Let an Experienced McAllen Car Accident Lawyer Fight for You

1. Gather information from everyone involved in your crash. Be sure to get their name, address, phone number, license plate number and all their insurance information. Do not discuss the car accident or start an argument about who is responsible for the crash. It’s best to just exchange information and avoid conversations about anything else.
2. Take pictures and/or video of the crash scene. Capture damage to every car involved in the accident, visible injuries, tire marks, street signs, traffic signals, construction, and anything else that may be relevant to your crash.
3. See if anyone saw the accident. If so, get their name and contact information. Eyewitness testimony is often a strong piece of evidence when building your case and determining fault.
4. When police arrive, tell the investigating officer what happened. Tell the truth but be careful not to say anything that could be misinterpreted as admitting fault. Even something as harmless as “I didn’t see them” or “I’m sorry” could be interpreted as an admission of fault.
5. Before your memory fades, write down everything you can remember about the accident. Make note of the time, location, weather conditions, and if there were any road hazards at the time of your crash.
6. Get checked out by a licensed medical professional within 24 hours of your accident. Even if you don’t feel injured and you’re not experiencing any pain or symptoms, you might have internal damage or some other serious injury and not realize it. If you have an injury, such as whiplash, a concussion, or a back injury, you may experience delayed onset symptoms. Be sure to follow your doctor’s advice for treatment and attend all your follow-up appointments.
7. Call your insurance company and let them know that you were involved in a car accident. Do not go into too much detail. Keep your comments to a minimum and just give them the essential, basic facts.
8. Contact an experienced car accident lawyer for a free case evaluation and to understand your rights. Explain what happened and learn your legal options.
9. Do not talk to the other driver’s insurance company. We recommend that you speak to an experienced car accident attorney first to make sure your rights are being protected. If they want to talk about fault, your injuries, compensation, or request a recorded statement, politely decline, and refer them to your attorney. Anything you say could be used against you to challenge or deny your claim.

What if the Car Accident Wasn’t My Fault?

Under most circumstances, if you were involved in a car accident that wasn’t your fault the driver who caused your crash will be responsible for all your accident-related expenses. That’s because Texas is a “fault” car insurance state.

If you were injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you have a few different options to recover compensation for your damages, such as:

• Pursuing a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance policy
• Pursuing a claim with your own insurance company
• Pursuing a lawsuit against the at-fault driver

All Texas drivers must carry minimum amounts of liability coverage but trying to navigate the insurance system on your own is often confusing and overwhelming. For example, under the state’s comparative negligence laws, any compensation you’re awarded can be reduced if you’re found to be partially at fault for your crash. That means if you’re found to be 25 percent at fault because you were speeding, your compensation could be reduced by 25 percent. To recover damages for your accident-related expenses, your negligence must also not be greater than that of the other driver.