Houston is the largest city in Texas in terms of population. According to 2019 Texas Motor Vehicle Crash Statistics, there was one reportable crash every 56 seconds in Texas. No one likes to be a part of a car crash. People’s lives change entirely after accidents. It is crucial to know what your legal rights are after such a fateful event.
What Kind of Protection Does the Texas Accident Laws Provide?
The state of Texas has financial responsibility laws. These laws require the drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance to cover damages for their negligence or fault. The minimum amount of liability insurance coverage for bodily injuries for one person is $30,000.
Here’s a look at your rights after an accident. These laws are not negotiable in any circumstances.
Right to Compensation
If you are part of a car accident, you can claim full compensation for bodily injuries and property damage. You can file a legal claim against a person, or a group of people you believe are responsible for the accident.
Whether an accident is small or large, with the help of a Houston car accident attorney you can get full compensation. The lawyer can offer you legal advice on the maximum compensation you can receive under Houston laws related to accidents and compensation.
Right to Talk to the Witness
If you have met with an accident, it is your right to talk to witnesses and take their contact information. Witnesses can play an essential role in helping you get maximum compensation in the event of an accident. You can also ask the witnesses to tell the police the detailed story or sequence of events that caused the accident. It would be a good idea to get these things noted in the police report after an accident.
Right to Contact Law Enforcement Authorities
No accident should go unreported. It decreases your chances of filing a legal claim for compensation, injuries, and property damages. Make sure you call the police in the area to report an accident, and no one should prevent you from doing so. According to a Houston car accident attorney, the police report can be used as strong evidence to file compensation claims.
Right to Take Pictures
Today, every smartphone comes with a high-resolution camera, and you should put it to fair use in such events. It is your right to take photos after the accident to collect evidence to file a compensation claim. Houston car accident lawyers mention you need to take pictures of the vehicle’s damages, pictures of your bodily injuries, and the overall accident scene.
Right to Seek Medical Attention
Suppose you have suffered minor or major injuries in an accident, you have the right to seek medical care to treat the injuries. Unattended accident injuries can get infected, which can further lead to medical complications. Hence, you need to call an ambulance or a doctor to the accident scene to get immediate medical care.
What Should You Not Do?
The Houston car accident lawyer can file a legal claim to help you get maximum compensation. However, there are certain things you need to avoid after an accident.
Don’t Leave the Accident Site
Unless you are seriously injured and need immediate medical attention, don’t leave the accident site. Beltway Intersection 8 at Bissonnet Street is one of the most accident-prone spots in Houston. No matter where it happens, stay at the site. It is essential to wait until the police arrive and file an accident report.
Don’t Give Your Consent for Private Settlement
The 3rd party who is at fault may try to give you quick cash to settle the case and prevent you from filing a legal claim.
To sum up, these are your rights after an accident, and you can get your life back on track by claiming compensation.