After a car accident, especially one that leaves you seriously injured, it can feel like a whirlwind. You may have questions you wanted to ask, information you wanted to gather or provide, and just want to know what happened in general. Though you may not have immediately been able to obtain this information due to going to the hospital, obtaining it as soon as possible may be in your best interests.

Typically, after a serious crash, police officers come to the scene. Their presence can be immensely useful for various reasons, among which is gathering information for a police report. A police report can contain facts about the accident that may prove useful to you if you choose to pursue a personal injury claim against the driver considered at fault for the incident, even if the report itself cannot be evidence.

What goes into a police report?

Most people, on at least one occasion, have gotten behind the wheel while in a hurry. When a person is running late, rushing to get somewhere or simply being inattentive, it can result in that person driving at dangerously high speeds. If you have ever done this yourself, you may be wondering what could be so bad about driving a little fast.

Speeding is a common type of reckless driving. Speed limits are there for a reason, and driving over these limits is not only against the law, it can increase the chance of an accident. Many people underestimate the significant danger associated with speeding. However, if you are a victim of an accident caused by a speeding Texas driver, you know firsthand how dangerous this type of behavior can be.

A greater danger than you may think

Workplace injuries are a sad fact of life. Even in industries or positions that carry no inherent danger, you never know when an accident will occur or if conditions will place you at risk of a work-related illness. In most states in the U.S., business owners carry workers' compensation insurance to cover medical bills and other expenses related to workplace accidents.

Texas is a rare exception in that it is the only state that does not require its employers to offer workers' compensation coverage. When you accepted the position at your job, your employer should have informed you whether he or she carries workers' compensation insurance. If your employer is a non-subscriber, you may wonder about your options when you get hurt on the job.

What should I do if I get hurt?

Most newer vehicles have the ability to connect to people's phones so that they can use them hands-free while driving without having to take eyes off the road and hand's off the wheel. It is supposed to help reduce distracted driving accidents specifically related to cellphone use. The truth is, hands-free devices are not a distracted driving cure-all. In fact, this technology comes with its own issues that also cause distracted driving.

Hands-on cellphone use for texting and talking while driving or stopped in traffic is illegal in the state of Texas. However, several cities have hands-free device laws in place to allow that you to use this feature within city limits.

Allowing drivers to use hands-free technology may have had some effect on the number of cellphone-related auto accidents, but not as strong as an effect as lawmakers would have hoped. Why? Cognitive distractions still affect people utilizing their phones even in a hands-free way.

When a driver is doing anything other than keeping his or her eyes on the road, it is distracted driving. When you think about distracted driving, you may think about someone texting or reading an email, but those are not the only things that can take a driver's attention. One of the most common and most dangerous types of distracted driving in Texas does not involve using a phone at all.

Eating while driving may not seem dangerous. In fact, most people have probably gone through a drive-thru to grab coffee and a pastry before work or picked up a burger to eat on the way home. Eating on-the-go is part of the American culture, yet the convenience may not be worth the risk. Eating while driving is a type of distracted driving, and it is quite dangerous.

Understanding the dangers