(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Anyone who lives in or travels to Texas knows that state has a terrible track record when it comes to fatal car accidents. There has been at least one death each day on the roads of the Lonestar state for a whopping 19 years – and oftentimes, many more than one.
Transportation experts and Texas residents alike hoped that one silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic might be the end of this deadly streak. Unfortunately, it does not seem to have worked out that way. Perhaps traffic has been down across the state – in fact, it is dropped to roughly half the usual rates in many cities – but the rate of fatalities has not lessened.
What happens if you are the victim of a car accident? Whether you live in Texas or elsewhere in the United States, it is a good idea to know what steps to take in the immediate aftermath of a crash. Let us take a look.
1. Stay Put and Make Sure You Are OK
First things first: do not leave the scene. This is vital, because you will need to make a police report and have any injuries assessed. Should it turn out that you have been hurt, you will want the documentation to show your insurance agent, your physician, and your attorney.
If you suspect you or someone in your vehicle have been seriously hurt, do not get out of the car. Dial 911 and wait for emergency services.
2. Do Not Engage With Other Drivers
No matter how obvious it was to you that another driver was at fault, it is never a good idea to get out of your car and start shouting at them. Nor should you respond in the event that they get belligerent with you. Take a couple of slow, deep breaths to get your bearings.
Should anyone else involved in the crash strike you as violent, or if you are scared for your own safety or that of your passengers, remain in the vehicle, lock your doors, and stay on the line with the 911 dispatcher until police arrive.
3. Once the Authorities Arrive
When the police arrive, you can exit your vehicle. Give your statement and answer any questions they have for you. It is important to do so honestly.
While the other parties are being interviewed, take pictures and video of the scene. Make sure to snap the vehicles, focusing on any areas of damage. You will also want to document road conditions that may have contributed to the crash. These could include adverse weather such as rain, sleet, snow, ice or glare, or they could be broken guardrails, debris on the road, and so on.
Speak to any witnesses, if you get the chance, and take down their contact information so that investigators can contact them in the future.
4. Visit a Healthcare Professional
This step is crucial, although it is also the one that you might be most tempted to skip. Do not. Visit a health care professional for a checkup as soon as possible after the accident – if not the same day, then no later than 24 hours afterward.
Your doctor will probably squeeze you in for a visit if you explain the situation, but if by some chance that is not possible, go to an urgent care center or walk-in clinic. They have convenient hours and usually take insurance, too.
“Remember that if someone else was at fault for the accident, and you sustained injuries as a result, you may be able to pursue legal action to compensate you for your medical bills and more,” says Mario de la Garza, a Houston personal injury lawyer.
5. Take Care of Yourself
Going through a traumatic experience like a car accident can be difficult, and it can have long-ranging effects. You might not even realize how much it is affecting you until much later on. So be proactive, and take care of your mental and emotional health even as you seek treatment, if necessary, for physical injuries.
You may want to consider seeing a therapist, or at the very least reading up on post-traumatic stress disorder to ensure that you know to get help if you begin showing symptoms.
Lastly, know that your life will return to normal, sooner or later. It might be a new normal, but you will not always be as stressed as you could feel right now.
At de la Garza Law Group, we proudly represent clients involved in car accidents. For more than two decades, we have been representing injury victims in all types of personal injury claims. Contact de la Garza Law Group today. We offer all prospective clients a free, no-obligation consultation in which we will provide an honest and thorough assessment of your case. To learn more, call 713-804-8670, or call toll-free at 844-784-1010.