World

Experts Share 6 Critical First Steps to Take After an Accident

Published

5 years ago

March 10, 2020

Accidents can occur at any time, any place and to anyone, even the most careful drivers. In the US alone, over 90 people lose their lives each day from road accidents. This results in over 6 million accidents that occur in the country in the span of a year.

With 3 million people getting injured each year, 2 million of whom get permanent injuries, its a clear indication that the possibility of someone being in an incident is relatively high. And, although numerous measures have been put in place to reduce these accidents, they still happen.

Different states have varying laws and procedures on how to deal with an accident. And, although there are still some common ones, some will vary based on the state. Among the most essential laws when it comes to car accident claims include:

Statute of limitations when filing an injury lawsuit.
The fault versus no-fault laws
Limits on the possible compensation amount.

All these can be quite different from state to state. And, based on where you live, you need to fully understand the accident laws that govern that place. If you live in a state like Texas, which is among the top 10 states with the highest number of crashes per year, it will be essential to know the following facts:

Accident Laws in TexasBeing a fault auto insurance state, it means that in Texas, you can file a lawsuit or an insurance claim against the driver at-fault. Any driver in Texas can, therefore, be held accountable for injuries or damages they cause during a motor accident.

After an accident, the Texas law requires every driver involved in the accident to file a crash report, form CR-2. This ought to be done within the first ten days after the accident. The car crash reports are quite relevant when you need to file any lawsuit against the other driver, or want to claim compensation.

It’s critical to note that if you want to file an insurance claim, a crash report is a must-have document. This is because it shows exactly what happened, and helps the insurance company or the court to determine who was at fault. Luckily, although each police department has its own registry of crash reports, they still use the same CRIS system. And all these reports are uploaded online.

This means that if the accident occurred in El Paso, you are able to access all of the El Paso police reports online and easily file your claim. All you need is the right information such as the date of the crash, location, and the vehicles involved, and you are ready to get your crash report.

Dealing with a Car CrashSo, how do you deal with an accident if you are caught in one? And, how do you overcome the frightening ordeal?

Well, here are the most critical first actions that you must undertake after an accident.

Pull Over, Turn on Blinkers, and Call 911

The first thing to do if you can is to pull over and turn on your blinkers to alert other drivers of the accident. You should then check the wellbeing of your passengers and, whether any of you have visible injuries or not, make sure to call 911.

If the accident is more serious and there are injuries and other damages, make sure to call the police. In fact, in some states, it’s a requirement that you call the police after an accident. The police officer who comes to the scene will document the accident and complete an accident report. If no police officer shows up, visit the nearest police station and fill out the report yourself

Exchanging Information

This is the second step, and which is also quite important. Ensure that you get the names, contacts addresses, insurance info, license plate numbers, driver’s license number, and any other relevant information of the other driver(s). In case there are other passengers, also collect their contacts and names.

When talking to the other drivers whether you think they are at fault or not, always try to be friendly. However, make sure that you don’t apologize or accept blame for anything. Let the insurance and the police decide which party is liable for the accident.

Talk to Witnesses

If you can move around, make sure that you talk to witnesses and pen down whatever they saw. Also, remember to obtain their names, contacts, and addresses.

You can even inquire from the locals if there have ever been any accidents in the same area.

Take photos

An easy way to document the scene is by taking pictures of that scene. They will help keep a record of what really happened there. A video recording will also be helpful.

Make sure to take pictures from every angle of the scene and to capture every detail. Right from the vehicles, any road signs, skid marks, road constructions, bends, and any other detail. Taking snaps of everything, including those that might seem irrelevant is quite essential.

The pictures will be useful in court in the event that you file a lawsuit, or help the insurance company to determine your compensation for the damages.

Get Medical Help and Keep Track of any Treatment

Whether you are feeling hurt or not, ensure that you visit the hospital for a checkup. You might not note any injuries immediately, but you could be injured internally so, see a doctor.

Also, keep a record of any treatment you receive as a result of the accident. Note down all the names of every doctor or physician that treats you during that period.

If you have missed any workdays, also record them, as well as any normal activities that you’re unable to undertake due to injuries from the accident. All these are essential in determining the extent of damages and compensation.

