Getting into a car wreck is never something that someone wants to experience, but it is something which unfortunately happens all too often. According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), there were more than a quarter of a million-people injured in car accidents during 2016, which amounts to one reportable injury every two minutes across the state.
Following a car accident, you may be dealing with injuries, sometimes even severe, and high emotions, which can make it challenging to know what to do after you’ve been involved in an auto accident. When you find yourself involved in a wreck with an out of state driver, you may become even more stressed as you contemplate how this may complicate the outcome of an already stressful situation.
With the volume of accidents that occur across the state and the number of out-of-state visitors that pass-through Texas, accidents are bound to happen between local residents and out-of-state visitors. So, what should you do if you get into an accident with an out-of-state driver?
First and foremost, if you’ve been involved in a car wreck, you should check on the well-being of all drivers and passengers involved in the crash and seek out immediate medical attention if required. The next step is to call the police to report the accident, who will then be able to file a report about the nature of the wreck, which may help serve as an important and impartial third-party report about who is at-fault.
Your next step is to document the scene of the accident, which entails taking photos and videos with your cellphone of the damage to all vehicles as well as the surrounding area. Don’t forget to document things like broken glass on the street or tire skid marks which can help paint a more complete picture.
You should also be sure to obtain the name and contact information of any witnesses, as well as the information of the other driver. If the driver is an out-of-state driver, it is important to note that when you are driving in Texas, you consent to drive under the laws of Texas, which means that Texas has jurisdiction if the accident happens within the state. This means that Texas rules and insurance requirements apply in this case, regardless of which state the driver is from.
In many instances, the insurance company may put up resistance to meeting the requirements prescribed by Texas law, which can often be frustrating for an individual like yourself trying to receive compensation from the insurance company of an out-of-state driver. In these instances, insurance companies must recognize the minimum coverage of at least $30,000 as per Texas law, and must also recognize the fact that Texas is an at-fault state and not a no-fault state where you would turn to your own insurance for compensation.
There is often nothing more frustrating than fighting with insurance companies putting up road blocks when you are simply trying to get compensation for the damages caused by a negligent driver, especially while you are juggling auto repairs, medical bills, missed work, and the many other hassles following a car wreck.
It’s for this reason that many drivers turn to an experienced auto accident lawyer to help them ensure that an out-of-state driver and their insurance company ends up paying what they are responsible for. The experienced team at Fears Nachawati has successfully resolved thousands of car accident claims for people across the state of Texas, including many cases which involved out-of-state drivers.
For your free, no obligation legal consultation, please call the auto accident lawyers of Fears Nachawati at (866) 705-7584 or visit one of the offices located throughout the great state of Texas, including in Houston, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, and San Antonio.