What to Do After a Car Accident in The Woodlands, TX
April 15, 2020
7 Steps to Take After a Crash
After a car wreck in The Woodlands, TX, do the following to protect your rights and a future claim:
- Call the police.
- Get the medical care you need.
- Gather info and evidence at the scene.
- Never apologize or admit fault.
- Report the crash to your auto insurer.
- Get a copy of the police report & keep everything.
- Contact a lawyer.
After a Car Accident in The Woodlands, TX, Do These 7 Things
The Woodlands, TX, a popular Houston suburb, is home to one of Texas’ most congested highways I-45—according to a report from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute.
While car accidents in The Woodlands are more likely to occur on these roads (when compared to less-traveled roads), they can happen anywhere, at any time. In 2018 alone, 17 car accidents occurred on roads in The Woodlands, resulting in more than 30 injuries, according to data from the Texas Department of Transportation.
Whenever crashes happen, here’s what you can do in the aftermath to protect your rights and a car accident claim you may need to file in the future.
Step 1: Call the police.
Call 911 after a serious wreck. If the crash is less serious, use a non-emergency police number:
- (281) 367-3435 for The Woodlands Police Department
- (281) 297-6500 for The Woodlands Sheriff Department
Here’s a complete list of non-emergency police phone numbers for local sheriff’s offices and police stations in and around The Woodlands.
When you call the police, they can provide essential help at the scene. They’ll also investigate the crash and write up an official police report, which can be important to determining fault for a crash.
Step 2: Get the medical care you need.
Get emergency care ASAP if you’ve been seriously hurt in a crash. Even if you don’t feel severely injured, still see a doctor after the accident. This is critical to:
- Getting treatment so you can heal
- Documenting the extent and severity of your injuries
- Documenting the cost of your treatment and your future treatment needs
Step 3: Gather information and evidence from the scene.
If you aren’t too badly injured in the accident, do the following while you wait at the scene for police to arrive and investigate the crash:
- Exchange information with the other involved parties
- Collect the name(s) and contact information from any available witnesses
- Take pictures and videos of the wreckage and the accident scene
- Document the details of the accident that you remember
Step 4: Never apologize or admit fault.
When you talk to others involved in the accident, as well as the police, never say “sorry” or admit fault. Even admissions made mistakenly can be used to blame you for the wreck.
Plus, even if you think you did cause the crash, in the immediate aftermath, you may not have all of the evidence available, like cellphone records and breathalyzer results. This additional evidence may end up showing that another driver shared fault or was more at-fault for the crash. So, don’t accept any blame or fault, especially when you don’t know the full story.
Step 5: Report the crash to your auto insurer.
Contact your auto insurance provider ASAP—ideally, no later than 48 to 72 hours after the accident. Your policy may require you to report accidents within a certain time frame. Complying with those terms can help a future claim.
Step 6: Get a copy of the police report & keep everything.
Request a copy of a police report for a Texas crash here. Once you receive this, carefully review it for accuracy and keep the report. It’s also important to keep anything else you have from the crash, like (but not limited to):
- Accident scene photos
- Witness information
- Medical bills for the treatment of your crash injuries
- Documents from insurance companies
Step 7: Contact a lawyer.
This is the best way to get important information about your rights, a potential claim, and how to move forward. It’s also a good first step towards setting a future car accident claim up to avoid being taken advantage of by the other driver’s insurance company.
The Amaro Law Firm Can Help You After a Car Accident in The Woodlands, TX
The Woodlands car accident lawyers at the Amaro Law Firm are the advocates you can trust when it’s time to recover from a crash. We can explain your rights and provide you with exceptional advocacy moving forward.
Call (713) 352-7975 or Contact Us for Your FREE Consultation
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At the Amaro Law Firm, we know that a single-car crash can change someone’s life forever. We also know that financial recoveries from car accident claims can help victims pick up the pieces and rebuild their lives. That’s why we’re are dedicated champions for car crash victims—and why we work diligently and tirelessly to help them seek the justice and financial recovery they deserve.