The Bad Decisions that Can Jeopardize Your Potential Recovery
When you’ve been hurt in a crash because of someone else’s negligence or carelessness, it’s critical that you don’t make basic or fundamental mistakes that can jeopardize your right to full and fair compensation. In the immediate aftermath of an accident, the emotions you are experiencing can make it difficult to know what’s in your best interests. Here are some of the most important things you don’t want to do immediately after a wreck.
Texas At or Near the Top for Motor Vehicle Accidents Annually
Statistics gathered by the Texas Department of Transportation consistently show the Lone Star State to have one of the highest motor vehicle accident tolls in the nation. According TDOT, in 2024, a person was injured every two minutes and a person was killed every two hours (on average) in an accident on the state’s roadways.
The Critical Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make after a Texas Car Accident
For a variety of reasons, including emotion, adrenalin and distraction, people often make decisions or do things in the immediate aftermath of a crash that are not in their best interests:
- Failing to call law enforcement officers—There’s a common perception, particularly when the damages appear to be minor, that there’s little to be gained by waiting for police officers to arrive. Unfortunately, when you don’t call the police, you lose a potentially critical piece of evidence. In some situation, you may even violate the law.
- Admitting any type of liability—It’s common, in the minutes following a collision, to think of what you could have done to avoid the crash. You don’t need to say that out loud, though. Save any assessments of your role in the crash for your attorney. Even something as innocuous as “I didn’t see you” could potentially be used against you.
- Failing to get medical care as soon as possible—There are many good reasons for immediately seeking medical attention. It usually improves your chances of full or maximum recovery. But it also establishes the specific injuries caused by the crash, so that opposing counsel can’t argue that they were caused by some other event.
- Failing to gather evidence at the scene of the crash—Get your phone out and take pictures of everything. Get the names of all parties involved in the accident, as well as any potential witnesses. Take the time to write down what you see and what you remember, while it’s fresh in your mind.
- Don’t talk to your insurance company—let your attorney do that—Make your first call to a lawyer, who can then be your advocate with the insurer.
Let Attorney Michael De La Paz Help Protect Your Rights after a Texas Car Crash
At the Law Office of Michael R. De La Paz, we have more than 26 years of experience protecting the rights of personal injury victims in Harlingen, McAllen, Brownsville and Houston, across Texas and nationwide, including men, women and children who have suffered needless injury in a Texas motor vehicle accident. We will use our considerable experience, skill, knowledge and resources to help you get the outcome you want. Free call, text or chat, 24 hours a day, seven days a week–https://delapazlaw.com/.
Handling Motor Vehicle Accident Cases Nationwide, Including, But Not Limited to Texas, Florida, New Mexico, Illinois and Oklahoma