Austin Car Accident Lawyers: What Evidence Should You Gather After a Serious Crash?

Have you recently been injured in a car accident in Austin, Texas? If so, winning fair accident compensation may be the only way for you to finance your rehabilitation. A skilled local lawyer will be essential to ensuring you get the restitution and justice you need. That’s where the Austin car accident lawyers at Carabin Shaw come in.

Our trusted Texas law firm has over three decades of experience winning personal injury claims for victims just like you. Read on to learn more about what evidence to gather after a car wreck, and contact us online or call toll-free at 1-800-862-1260 to schedule your free consultation today. Our staff is available 24/7 to assist you in both English and Spanish.

Your top priority after a car crash should be your health. Seek whatever medical attention you need right away. Even if you do not feel immediate symptoms of an injury, you should get a professional evaluation, as some injuries do not reveal themselves until some time has passed. Be sure to save copies of your medical records to serve as evidence later.

Next, file a police report as soon as you can. Accident victims are required by law to report any car crash that results in injury. In addition to fulfilling your legal obligation, your police report will serve as more crucial car accident evidence down the road.

Finally, hire an experienced attorney before taking any other action. The sooner you involve your Austin car crash lawyer, the sooner they can begin building your case. They can even help you negotiate your insurance claims and protect you from lowball settlement offers.

Pursuing a personal injury claim after a serious car crash requires at least one party to be liable for your accident. When the negligence of any party is determined to have caused a crash, that party can be held liable for the resulting damages.

Common forms of negligence that frequently lead to liability for Austin car accidents are:

• Speeding
• Tailgaiting
• Failure to yield the right of way
• Driving under the influence
• Fatigued driving
• Distracted driving
• Operating an unsafe vehicle
• Reckless driving

Texas’s modified comparative fault rule means that multiple negligent parties may share liability for one accident. You may even be partially at fault. As long as you are less than 51% liable for your accident, you can still pursue lawsuits and insurance claims, but your compensation will be reduced by the percentage of fault you hold. A skilled Austin auto accident attorney can work to reduce or eliminate liability for partial-fault victims, helping maximize their compensation.

Building a liability case hinges on evidence. Additionally, you will need evidence to demonstrate the losses you have suffered as a result of your crash. Start gathering evidence as quickly as possible, because witness statements become less reliable over time and some evidence may disappear entirely. There is no need to wonder, “What evidence do I need after a car accident?”

Examples of evidence that will likely be relevant to your case are:

• Medical records
• Witness statements
• Photo/video evidence
• Police reports
• Pay stubs
• Employment records
• Pain journals
• Vehicle maintenance records

With the help of skilled legal counsel, like the top Texas personal injury attorneys at Carabin Shaw, you can maximize your car crash compensation by suing liable parties for damages. Damages allow you to pursue restitution for both the financial and emotional impact of your accident.

Some common examples of damages won by car crash victims include:

• Reimbursement of medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Loss of benefits
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of companionship
• Permanent disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Mental anguish
• Punitive damages

At Carabin Shaw, we've fought for the rights of injured Texans like you since 1992. Our incredible team of personal injury attorneys knows exactly what it takes to maximize your compensation and win you justice after a crash in Austin. To read testimonials from real Carabin Shaw clients, head over to our law firm’s client reviews page.

Getting started with Carabin Shaw is easy thanks to our free case review policy. Contact us online or call us toll-free at 1-800-862-1260; our staff is available 24/7 to help you in English and Spanish. Better yet, we offer all of our services on a contingency-fee basis. That means you pay nothing unless we win your case! There is no risk, so don’t delay. Call Carabin Shaw today!

For more information:

• Texas Stautes 33
• Cornell Law School
• Civil Practice and Remedies Code