What to Do in the First 24 Hours After a San Antonio Car Accident

What to Do in the First 24 Hours After a San Antonio Car Accident The minutes after a crash are loud and confusing. Horns, hazard lights, a stranger asking if you're okay. Maybe you were stopped in traffic near Huebner Road and I-10, or pulling out of a lot on Blanco Road, when someone hit you. Your hands are shaking and your neck feels tight. What you do over the next day can shape your health and your claim for months, so here's a simple way to think about those first 24 hours. The first hour is about safety and records. Check yourself and your passengers. Call 911, even if the damage looks minor, and ask the officer for the report number before you leave. In most of north San Antonio that officer will be from SAPD, though Bexar County Sheriff's deputies handle some areas. If you can move safely, take photos of both vehicles, the plates, the lane markings, any skid marks and the traffic lights. Get names and numbers from witnesses. People scatter fast on a busy corridor like I-10 near The Rim, and a witness you don't catch now is usually gone for good. The next few hours are about your body. Adrenaline hides pain. Go to urgent care or an ER that same day, whether that's University Hospital or Methodist Hospital in the South Texas Medical Center or a clinic closer to home. A same-day visit protects your health first. It also creates a record that ties your injuries to the crash, which matters when an insurer later says you waited too long to get checked. If you're sent home but feel worse that night, go back. Headaches, dizziness and neck pain that show up later still count, and they should be written down.

The Aguirre Law Firm, PLLC | 3015 Napier Pk, San Antonio, TX 78231 | (210) 922-0808

By the end of the first day, the other driver's insurance company may already be calling. Be polite, but don't give a recorded statement. Adjusters are trained to ask questions that sound friendly and get answers that shrink claims. Alex Aguirre spent the early part of his Law Firm career defending insurance companies, so he knows how those calls are designed. Before you say anything on the record, talk to a San Antonio car accident lawyer who can tell you what to share and what to hold back. Keep every receipt, jot down how you feel each day, and stay off social media about the crash. You don't have to figure this out alone, and you don't have to wait for business hours. The Aguirre Law Firm answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the consultation is free, and there's no fee unless they win. Call (210) 922-0808 any time, or stop by the Napier Park office just off Loop 1604 near Shavano Park. Hablamos Español.

The Aguirre Law Firm, PLLC Address: 3015 Napier Pk, San Antonio, TX 78231 Phone: (210) 922-0808 FAQ About San Antonio Car Accident Lawyer How much do lawyers take from a car accident settlement in Texas? Most Texas car accident lawyers work on contingency, so their fee is a percentage of what they recover and nothing if they lose. The Aguirre Law Firm, PLLC handles San Antonio car accident cases this way, with no upfront cost and no fee unless the firm wins. The exact percentage is set out in your written fee agreement before any work starts, so there are no surprises. How hard is it to win a car accident lawsuit? It depends on the evidence. Clear fault, a CR-3 crash report, photos, witnesses and consistent medical records make a claim much stronger. Founder Alex Aguirre spent the start of his career defending insurance companies, so the firm knows the arguments insurers use to deny or shrink claims and prepares for them early. Most cases settle, but the team is ready to go to trial when an offer is unfair. What is my San Antonio car accident claim worth? No honest lawyer can put a number on your claim without looking at the details. Value depends on your medical bills, future treatment, lost wages, the severity of your injuries and how clear the other driver's fault is. The Aguirre Law Firm, PLLC reviews all of this in a free consultation and explains what compensation may be realistic for your situation. What should I do after a car accident in San Antonio? Check everyone for injuries, call 911 and get the report number from SAPD or the Bexar County Sheriff's Office. Take photos of the vehicles and the scene, get witness details and see a doctor quickly, even if you feel fine. Then call The Aguirre Law Firm, PLLC at (210) 922-0808, which is open 24 hours a day. Can I recover compensation if I was partially at fault? Yes, in many cases. Texas uses modified comparative fault, so you can still recover as long as you are less than 51 percent responsible, although your award is reduced by your share of the blame. Insurers often push extra fault onto injured drivers after crashes at busy spots like Loop 1604 and I-10, and the firm works to challenge that with evidence. Should I talk to the other driver's insurance company? It's best not to give a recorded statement before you get legal advice. Adjusters can use casual comments like "I'm fine" to argue your injuries aren't serious. Alex Aguirre knows these tactics from his years on the defense side, and his team can handle insurer calls for you from the first day. How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Texas? Texas generally gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit, and two years from the date of death for a wrongful death claim. Some claims, such as those involving a government vehicle, can have earlier notice requirements. Calling The Aguirre Law Firm, PLLC early gives the team time to gather evidence before it disappears. What compensation can I get after a San Antonio car wreck? You may be able to recover current and future medical costs, lost wages and earning capacity, property damage, pain and suffering, mental anguish and physical impairment. In cases of gross negligence, such as some drunk driving crashes, Texas law may also allow exemplary damages. The firm reviews every category so nothing gets left out of your claim. What if the driver who hit me has no insurance? Your own policy may still protect you. Texas insurers must offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection, and PIP is included unless you rejected it in writing. The Aguirre Law Firm, PLLC reviews your policy for free and pursues every available source of recovery, including in hit and run cases. Do I need a lawyer for a minor car accident? If nobody was hurt and the damage is small, you may not need one. If you have pain, missed work or the insurer is disputing fault, a free consultation is worth the call. The Aguirre Law Firm, PLLC will tell you plainly whether your San Antonio crash needs legal help. How long does a car accident settlement take in Texas? Simple claims can settle in a few months, while serious injury cases often take longer because you need to finish treatment before the full cost is known. Clients of the firm often mention regular update calls from paralegal Jackie and case manager Nicole, so you're never left guessing where your case stands. Does the firm help Spanish-speaking clients? Yes. Hablamos Espanol, and the firm offers language assistance so Spanish-speaking clients can discuss their case comfortably. Founder Alex Aguirre is a San Antonio native and a former president of the Mexican American Bar Association. Call (210) 922-0808 for a free consultation in English or Spanish.