A car accident in Austin, Texas, can leave you dealing with injuries, vehicle damage, insurance questions, and unexpected expenses. What you do in the hours and days after the crash may also affect your ability to pursue compensation.
Texas law requires drivers involved in crashes involving injuries or certain property damage to stop and fulfill specific duties, including exchanging information and providing reasonable assistance to injured people. Beyond these legal requirements, avoiding common mistakes can help protect your health and a potential personal injury claim.
Here are five mistakes to avoid after an Austin car accident.
1. Leaving the Accident Scene Too Soon
Do not simply drive away after a collision. Texas law requires drivers involved in accidents that result or are reasonably likely to result in injury or death to stop, determine whether anyone needs assistance, and remain at the scene until they meet certain requirements.
If possible, move to a safe location and call 911 when someone is injured. Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver and cooperate with law enforcement.
Before leaving, you should also try to document the accident. Take photographs or videos of the vehicles, damage, road conditions, traffic signs, and anything else that could help establish how the crash occurred.
2. Delaying Medical Treatment
Another common mistake is assuming you are fine because you do not immediately feel significant pain. Some injuries may become more noticeable in the hours or days following a collision.
Seek medical attention promptly if you are injured or experiencing symptoms. Follow your doctor’s recommendations and attend follow-up appointments.
Medical treatment is important for your health, but your records may also become important evidence in an injury claim. Waiting a long time to seek treatment could make it more difficult to connect your injuries to the accident.
3. Admitting Fault for the Accident
It is natural to want to apologize after a crash, but avoid making statements that could be interpreted as accepting responsibility.
You might not know everything that contributed to the collision immediately afterward. The other driver may have been speeding, distracted, impaired, or violating another traffic law.
Stick to the facts when speaking with the police, the other driver, and insurance companies. Evidence such as photographs, surveillance footage, witness statements, vehicle damage, and crash reports can help determine who was responsible.
4. Giving the Insurance Company Too Much Information
You may need to report the accident to your insurance company, but be careful when discussing your injuries or providing statements to another driver’s insurer.
An insurance adjuster may ask detailed questions about the accident, your medical treatment, or your previous injuries. Avoid guessing or minimizing your symptoms. You should also be cautious about signing documents or accepting an early settlement before you understand the extent of your injuries and losses.
Once a settlement is finalized, you generally cannot return later and request additional compensation because your condition became worse than expected.
5. Waiting Too Long to Consider Your Legal Options
Waiting too long can make a car accident claim more difficult. Evidence can disappear, surveillance footage may be erased, vehicles may be repaired, and witnesses can forget important details.
There are also legal deadlines. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003, personal injury lawsuits generally must be filed within two years after the claim accrues. Certain exceptions or different deadlines may apply depending on the circumstances.
Speaking with an Austin personal injury lawyer soon after a collision can help you understand your rights, applicable deadlines, and options for pursuing compensation.
Contact an Austin Car Accident Lawyer at McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
The aftermath of a crash can be stressful, but avoiding these mistakes can help protect your health and your potential claim. Get medical care, preserve evidence, be careful when discussing fault, and keep records of your accident-related expenses.
If someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages. Contact an Austin car accident lawyer at McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation and learn more about your legal options.
We proudly serve clients throughout Austin, TX in Travis County, as well as Salt Lake City, UT in Salt Lake County.
McMinn Law Firm – Austin, TX Office
502 W 14th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 474-0222
McMinn Law Firm – Salt Lake City, UT Office
650 S 500 W Suite 290, Salt Lake City, UT 84104
(385) 462-7630
