Car accidents happen every single day. After an accident, you may be left injured and experiencing financial difficulty. A car accident can have a negative impact on your physical and mental health, and these impacts may last for an extended period of time.
Fortunately, you may be entitled to receive compensation. Our car accident lawyers serving Cumings and the surrounding areas are ready to provide exceptional legal advocacy to help you receive the financial recovery you deserve.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Cumings, TX
After a collision you may feel shaken and unsure of what to do next. It is important to keep in mind that what you do following your accident can affect your claim.
Call 911
Once you’ve assessed any potential injuries, be sure to call 911 and request police and medical assistance. Police officers dispatch to the scene of the accident to collect information which is eventually compiled into a police report.
Seek Medical Care
If you sustain injuries in your accident, you should receive medical attention right away. However, whether or not you believe you’ve been injured, it is highly recommended that you seek medical care.
You may think you were not injured, but some injuries take time to surface. Medical attention from a healthcare professional will shed light on your injuries and their severity.
Once you are aware of the extent of your injuries, you can begin treatment. Keep in mind that your medical records will likely play an important role in your claim. Spinal injuries are the worst kind of injuries to go through in a car accident.
Gather Information and Evidence
As soon as possible after your accident, try to gather any information possible. This can include:
- Photos and videos at the scene of the accident
- The other driver’s contact and insurance information
- Witness contact information.
Report Your Accident to Your Insurance Company
Car insurance companies expect to be made aware of any pertinent information regarding your vehicle, car accidents included. Contact your insurance company as quickly as possible to inform them of your accident. Let them know the extent of damages and injuries and if it was another car or company truck that hit you.
Avoid Speaking to the Other Driver’s Insurance Company
After a car accident in Cumings, TX, you can likely expect the other driver’s insurer to contact you. They will want to ask questions and get your side of the story. You must not speak to them, as they will try to use what you say against you. Insurance companies are always looking for ways to limit their liability and avoid paying—do not give them any information without first talking to your attorney.
Consult with a Car Accident Attorney serving Cumings, TX
Consulting with a car accident attorney serving your area can help give you the peace of mind you need. Your lawyer will ask all the right questions, answer any questions you may have, and give you an idea of what your ideal next steps should be.
We Know the Cumings, TX, Area
Cumings, TX, is a small town located in Southeast Texas, 50 miles inland from the Gulf Coast. With its location near several major highways, Cumings is a great place to live and work. However, it can also be a dangerous place for those traveling along these busy roads.
Some of the major highways in and around Cumings include Highway 36, U.S. 59, Highway 90, State Highway 99 (the Grand Parkway), and Farm Road 723. These highways provide commuters with easy access to Houston and other large cities nearby. However, many large trucks also frequent these highways, making driving through this area treacherous at times. Serious accidents happen regularly, so it is vital to get with your Cumings car accident attorney if you find yourself involved in a vehicle collision.
What Will a Cumings, TX, Car Accident Lawyer Do For You?
A car accident lawyer is someone who specializes in helping people who have been involved in car accidents. They can help you with things like getting your insurance company to pay for your medical bills, repairing your car, and getting compensation for your pain and suffering. If you’ve been in a car accident, it’s important to contact a car accident lawyer as soon as possible so that they can help you protect your rights and get the compensation you deserve.
Everything starts with the police report. After you call the police, they will come to the scene of the accident and fill out a report. The report will have information about what happened, who was involved, and any witnesses. This is important because the report will be used as evidence in your case. The next thing you need to do is get medical help. Even if you think you’re not injured, it’s important to get checked out by a doctor. Some injuries, like whiplash, can take days or weeks to show up. If you wait too long to see a doctor, it will be harder to prove that your injuries were caused by the accident.
After you’ve seen a doctor, the next step is to contact a Cumings car accident lawyer. A car accident lawyer will review the facts of your case and help you decide what to do next. They can also help you negotiate with the insurance company, file a lawsuit, and get the compensation you deserve. If you’ve been in a car accident in Cumings or somewhere else in Fort Bend County, don’t try to handle everything yourself. Contact a Cumings car accident lawyer today so that they can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Everything must be documented and handed over to the Cumings car accident attorney so they can begin the process right away. Communication is a must between the attorney and the client. Stay in touch with your lawyer — they always bring valuable information for the case and they need your timely consent on almost everything.
Commonly Asked Questions After a Car Accident
Our Cummings Car Accident Lawyer Answers Common Questions
Generally, there are two main categories of damages for car accident cases: compensatory and punitive damages. Compensatory damages aim to compensate you for your losses. They can be economic or non-economic in nature.
Economic damages are those directly related to your accident. They can include:
- Medical expenses
- Property damage
- Lost wages.
Non-economic damages are also related to your accident, but may be a little more difficult to quantify. These include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional distress
- Loss of consortium.
Punitive damages are special damages assessed only in certain cases. These damages are used to punish and deter when a defendant’s extremely negligent behavior caused you harm.
Damages can be challenging to calculate, but your experienced car accident attorney will determine the fairest amount of compensation owed to you.
There is no “average” car accident settlement amount. Because every car accident claim is different, there are certain factors used to determine how much your case would be worth.
These factors can include:
- The severity of injuries sustained
- The total cost of medical expenses
- The amount of property damage
- The total amount of lost wages
- Whether your actions contributed to your accident.
These and other details are evaluated to determine the worth of your car accident claim.
Almost all injury cases settle out of court. Insurance adjusters try to settle most matters as quickly as possible. However, an early settlement is usually not in your best interests. The best evidence is often unavailable early in the process. Furthermore, if the final settlement doesn’t account for all likely future medical expenses, the victim could be financially responsible for these costs.
Many car accident claims settle during mediation, which is a court-supervised negotiation session. There, the insurance company has a legal duty to negotiate in good faith.
Texas operates under a modified comparative fault standard. This law dictates that a person who is more than 50% at fault for their accident cannot recover compensation. However, a person less than 50% at fault is still eligible to recover for their accident. A complete investigation will help determine who is truly responsible for the accident and to what degree.
There is a statute of limitations for car accident claims. A statute of limitations is a law imposing a strict time limit on a person’s ability to file a lawsuit. In Texas, the general statute of limitations for car accidents is two years from the date of the accident (TX C.P.R.C. §16.003). (Always speak directly to an attorney to understand the exact deadlines that apply to your specific claim(s).) If you fail to file your lawsuit within the time specified, you will likely lose your right to compensation.
Therefore, the sooner you begin working on your claim, the better.
Don’t Delay—Contact Our Car Accident Lawyer Serving Cumings Today
There are a multitude of reasons to consult with a car accident lawyer in the Cumings, TX area as quickly as you can. Aside from the peace of mind having an attorney will give you, it will also give you the best possible chance at receiving fair compensation.
Call Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law today at (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000 for your free case review.
Attorney Terry Bryant
Terry Bryant is Board Certified in personal injury trial law, which means his extensive knowledge of the law has been recognized by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, setting him apart from many other injury attorneys. The 22 years he spent as a Municipal Judge, Spring Valley Village, TX also provides him keen insight into the Texas court system. That experience also helps shape his perspective on personal injury cases and how they might resolve. This unique insight benefits his clients. [ Attorney Bio ]