Auto Injury Attorney
in Houston, Baytown and Galveston, Texas
The auto injury attorneys at Marc Whitehead & Associates have helped hundreds of Houston area clients recover compensation for injuries after an auto accident.
Severe injuries can have lifelong repercussions, especially head, neck, and
spinal injuries. If your loved one suffered overwhelming injury or loss of life in an accident, we can help you build a strong case that gets results.
What to do if you're in an auto accident
- Check for injuries, your passengers' and your own. Call 911 if there are any injuries, even apparently slight ones. You can't always tell at this early stage what's serious and what's minor, so play it safe.
The 911 operator will call the police for you. - If you can, move your vehicle from the line of traffic.
- Exchange basic information with the other driver(s):
- Name, phone and address
- Drivers license and license plate number
- Insurance company information
- Talk to the police, answering their questions, and ask them for a copy of their accident report. But don't apologize or claim any responsibility, even if you're feeling guilty. You might feel guilty but not actually be legally liable. You probably feel a bit stunned at this point, if not actually in shock, so don't make any admissions because they could be used against you later, whether they're true or not.
- If you have a camera and aren't too injured, take photos of the accident scene from many angles, close-up for detail, and distant to include the entire scene. These will be invaluable if you hire an auto injury attorney and need to build a case.
- If you can, talk to any witnesses to get an idea of what they saw and whether they'd be willing to testify should a lawsuit be filed.
- Make notes of all that you learn and notice. Memories fade so quickly and these notes will help your attorney build a case. Write down:
- The date and time
- Weather conditions
- How the accident happened including the point of impact
- Traffic conditions
- Tire mark dimensions
- Directions of vehicles involved
- Approximate speeds of vehicles involved
- Any statements made by other drivers or witnesses about the accident
- Report the accident within 10 days to the Department of Public Safety, if there was any injury, death, or damages greater than $500. You can get the form for this from the local police, sheriff's office, highway patrol, or Department of Public Safety.
- Tell your insurance company immediately, because failure to do that could void your policy.
If you're too injured to do this, perhaps your passenger (if you have one) could do it, or a witness. Don't talk to the other driver(s) involved, beyond exchanging this information.
Do not...
- Sign anything from an insurance company. Sometimes an insurance adjuster will appear at the accident site, called by another driver involved. That adjuster might ask you to sign a waiver of some kind, or even acceptance of a check.
- Try to give emergency care to any other injured people, unless you're qualified to do so. Don't move anybody, no matter how uncomfortable they look, because you could worsen their injuries.
If the other driver was clearly negligent, and you can present a case to show that, you could be entitled to much higher compensation that any insurance adjuster will offer you. Their job is to save money for their company. They may talk nicely to you, but they don't represent your interests. That's why a good auto injury attorney might be necessary, to protect you from being under-paid, and to make your justified claim for more restitution.
Items to keep in the car
- Disposable camera - to take photos of any accident you might be in
- First aid kit - for minor injuries
- Blanket and pillow - for comfort while you wait for an ambulance or police, or if there's delay during the accident aftermath
- Flares - to warn oncoming traffic
- Flashlight - preferably one with no batteries to run flat
- Pen and paper - to make notes in case of any accident
- Measuring tape to measure skid marks, distances between vehicles etc.
- An emergency accident form, available free at the Texas State Bar.
You could be entitled to:
- Reimbursement of medical bills and funeral costs
- Cost of any therapy
- Cost of long-term injury care
- Property damage
- Loss of income
- Pain and suffering
If you've been involved in an auto injury accident in Houston or anywhere in the Texas gulf coast, contact the auto injury attorneys at Marc Whitehead & Associates for a
free legal consultation. We understand the pain, stress and financial devastation that can follow an unexpected auto accident.
If you're too injured to come to us, we'll come to you!
Providing Comprehensive Legal Representation to Clients in
Houston and Throughout the Texas Gulf Coast
Marc Whitehead & Associates – Attorneys at Law, L.L.P.
5300 Memorial, Suite 725 | Houston, Texas 77007
Houston: (713) 228-8888
Fax: (713) 225-0940
Toll Free: (800) 562-9830
