Car accidents can be scary situations, and you may not always be thinking clearly immediately after an accident. Knowing what to do in those situations can help keep you safe and protect any potential legal claims related to the accident. If you are involved in a car accident in San Antonio, make sure you follow the steps below.
Whether you believe you were at fault or not, you should always stop your vehicle after an accident. NEVER attempt to flee the scene because that could result in criminal penalties, like fines, license suspension, and even imprisonment. If possible, pull your vehicle to a safe place before exiting to assess the damage. If another party was involved, check on them to determine whether they need any medical assistance. Once you have assessed the extent of the damage and any potential injuries, you have the information you need to move on to the next steps.
If the accident involved only very minor damage of less than $1,000, notifying the police might not be necessary. However, if injuries or major damage occurred, then you must notify the police. Wait at the accident scene for the police to arrive and write a report. Failure to notify the authorities could result in losing your right to make any claims for compensation related to the accident. Take note of the names of the officers, their badge numbers, and the case ID number. You will also want to get a copy of the full police report within a few days after the accident.
Make sure that you keep your cool and never get into an argument with the other driver, but you should exchange some basic information with them. Get their name, address, cell phone number, license number, tag number, and insurance information. You should also provide your information to them as well. If there are any witnesses, you should get their name and contact info. If the other driver simply refuses to provide their information, then let the police gather the details once they arrive.
You should always inform your insurance company after an accident – even if you are not at fault. Keep them up-to-date throughout the process and provide important details, like the specifics of the accident, the amount of damage, and whether any injuries were sustained. Failure to notify your insurance company could prevent you from obtaining the compensation to which you are entitled after the accident.
If you had to seek medical treatment after the accident, make sure you keep all the details about those treatments. Hold on to receipts, diagnoses, and any other records related to your medical treatment. Make detailed notes about the dates of your appointments, doctors’ names, and any time missed from work due to your treatments. This information will be critical to your San Antonio car accident lawyer when getting compensated for your injuries.
If you were injured in a car accident, it is always a good idea to talk to a San Antonio personal injury lawyer. Most attorneys offer free consultations, and they can listen to the details of your accident and advise you on the proper next steps to ensure you receive all the compensation to which you are entitled.
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