WHAT TO DO AFTER AN AUTO ACCIDENT

At the Scene

Someone hit you. You are sitting in your car immediately after impact dazed, confused, and trying to figure out what just happened. The personal injury attorneys at Livingston & Flowers are here to help you, a family member, or friend after an auto accident.

Here is what you need to know:

• Are you okay? If not, and you are reading this blog article after you auto accident, seek medical attention immediately. If anyone involved has sustained a severe, catastrophic personal injury because of the auto accident, you may not be able to do at the accident scene all of what is listed below.
• If you have sustained personal injuries, but you are still able to communicate and move around, make sure the other parties involved in the collision are okay. If anyone needs immediate medical attention, they are your priority. Call 911 for an ambulance immediately. Next, call the police to report the accident.
• Do not make any statements about what happened to anyone at the scene except the police and medical providers.
• If no one involved in the auto accident needs immediate medical attention:
  • Call the police, so the police can document what happened from the drivers of the vehicles involved, as well as eyewitnesses.
  • At this point, you are your most valuable asset for your personal injury claim. While you wait for the police, if you can, begin documenting the scene with plenty of photographs as quickly as you can, because you will need to move your vehicle out of traffic if it is not disabled. It is the law in Texas.
  • If your vehicle is not disabled, move it out of harm’s way to somewhere safe after you have quickly photographed the position of the vehicles immediately after the collision. It may not be safe to take photographs as fast-moving vehicles pass by the accident scene, so proceed with extreme caution. If you are not able to take photographs without risking the safety of others or yourself, DO NOT take photographs until it is safe to do so. That may be after you have moved your vehicle somewhere safe.
  • Take photographs of all vehicles involved in the collision—not just your vehicle. Take plenty of photographs with your phone. You cannot take enough photographs. Take clear photographs up close, at medium distance, and from far away if possible. Photograph not only all vehicles involved, but also license plates, tire marks, skid marks, scrape marks, broken glass, airbags, pieces of the vehicles lying in the road, etc.
  • When the investigating officer arrives, be honest with the officer. Tell the officer if you are injured, hurting, stiff, etc. Do not be shy or quiet about your injuries if you feel anything out of the ordinary, whether it be pain, dizziness, numbness, blurry vision, etc.
  • Make sure to exchange drivers’ license and insurance information with the other driver. Make sure to exchange contact information with the other driver, passengers, and witnesses. Take clear pictures of all insurance documents and driver licenses, when possible, with your phone.
  • You never know what is causing your pain, stiffness, aching, headaches, dizziness, etc. Do not assume that it is nothing. Seek medical attention immediately after the collision with an urgent care facility, emergency room, or your physician.
  • More to follow in the next blog on what to do after you have left the accident scene.

Talk to a skilled Houston auto accident attorney

If you have been injured in an auto collision or know someone who has, call the Houston auto accident attorneys at Livingston & Flowers today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your options moving forward.