23 September 2019 - Posted by Monsour Law Firm
Right after a car wreck or other vehicle accident, expect to feel shock. Even if it was just a fender-bender, it came out of nowhere and it wasn’t supposed to happen. Most people feel confusion as the brain tries to make sense of unexpected destruction.
People describe a range of emotions that swing from fear to panic to emotional numbness. Your temper might flare up at the other driver, even if they weren’t at fault. Or, you might feel guilt and anxiety, even if you did nothing wrong.
All those emotions cloud your judgment. Focus on completing these tasks right away:
Once you and your passengers are safe, you can evaluate what happened to your vehicle during the car wreck. Be careful what you say when you talk to the other driver.
All those intense emotions make it hard to be objective about what happened. Refuse to talk about who was at fault, even if it seems clear cut. If you think it was partly your fault, keep it to yourself until the dust has had time to settle. If it was a car wreck caused by improper maintenance, it’s still best to avoid discussing liability. Here are some basic do’s and don’ts
Don’t talk to anyone other than the police about what happened. Don’t admit fault to anyone. Make a note of who you talked to and put the vehicle accident report number away in a safe place.
Do not allow your driver’s license to be photographed. Also, don’t give your address or phone number to the other driver or anyone who was with them.
Contact your insurance company as soon as possible. Write down who you spoke to and what you talked about. Keep track of receipts for anything you pay out of pocket for a rental car, transportation etc.
Don’t agree to any settlements until you’ve talked to an attorney. Contact a Longview, Tyler or Shreveport personal injury attorney who deals with car accidents, even if no one was seriously injured or you might be partly at fault. Monsour Law Firm will help you understand your rights and look out for your best interests.
It costs you nothing to talk to an expert about your car wreck, and the peace of mind you’ll receive could be priceless. Protect your rights by scheduling a free consultation online or calling (903)999-9999.
Douglas C. Monsour, or Doug Monsour, is a trial lawyer who handles important and significant injury cases in Texas and across the nation. He is one of a handful of trial lawyers who have successfully tried multiple pharmaceutical, medical device, and mass tort product liability cases as the lead lawyer. He also vigorously represents injured oil field workers, victims of 18-wheeler wrecks, industrial accident victims, and those that have been severely burned.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Doug Monsour who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
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