Brian White | April 22, 2024 | Auto Accidents
If you were injured in a car accident due to another driver’s negligence, you are not required to hire a lawyer. However, hiring a car accident lawyer after an accident can help you prove the other driver was at fault and collect financial compensation as a result.
After a car accident that was another driver’s fault, you may be faced with medical bills, lost wages, and other costs due to the accident. That’s not to mention the physical injuries and mental anguish you might suffer after an accident. An experienced car accident lawyer can help you focus on your recovery while handling the work needed to protect your legal rights and obtain compensation for your damages.
What to Do After a Car Accident
One of the most important things you can do after a car accident is to notify the police and have a police report established. The police report will describe how the accident happened, who the drivers were, eyewitness statements, and details about damages to each vehicle and injuries involved. A car accident lawyer can use the police report when negotiating with insurance companies and as part of a lawsuit against the negligent driver.
Other critical tasks are to obtain medical treatment for any injuries you experience. Even if you don’t think you were seriously injured, you should still seek treatment, as injuries might not be symptomatic at first. You should also collect any evidence you might have regarding the accident.
In this regard, an experienced car accident lawyer can help you do the following to build your case:
- Collect physical evidence related to the accident
- Obtain photos and video evidence that might be available regarding the crash
- Identify and locate witnesses to the accident
- Collect and itemize your costs from the accident, including medical bills, property damage estimates, and lost earnings
- Hire experts who can describe and reconstruct the accident to prove liability against the driver who caused the crash.
A lawyer can help you prepare and build a strong claim based on their experience with others who have been in accidents like yours.
How a Lawyer Can Help With an Insurance Claim
One of the most critical steps after a car accident involves pursuing a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Unfortunately for claimants, the insurance company’s goal is to minimize or deny claims to accident victims. They might try to trick you into making a statement that hurts your claim and protects their insured driver. Individuals attempting to take on the insurance company alone do so at their own risk.
Experienced car accident lawyers know the games that insurance companies play after an accident. They will counter the insurer’s offers with strong evidence of your claim and an accurate value of your personal injury claim. Also, lawyers are trained to handle the tough negotiations with insurers and fight for what your claim is truly worth.
A Car Accident Lawyer Can Build Your Case and Protect Your Legal Rights
If you were injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you should not be responsible for the financial and emotional costs that come from the accident. Instead, you may be entitled to financial compensation from the responsible driver and their insurance company.
Proving negligence in a Texas car accident case means showing the following:
- That the at-fault driver had a duty of care to others while driving;
- That the driver breached this duty of care to others;
- That there was a causal link between the driver’s conduct and your injuries;
- That you suffered damages as a result of the driver’s negligence.
Damages in a car accident claim can include economic damages such as medical bills, property damage costs, lost earnings due to the accident, costs of ongoing therapy, and other tangible costs that can be identified on a spreadsheet. Non-economic damages can include pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of companionship, and other “intangible” costs that often result from a car accident.
Contact a Houston Car Accident Lawyer to Help You With Your Claim
You are not required to hire a lawyer after a car accident that wasn’t your fault. However, hiring an experienced lawyer can help you prove the other driver was at fault and collect financial compensation from them. A car accident lawyer can help you navigate what to do after a car accident and help you fight for your legal rights.
For more information, contact the Houston car accident law firm of Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers by calling (713) 500-5000.
Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers – Houston
3120 Southwest Freeway, Suite 350
Houston, TX 77098
Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers – East Fwy
11811 East Fwy, Suite 630-06
Houston, TX 77029
Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers – South Loop
2600 S Loop W, Suite 293
Houston, TX 77054
Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers – Katy Freeway
11511 Katy Fwy Suite 515
Houston, TX 77079
