Documents Needed After a Texas Car Crash

It is important to gather certain information and documents after getting into a car accident in Texas. You will need evidence to support your case when filing an injury claim with an insurance company or the courts. Do your best to obtain these documents in the aftermath of a car crash or hire a car accident attorney in Houston to do so for you.

Information About the Other Driver

First, collect identifying information from the other driver. Write down the driver’s name, address, telephone number, license plate number, vehicle registration number and a description of the vehicle. Get the other driver’s insurance information, as well, and take a photograph of his or her driver’s license. Exchanging information with the other driver is a legal requirement after a car accident in Texas.

The Police Report

Call the police from the scene of your car accident and give the responding officer your version of events. Do not admit fault for the crash, however. Ask for your police report number before you leave for the hospital. Then, in a few days, call the police department in the county where your crash took place. Provide your name and police report number to request to have a copy of the police report mailed to you. This report will contain important information about the accident, such as its basic facts and the officer’s opinion about who caused the crash.

Medical Records

Always visit a hospital after a car accident in Texas. Once you have received an injury diagnosis and a treatment plan, request copies of all relevant medical records from the hospital. There may be a small fee you must pay for this service. Provide your own medical records to the insurance company rather than granting the company full access to your medical history. This can prevent the insurer from claiming that your injury came from a pre-existing condition.

Insurance Policy

Print out a copy of your own auto insurance policy for reference. Read through your policy carefully, including the fine print, to understand if and when your insurer will cover car accident costs. You can also request a copy of the other driver’s car insurance policy for reference by contacting his or her insurer and providing the policy number.

Photographs

Photographs and videos taken while still at the scene of your car accident in Texas can provide strong evidence. Photographs can document the scene before anyone has the chance to clean it up or change things. If you can, use your cell phone or a camera to take pictures of any damage to the vehicles, your injuries, the scene as a whole and important details, such as an obscured stop sign. Turn the date feature on for accurate documentation.

Signed Eyewitness Statements

If anyone witnessed the car accident, get their names and phone numbers for future use. If you can, ask witnesses for statements when you are still at the scene of the accident, while the details are still clear in their minds. Get them to sign written statements or record statements on your cell phone. The police can also help you document eyewitness information. In addition, a lawyer can help you contact eyewitnesses for statements later.

Proof of Your Losses

Finally, you will need proof of your losses. The insurance company receiving your claim will request documentation that supports the injuries and losses you are claiming. Documentation may come in the form of medical records, pay stubs, a letter from your doctor, a letter from your employer, a vehicle repair quote from a mechanic, and other bills and receipts.

How a Car Accident Lawyer Can Help

Once you have obtained copies of the necessary documents, put them in an organized case file and bring it to a car accident lawyer in Houston for review. A lawyer can help with every aspect of a car crash case, including obtaining copies of important documents and records. A lawyer also has the resources to gather other types of evidence, such as the other driver’s cell phone records, crash reconstruction diagrams and expert testimony for the strongest possible claim to financial damages.