Filing a car accident claim is the only way to obtain reimbursement for expenses such as medical costs and vehicle repairs. Every driver in Texas must carry automobile insurance. Bringing a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company should result in fair and full payment for your losses. For your claim to succeed, however, you will need to gather and present certain information to the insurance company. The best way to fully account for all damages and recieve prroper compensaiton is to work with a car accident lawyer.
Photographs
Photographic evidence can be vital for proving the other driver’s fault for your car accident. Photographs of the other driver’s vehicle damage, for example, could show crash reconstructionists that the only way the damage could have occurred is if the other driver ran a red light. Photographs can also serve as proof of your vehicle damage and injuries.
If your injury permits, use your cellphone to take photographs while still at the scene of your crash. You can also ask a trusted friend or eyewitness to take photos for you. Take close-up shots of vehicle damage and other key elements, as well as a few wide-angle shots of the entire crash scene for reference.
Police Report Number
If you called the police to the scene of your car accident, ask the responding officer for the number that will be on your police report for future reference. The police officer will have to submit the report to the police department and the Department of Motor Vehicles within 10 days of the accident.
In the days following the car accident, once you are well enough, you can contact the police department in the county where the accident occurred and request a copy of the police report using the number obtained. The police report can contain important facts about your case, such as whether the police ticketed the other driver for an infraction.
Medical Records
Medical records will be imperative if you wish to file a claim for an injury after a car accident in Texas. The insurance company will request evidence of your injury diagnosis, as well as medical bills to establish how much your required medical care will cost. Ask your doctor for copies of all relevant medical records, including x-rays and test results. Your medical records should indicate that you suffered the injury as a direct result of being in the car accident, that you sought immediate medical care and that you followed your doctor’s treatment plan exactly.
Pay Stubs for Time Missed
Car accident victims frequently have to miss work for a few days while they receive injury treatment. You may have to miss work for a longer period if your injury temporarily disables you and gets in the way of you doing your job. You could recoup the wages you lost due to a car accident if you submit copies of your most recent pay stubs prior to the crash, along with a letter from your employer and/or doctor confirming that you cannot currently work, to the insurance company to seek reimbursement.
Insurance Policy Information
Finally, it will help to have a copy of the insurance policy you plan on using for benefits. If you are filing a first-party claim with your own insurance company for a crash involving a hit-and-run or an uninsured driver, access a copy of your policy online or by speaking to an insurance agent. If you are filing a third-party claim against another driver, call that driver’s provider using the information he or she gave you at the scene of the car accident. Having the insurance policy information can help you understand your rights and the benefits available.
For help gathering all the information you need for a successful car accident claim in Texas, contact a car accident attorney near you.
