Harrell Stoebner & Russell PC | Attorneys at Law

Offices Located In Temple And Killeen | Se Habla Español
Call To Schedule A Consultation: 254-935-3036

Harrell Stoebner & Russell PC | Attorneys at Law
Call To Schedule A Consultation: 254-935-3036

Due to precautions related to COVID-19, we have expanded our options for remote consultations. Please contact our office to discuss whether a full phone consultation or video conference is appropriate for your situation.

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I’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident: What now?

On Behalf of | Apr 6, 2017 | Motor Vehicle Accidents |

After you’ve been in a wreck in the state of Texas and have suffered injuries, seeking medical attention may naturally be your primary focus. However, taking a few other steps is essential following the motor vehicle accident. Failure to take these steps may unfortunately end up costing you in the long run.

Steps to take

After seeking medical attention for yourself and other injured parties at the crash scene, it is paramount that you call the police. The police can file a report about the collision after gathering information at the scene. It may be beneficial to get the badge numbers and names of the officers who respond to the accident.

In addition, exchanging information with the other driver involved in the crash is a must-do. This information may include your basic insurance information, license plate numbers, driver’s license numbers, phone numbers and addresses. Kindness can go a long way in obtaining all of this information.

Steps not to take

It is best to avoid saying sorry for anything that happened leading up to the accident. You may think you are simply being cordial if you apologize for blowing through a red light, for example. However, in reality, it may sound as though you are admitting you are guilty, which may make you legally liable for what took place. As a general rule of thumb, it is beneficial to avoid talking about the crash with anyone except an attorney, the insurance company involved and authorities.

Insurance companies

Another common mistake made following a vehicle wreck is to accept a settlement that an insurance company has offered without first consulting an attorney. If you do this, you may end up not getting all of the compensation to which you are entitled if you settle a claim too quickly, as some injuries do not appear until many weeks or even months following the collision. Before taking a settlement offer, it is important to understand that each of your injuries will be entitled to compensation.

In many situations, insurance companies will not only undervalue your motor vehicle accident claim but also delay or even try to deny it. A knowledgeable attorney in the state of Texas can help you to fight back either out of court or in court, if necessary, in an effort to maximize the recovery.

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