Five Steps To Take After a Car Accident in Dallas

If you have been involved in a car accident near Dallas, you are likely wondering about what steps to take next. You have injuries to worry about, a vehicle to repair, finances to cover, and, potentially, legal action to take. Finding solutions to all of these unforeseen problems can be overwhelming.

Carabin Shaw’s team of Dallas car accident lawyers has extensive experience guiding clients like you through this very process. For a free, no-obligation consultation and initial case review by phone, call us today at 1-800-862-1260. Our legal team can help you through the most difficult of these five steps to take after a car accident in Dallas.

Always call for medical attention as soon as possible after a serious auto accident in Dallas. Car accidents can result in many types of injuries, including burns, lacerations, and fractures. Even if you think you are unhurt or that the other party suffered worse injuries, you should get checked for spinal injuries that may not be immediately evident such as whiplash or concussion.

A bystander may have already called an ambulance for you, but, if not, call 911 yourself. While waiting for an ambulance, if you are able to, proceed to the next step.

Take pictures of the accident scene, including both license plates, close-ups on damage paint transfer to both vehicles, skid marks / shattered glass on the road, and wide-angle photos that show the arrangement of the scene. If you have visible injuries, you may want to document them as well. This evidence will give you and your attorney a record of how the accident occurred and the extent of the damage that it resulted in.

For police to investigate and file their own report after an auto accident in Dallas, the accident will have to appear to be particularly grievous. In all other cases, it will be up to the drivers involved to file a report.

The police will ask you to fill out two forms, a City of Dallas Individual Accident Report and a State of Texas Blue Form. These forms will document the specifics of the crash, including who was involved and what injuries occurred. Documenting your evidence at the scene of the accident will help you accurately complete these forms.

Filing a police report will help your personal injury claim because it shows that you took the accident seriously, and will give you further evidence. Acting as your legal representative, an experienced Dallas car accident lawyer can also fill out these forms in your place.

If you plan to pursue legal action after a crash, you will want a lawyer on your side. Experienced Dallas personal injury attorneys can help you through every step of the process of pursuing a claim. Without legal representation, you could risk accidentally hurting your case when talking to your opponent’s insurer, or having your claim not taken seriously and dismissed.

You can find a lawyer who suits your needs by scheduling free consultations and case reviews, which are offered by many law firms such as Carabin Shaw.

Now you should be ready to pursue legal action. Your attorney will help you draft a claim detailing the extent of your injuries, the reasons and evidence for why your opponent should be held responsible for them due to negligence, and a request for a monetary settlement.

Your goal is to convince your opponent to settle in order to avoid further legal action, i.e. a lawsuit. Your attorney will negotiate with your opposition’s legal representation for you and advise you whether or not an offered settlement is sufficient.