What To Do After a Car Accident in Fort Worth, TX

What To Do After a Car Accident in Fort Worth, TX

Car accidents often leave people in a state of shock, affecting their judgment and ability to move or communicate. They may also be dealing with painful injuries and frightened passengers. With so much going on, it’s often difficult to know what steps to take. 

Familiarizing yourself with how to handle the aftermath of a collision can ease your stress and protect your legal rights. Even so, if you have questions or need assistance, an experienced Fort Worth car accident attorney from Stephens Law Firm, PLLC can help. 

Contact our Fort Worth, Texas law office by calling (817) 420-7000 or filling out an online form. We’re available 24/7 to take your call, listen to what happened, and explain how we can assist – and we offer a free initial consultation, so there’s no risk or obligation. 

How Our Fort Worth Car Accident Lawyers Can Help After a Collision 

How Our Fort Worth Car Accident Lawyers Can Help After a Collision 

Following a collision in Fort Worth, TX, one of your first steps should be to seek guidance from a skilled personal injury lawyer. Even if you don’t require legal representation, you’ll gain a better understanding of the claims process and how to handle insurance adjusters

The legal team at Stephens Law Firm, PLLC has over two decades of experience fighting for fair compensation after devastating collisions and accidents. During that time, we’ve acquired more than $100 million for our injured clients – and counting. 

Hiring our Fort Worth personal injury attorneys after a car crash means you’ll have someone to: 

  • Investigate the collision and gather evidence proving causation and liability 
  • Help you identify and calculate the full extent of your losses, including economic and non-economic damages
  • Negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf so that you can focus on recovering from your physical and emotional injuries 
  • Handle every aspect of your personal injury claim 
  • Represent you at court hearings and trial if we fail to obtain a fair out-of-court settlement agreement 

Now that we’ve outlined the benefits of creating an attorney-client relationship after a car accident in Fort Worth, TX, we’ll explain some steps to take immediately after a crash.

Steps To Take After a Car Accident in Fort Worth, Texas

The things you do following a car accident in Texas can significantly impact a personal injury claim, whether you’re the plaintiff or defendant. 

You need to take certain steps to protect your rights and ensure that you’re meeting any obligations required by state law, including but not limited to: 

Immediately Stop At the Accident Scene

The Texas Transportation Code requires drivers involved in accidents causing personal injury, death, or property damage to immediately stop at the scene. Failure to do so could result in criminal charges, as the Lone Star State takes hit-and-run accidents very seriously. 

If you cannot stop at the exact accident scene or it’s unsafe to do so, stop as close to it as possible. You should minimize the obstruction of traffic as best you can and ensure everyone’s safety, which may mean pulling over to the shoulder or an accident investigation site, if available. 

If someone was injured in the crash, you also have a duty to render aid and reasonable assistance. That may include calling 911 or transporting the injured victim to a nearby hospital. 

Call the Police 

Not all Texas collisions must be reported immediately to the police. You should always call 911 if the car accident involves: 

However, it’s best to call 911 from the accident scene, even if your wreck didn’t involve these things. If a law enforcement officer is dispatched, they’ll complete a crash report, which is valuable evidence if you need to file a personal injury claim (or if a case is filed against you). 

Exchange Information 

Texas law also requires drivers involved in crashes to exchange information, including: 

  • Driver’s names and addresses 
  • Vehicle registration numbers 
  • The name of the driver’s auto liability insurance company
  • Driver’s licenses 

You should also collect information from any eyewitnesses who stop at the accident scene.

Gather Evidence 

If you can, take pictures and videos of the car accident scene. You should document the position of the vehicles, traffic conditions, property damage (including to vehicles and nearby structures), skid marks, debris left behind, and any other evidence that could be relevant to a case. If any injuries are involved, photograph them as well. 

If you had to move your car to avoid blocking traffic, be sure to note exactly where the collision occurred. 

Seek Prompt Medical Attention 

If you aren’t transported to the hospital or attended to by emergency medical providers at the scene, you should visit your physician or an urgent care center. Even if you don’t think you were injured or that your injuries are minor, this is a critical step. Why? 

Some injuries don’t manifest symptoms until days or weeks after the accident date. Seeking medical care right after the collision will help to prove that it was the direct cause of your harm (if any). 

Otherwise, if you file a claim for medical expenses, an insurance adjuster may allege that something else caused the injury since you didn’t seek treatment right away. They can also argue that you failed to mitigate your damages, resulting in less compensation in your pocket. 

Wondering What To Do After a Collision? Contact Our Fort Worth Car Accident Attorneys for a Free Consultation

If you’re the unfortunate victim of a car accident in Fort Worth, TX, Stephens Law Firm, PLLC can help you understand your obligations, rights, and options for pursuing compensation. We’ll also help you monitor the statute of limitations and prove your case, including negligence and the value of your damages. Contact us today for a free case evaluation to learn more about our legal services.

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Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents
1300 S University Dr # 300
Fort Worth, TX 76107
(817) 420-7000