Longview Car Accident Lawyer

Car accidents can change your life forever — they can leave you with broken bones, permanent injuries, paralysis, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and many other serious conditions.

If you or someone you care about has been the victim of an automobile accident, get in touch with the lawyers at Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers. Our Longview Car Accident Lawyers have helped victims get the justice and compensation they deserve over the past two decades.

We are available 24/7 to answer any questions you may have. Call us today to find out how we can help you recover compensation for your losses.

Continue reading to learn:

• How most car accidents occur and what kind of car accidents exist
• How long car accident cases take
• How an experienced Longview car accident lawyer can help you recover your losses

How Most Car Accidents Occur

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), negligence and oversights are the underlying causes of most automobile crashes. Specifically, driver errors caused a whopping 94% of all accidents.

The same report also reveals that driver negligence is the leading cause of auto accidents in Texas and the U.S. This means that many drivers are not as sober, careful, responsible, or alert as they should be.

Here are the most common types of driving errors that cause car crashes according to the NHTSA:

Besides human error, car crashes can also be caused by the following:

• Road and weather conditions
• Dangerous road design
• Failure to create detours and road construction zones

What to Do After Getting Into an Accident

What you do after a car accident can affect how your case turns out. If you don't do the following after an accident, you may not be able to prove your case in court and recover compensation for your losses.

1. Stay at the scene

Texas law requires you to stay at the scene of an accident you were involved in. Fleeing the accident scene can lead to misdemeanor or felony charges.

Specifically, you're required to stop, help those who have been affected by the accident, and exchange contact information with the other driver. If there's no other driver — for instance, you hit an object while on the highway — you still need to stop and leave your contact information.

2. Call 911

If the accident you were involved in has caused injury or death or damaged a vehicle to the extent that it can't be normally and safely driven, you need to call 911 immediately. This is required by Texas law.

Calling 911 will also give you a police report that can determine who was at fault. For instance, if your police report shows that the other driver was driving under the influence, such may be all that you need to prove your case. You can also use the police report when filing claims with insurance companies.

3. Gather Proper Documentation

You also need to gather evidence and document the accident to build your case. Don't just rely on the police report — the police may miss several details that could help your case.

Here's a list of details you should gather:

• The other driver's name and contact information
• The color, make, and model of all vehicles involved
• Plate numbers of all vehicles involved
• Eyewitness' names and contact information
• Car insurance information of all drivers involved
• Pictures and videos of the accident scene, including the road condition
• Pictures and videos of any physical injuries you sustained
• A written narrative of the car crash as you understand it

You should also write down the badge number and name of the police officer in charge and request a copy of the police report.

4. Understand Your Injuries

Next, you need to understand your injuries, even if you think you haven't been injured. Car crashes often cause soft tissue damage or internal injuries, which may take weeks or months to show up. This means that minor back pain may actually be something more serious, such as a spinal cord injury.

Go to the hospital and tell the staff what happened. Make sure you get a medical report that details every treatment, test, and diagnosis you received — insurance companies may use any delay or omission to prove that you didn't have any injuries or that your injury was minor.

5. Avoid Insurance Adjusters

If insurance adjusters call you, avoid telling them about the accident. Just give them your contact information or your lawyer's contact information. Remember, their job is to find out more about the accident so they can reduce or deny your compensation.

6. Talk to a Lawyer

Last but not least, you need to talk to a Longview car accident lawyer. An experienced car accident attorney will help you get maximum compensation for your losses. Research by Nolo has shown that people who hire a personal injury lawyer receive around three times the compensation of people who don't.

How Long Do Car Accident Cases Take?

The complexity and circumstances of your crash will impact how long your case takes.

Generally speaking, most cases — even simple ones — take at least a few weeks or months. However, cases that involve complicated disagreements about damages and liability can potentially take years, particularly if they need to be litigated before a jury.

To learn more about how long your case will take, talk to an experienced Longview car accident lawyer from Morris & Dewett. They can tell you how long your case will approximately take after learning more about the accident.

Partner With An Experienced Longview, Texas Car Accident Lawyer

Car crashes can cause catastrophic, life-altering injuries such as paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and even death.

If you or a family member have suffered injuries or death as a result of a car crash, contact our Longview car crash attorneys. We at Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers have over 20 years of experience fighting for victims of car crashes. Known throughout Texas and Louisiana for our winning record, our car accident lawyers know what it takes to win the toughest car accident cases.

We work relentlessly for the maximum possible compensation inside and outside the courtroom, no matter how challenging or complex your case may be. Interested in partnering with Morris & Dewett? Call 888-492-5532 or email us for a free confidential consultation. You don't have to pay if you don't win.