It is important to take appropriate action after a car accident. This is especially true if you suspect the other driver was responsible the accident. But what does this mean? The following tips are appropriate for almost every accident:
- Deal with injuries. Were you hurt? If there were other people in your car, were they injured? Check on the other vehicle or others around the scene of the accident as well. The Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) explains that the most important step immediately following a car crash is to focus on getting injuries treated before moving on to deal with the logistics of the accident.
- Move your vehicle. If possible, move your vehicle, other vehicles and debris out of the way of traffic. Once you have made the area as safe as possible, you can begin gathering additional information.
- Gather information. Get the other driver’s contact information. This should include their name, phone number, address and insurance information. Get the same for any passengers or witnesses.
You should also call police if the other driver was intoxicated or leaves the scene.
If the accident was serious, you may be eligible for financial compensation. This can help cover the expenses that result from the crash, like medical bills and the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle. There are time limits for these cases, referred to as personal injury cases. In Texas, a person who is injured in a car accident generally has two years to file a personal injury case against the driver or other responsible party. A failure to file within this time period, referred to as the statute of limitations, can mean you lose the chance to hold the other driver responsible for the negligent or reckless behavior that caused the accident.