Important Tips for Car Wreck Victims

What you should know if you are involved in a car accident

by Steven C. Laird

Chances are that your morning or evening commute will be slowed by a car wreck. In fact, there are more than 6 million police-reported accidents every year in the United States. That works out to about one car wreck every five seconds.

But what do you do when you are in an car accident? Here are a few key steps to follow:

Stop
First, as simple as it sounds, you must stop if you are in car wreck. In Texas, for example, someone who flees the scene of an accident can face up to a year in jail or a $5,000 fine. If possible, leave the cars where they came to rest. However, you may need to move the cars so you don’t block traffic. If so, carefully note the positions of the cars as exactly as possible before they are moved.

Call the police
Always call the police, no matter how minor the car wreck. The police can send emergency personnel if needed, and will fill out an accident report. A police report is important, and often necessary, when you contact your insurance company.

Gather information
It is important to gather as much as information as possible at the scene of the accident - take note of the damage to all cars, as well as weather and road conditions, get the names, contact information and insurance information for everyone involved in the accident, and get the names and contact information for anyone who may have witnessed the wreck.

It is also important to note what you should not do after a car wreck:

• Do not admit fault at the scene. This includes any oral or written statements as to responsibility or blame, as these could be used against you by another driver or insurance company.
• Do not tell others involved in the accident how much liability insurance you carry.
• Do not accept offers to settle on the spot.

Sometimes, accidents just happen. In other cases, accidents may be the fault of a negligent driver. When that happens, you may have a right to recover damages for your pain and suffering, lost wages and medical expenses.

The Law Offices of Steven C. Laird, P.C.
2400 Scott Ave.
Fort Worth, Texas 76103

Press Contact: Mary Stallings, 817-531-3000

The Law Offices of Steven C. Laird, P.C., is a Fort Worth, Texas, law firm that represents individuals and families in cases involving personal injury, wrongful death, trucking accidents, medical malpractice, construction site accidents, products liability and business litigation. You can contact Mr. Laird by phone at 817-531-3000 or 800-448-2889 or via e-mail at laird@texlawyers.com. The firm's Web site is www.texlawyers.com.

This release was published on openPR.