usual morning routine. You had just finished getting ready for work and were driving to your office. Your car suddenly crashed into a tree. You checked yourself and found nothing wrong. You called 911 and waited for emergency responders to arrive. Once they arrived, you told them what happened. You were very careful not to say anything that could be considered an admission of guilt. You also asked the other driver questions to see if he or she might have caused the crash. You did not apologize or show any signs of being upset. You stayed calm and collected throughout the entire incident.
If the police arrive, remain polite and cooperative. Answer all questions honestly, even if you feel like you're not at fault. Don't admit any wrongdoing, since anything you say may be used against you later in court. If you are asked about what caused the crash, just tell them you don't know.
If you are in good health, then collecting evidence is easy. You should try to get your hands on any documents that could help prove your innocence, like insurance information, police reports, witness statements, etc. If you are injured, then you will need to document what happened. Make sure to note down all details about the accident, including the time, location, weather conditions, road conditions, vehicle damage, and anything else that might help you later.
Contact all parties involved in the accident. Ask them about what happened and if they saw anything. Contact local news stations and see if they have footage of the accident. If not, try contacting other media outlets.
Take photos of the scene using your smartphone camera. Include all vehicles and damage, as well as debris, road conditions, etc. If you have any physical injuries, seek medical attention as soon as possible. It's important to receive proper treatment to reduce the severity of your injuries and speed up your recovery. Also keep track of your medical bills and receipts.
If you've had an auto accident, you may wonder whether you should hire a lawyer. You might think that you won't benefit from hiring a lawyer, but you would be wrong! An experienced personla injury lawyer can help you get compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages caused by another driver's negligence. A lawyer will also help you file a claim against your own insurance provider.