According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a car accident occurs somewhere in the United States every ten seconds. Fortunately, not all car accidents are fatal but the probability of temporary or permanent injury is very high in every car accident. If you have been injured in a car accident, your injuries, pain and other losses are a physical, emotional and financial burden on you and your family. When the negligent or reckless act of another driver cause your injuries you have a right to receive compensation to make you whole.
Car wreck lawyers in Texas
Car accident injuries can range from minor injuries to very serious injuries. No part of your body is safe as you are whipped around while glass shatters around you and metal is crushed towards you. It is critical that you receive prompt medical attention. Only medical professionals can determine the extent of your injuries and your treatment plan. It is critical that you follow your doctor’s treatment plan to regain your health. Sometimes people do not seek medical attention because they cannot immediately pay the bills or do not have health insurance.
It is important that you still receive treatment immediately and let your personal injury lawyer fight to recover for those bills. If you do not receive necessary treatment then the negligent driver’s insurance company will say you didn’t receive treatment because your injuries aren’t bad enough to require a fair settlement.
Under Texas law you have a right to receive compensation for your injuries, pain, suffering and economic losses when another driver causes you injuries through his or her negligent or reckless driving. Texas law requires drivers to drive with caution to avoid injuring other drivers, passengers and pedestrians. When a driver fails to follow the law and you or your loved ones are injured, it is not your responsibility to bear the burden of that driver’s negligent or reckless driving. You have a right under the law to receive just compensation to make you whole for those injuries. Money can never undo permanent injuries or the pain you suffered but it is the only tool available under the law to give you a remedy. It is not greedy to demand justice. It is fair and reasonable.
How Insurance Companies Treat Car Accident Claims in Texas
The insurance companies have a duty to their shareholders to pay as little as possible on your injury claims. They are all about the money. They are not your friends and they do not care about taking care of your injuries, no matter how friendly the claims adjuster might be or how much the claims adjuster promises to give you a fair settlement. The insurance company is in the business of processing injury claims. They are experts in the process and litigating claims. Adjusters know all the tricks to play to try to get you to accept as little as possible. They also know a personal injury attorney is your best defense against their tricks.
Car accident lawyers in Texas
The insurance company does not want you to hire a lawyer. The claims adjuster will tell you that you don’t need a lawyer because the lawyer cannot get you any more money than the low ball offer but you’ll have to pay the lawyer. No car accident attorney in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas can guarantee you more money; but I can almost guarantee you that the claims adjuster is severely undervaluing your injuries. One way they undervalue your injuries is to try to get you to settle your claims before you have a good understanding of the long term costs of your medical bills. They will try to settle your bills today which means you will pay all the rest out of your pocket.
Another way they undervalue your injuries is to refuse to compensate your pain and suffering or offer an offensively low value. If you do not accept their low ball offer, they will string you along until you either cannot file suit or get tired of their tricks and accept too little.
What to Do if You Are in a Car Accident in Texas
The steps you take after a car accident are very critical to your health and preserving your claims to relief for your injuries.
Obtain immediate medical attention
If you are fortunate enough that you do not need to be taken by ambulance to a hospital after an injury, you should immediately take yourself to a hospital or your primary care provider for any injuries. Even if you only have bruising or soreness you should visit a doctor or hospital as these may be signs of serious internal injuries.
Follow your doctor’s treatment plan
The physician is the expert in medical care and advises you on what is best for your health. In addition to taking care of your body, following the physician’s advice will help preserve your injury claims.
Ask to file a police report
If the police did not arrive at the scene or did not take your statement at the accident scene ask the police if you can file a report that includes your statement about how the accident occurred. The police report may be used in settling or litigating your claims. File a Driver’s Crash Report/blue form: The “blue form” is a state crash report that each driver in an accident must complete and submit to the state if the police did not file a report. If the police filed a report on the accident it is not necessary to file a blue form.
Do not give a statement to any insurance company
Every insurance company involved will want you to give them a statement. You are not required to give the other driver’s insurer a statement and you should not give your insurer a statement until you have had the opportunity to discuss your case with a personal injury lawyer. When the other driver’s insurer asks for a statement they will often try to trick you into saying you don’t really remember what happened or that you might have been at fault regardless of the truth. The insurer’s claims adjuster may ask for a written statement or might call you, “just to ask a few questions” where they will record the call.
Make records
- Make notes on everything you know about the accident: Although you may never forget being in the accident over time you may forget small details. Making notes of as much detail as possible will help you recall as many details as possible in the future. The names, addresses and telephone numbers of anybody involved in the accident or witnesses are especially important.
- Take pictures: Take pictures of as much as you can. Take pictures of the damage to your vehicle. Also take pictures of your injuries as soon as possible. Also, if you can safely do so, take pictures of where the accident occurred. If there are skid marks or damage to the street, try to obtain pictures of these as well. Do not put yourself in harm to take pictures of the scene.
- Avoid discussing the accident or injuries on social media: You may want to let people know that you were in an accident and your condition. Social media is an easy way to do that. The problem is that the insurance company can use whatever you post against you. It’s easy to misconstrue a facebook update or tweet that was casually worded between friends and family.