Get in Touch With Your Insurance Company

Never forget to contact your insurance company. You can either call your agent or contact the company immediately. Calling them from the scene of the accident can be more useful.

Since the accident might have left you in shock, worried or upset, the police officer on site can give a more accurate account of the events to your insurance company than you. So, let them explain the situation.

Key TakeawayAccidents are never easy to handle or pleasant to be in. But how you handle the whole situation can make things easy or difficult later. Follow these tips and make it much easier.

World

Empowering Minority Women to Pursue Leadership in Business and Law

Published

2 weeks ago

June 3, 2025

Jenny Jackson

There is a familiar saying that a “rising tide lifts all boats,” and there are professionals among us who truly take that concept to heart. Attorney Leah Wise is one of them. From an early age, Wise knew that whatever she wanted to do in life as a career, helping people had to be a primary motivation.

On her way up as founder of the first Latina-owned law firm in South Texas dedicated 100% to personal injury law, Wise acknowledges that she stood on the shoulders of some great mentors. Now, she is paying it forward through a series of initiatives and programs dedicated to helping minority women pursue their dreams.

A love for law and justice

While working for a state senator prior to law school, Wise developed a deep love for making a difference in people’s lives. “I learned that one person can truly have an impact on the world,” she recalls. This lesson led her to pursue law as a career, and she soon found herself in the position of a trailblazer as a woman and a Latina.

Unlike most young upstart lawyers who battle it out for positions at established firms after law school, Wise knew she wanted to set out on her own immediately. She started her own personal injury firm right out of law school and got to work making a name for herself in the Texas law community, an act of rebellion that flew in the face of norms within the law field and stood as a testament to the Wise’s resilience. It’s an approach Wise hopes to help other minority women embrace — go after what you want, no matter what stands in your way.

Giving back

Wise has not stopped wanting to help others since the days of working in the senator’s office. She has made a point to make philanthropy a significant part of her brand, focusing on building the confidence and careers of minority women, especially Latinas.

Wise created a non-profit organization called the Wise Women Foundation to address all of the ways she wanted to empower and inspire women seeking careers, especially those looking to make their mark in male-centered fields like Wise. The Wise Women Foundation helps empower minority women through education, mentorships, and resources that can often be scarce in minority communities.

“The foundation is about offering women options,” says Wise. Through the various resources provided by the Wise Women Foundation, women can better reach their full potential and overcome obstacles that are often placed in the way of minority women.

Part of Wise’s main focus through the Wise Women Foundation is helping women start their own businesses — as she did — especially within the legal industry. A serial entrepreneur herself, Wise knows the value of steering one’s own ship.

Wise has other beneficial initiatives as well, including the Leah Wise Latina Student Hardship Fund at her alma mater, St. Mary’s University School of Law, which offers $50,000 to the law school to aid Latina law students. She also hosts a CrashGal Mentorship Group for aspiring Latina lawyers and has raised funds for Teach for America, the Family Crisis Center of the Rio Grande Valley, and toward distributing tampons and pads in low-income schools in the Rio Grande Valley.

Using social connection to inspire others

Since starting her law firm, Wise has known the value of social media. As one of Texas’s first personal injury lawyers to truly take advantage of social media marketing, she knows how powerful social connections can be. As the co-founder of the social media segment “Latina Feature Friday” and the host of “Coffee With CrashGal,” Wise highlights minority-owned businesses and gives advice in a relatable and authentic way.

“The business world is so competitive,” Wise shares. “Everything I do is in an attempt to lift people up and encourage them.”

Changing the business landscape

Through every philanthropic project Wise takes on, Wise is helping change the business landscape for minority women. She has shown the value of being a multifaceted entrepreneur not only through her philanthropic works and her law firm but also through her other ventures, such as CrashGal Couture and her real estate business.

Recently, Wise purchased a building to house her empire — and made a statement about the strength and resilience of women in the process. The building was a former strip club, and Wise is dedicated to turning it into a safe space for building dreams, serving clients who are going through difficult moments, and empowering minority women in business.

Wise knows that with a helping hand, minority women can do extraordinary things — in business and in life. Whether it’s helping her clients get justice during a personal injury case or helping disadvantaged college students access money toward a law degree, Wise is making an indelible mark on her community.