A car accident can leave you shaken and unsure what to do first. After a crash in Austin or elsewhere in Texas, focus on safety and medical needs. Then preserve information that may matter to an insurance or injury claim.
Stop and Check for Injuries
Pull over as close to the scene as you safely can, turn on your hazard lights, and check for injuries. Determine whether anyone needs help and remain at the scene of the accident.
Call 911 if anyone is hurt or may need urgent help. Avoid moving someone with a possible neck or back injury.
Get to a Safer Place When Possible
If no one is injured and the vehicles can be moved safely, get them out of travel lanes. Move yourself and your passengers away from passing traffic. If a vehicle is disabled, wait for help in a safe location.
Before moving the vehicles, photograph their positions if you can do so safely. If you are uncertain whether moving a vehicle is safe, tell the dispatcher.
Exchange Information
Exchange names, contact details, driver’s license information, license plate numbers, and insurance information. When speaking with the other driver, keep the conversation factual; you need not decide who caused the crash at the scene.
If someone is injured or the other driver leaves, call the police. Tell the officer what you observed without guessing. You should also ask for the officer’s name and report number.
Document the Scene Before Details Fade
If safe, photograph the vehicles, license plates, skid marks, debris, traffic signals, road signs, weather, and visible injuries. Include wide views of the street and close views of damage. Ask witnesses for their contact information.
Write down the time, location, direction of travel, and what you recall seeing and hearing. Note nearby cameras that may have recorded the crash. Details can fade quickly, so it’s important to document what you remember from the accident scene.
Get Medical Attention and Watch for Changes
Seek emergency care for severe pain, trouble breathing, confusion, weakness, worsening headache, or other alarming symptoms. Even when you feel well enough to leave the scene, arrange a medical evaluation if you have pain, were struck hard, or may have hit your head. Some concussion symptoms can take time to become noticeable.
Tell the clinician about the crash and all symptoms. Follow the treatment plan and report new symptoms promptly. Medical records can help show when symptoms began and how the collision affected your health.
Report the Crash and Keep Your Records Together
Notify the insurer promptly with accurate information. Ask for the claim number, adjuster’s name, and required documents. Before giving a recorded statement or signing a broad medical authorization, consult a personal injury attorney and understand what is requested, especially while injuries are still being evaluated.
Save photographs, the crash report, repair estimates, receipts, medical bills, and records of missed work. Keep a log of symptoms, appointments, and activities you cannot perform as a result of the car accident.
Contact the Austin Car Accident Lawyers at McMinn Law Firm for a Free Consultation
The steps you take after a crash can protect your health and help preserve important details about what happened. As you focus on recovery, you may also have to manage medical bills, vehicle repairs, and calls from insurance companies.
If you were injured in a collision in Austin, Texas, because of someone else’s negligence, McMinn Law Firm can review your case, explain your options, and help you pursue compensation for your losses. Contact our firm for a free consultation with a skilled Austin car accident lawyer 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
