Steps You Can Take Immediately to Protect Your Rights
When you’ve been involved in a collision or any other type of motor vehicle accident, your first concern needs to be for your health and the safety of everyone involved in the crash. It’s always best to wait until emergency medical responders arrive, and to then defer to their judgment regarding the treatment you need. But there are a number of things you can do, as well, while you’re still on the scene, to protect your legal rights.
Step #1—Gather Information
Whether it’s for a potential lawsuit or simply to ensure that you get all the benefits to which you are entitled under your insurance policy, you want to get as much information as you can while you are still there:
- Contact information for anyone who might potentially be a party or witness at trial—It’s never too early to start gathering the information your lawyer will need to put together your case. That includes the names, phone numbers, street addresses and email addresses for anyone involved in the accident, as well as anyone who might potential serve as a witness. That will make it much easier for your attorney to gather the facts and prepare your case. It’s also extremely useful to get insurance information from any other driver. Texas is not a “no-fault” state, so the insurer for the at-fault driver may be liable for all your losses.
- Get physical evidence—In addition to eyewitness testimony, your attorney may want to use physical evidence to build your case. Take pictures of everything potentially related to the accident, including injuries to all parties, damage to all vehicles, road conditions at the time of the accident, and any roadway defects that may have contributed to the crash. You don’t need a fancy camera, either. Take the pictures with the camera on your phone, if necessary.
Step #2—Keep a Tight Lip
Be willing to share personal information, and not a whole lot more. There can be a tendency, with the adrenaline coursing through your veins after an accident, to say more than you need to. Unfortunately, your words can be misconstrued and potentially used against you at trial. The less you say, the better.
Step #3—Contact Your Attorney, If You Have One
The sooner you either notify or retain legal counsel, the sooner your rights will be fully protected. You’ll minimize the risk that you’ll do something to compromise your claim. Your lawyer can also be your liaison with insurers, helping you avoid the high-pressure tactics commonly employed to try to get you to take less than you deserve.
Let the Experienced Attorneys at Bailey & Galyen Help after a Motor Vehicle Accident
At the law offices of Bailey & Galyen, we bring more than four decades of proven experience to people across the Lone Star State who have been hurt in any type of accident, including a car, truck or motorcycle wreck. We know that the civil justice system can be confusing and intimidating and will take the time to carefully explain the process at every juncture. Contact us by e-mail or 844-402-2992 call our offices at one of the convenient locations listed below. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
