Steps to Take After a Vehicle Accident in Texas
A vehicle accident can leave you shaken, confused, and unsure what to do next. Even a crash that seems minor at first can quickly become more complicated when injuries, insurance companies, vehicle damage, missed work, or medical bills are involved.
The steps you take immediately after a crash can matter. They can affect your health, your insurance claim, and your ability to prove what happened later.
If you were injured in a car crash, truck accident, motorcycle accident, or commercial vehicle collision in Texas, here are important steps to keep in mind.
Get to safety and check for injuries
The first priority is safety. Check yourself, your passengers, and others involved in the crash for injuries. If anyone may be hurt, call 911 right away.
Texas law requires drivers involved in certain crashes to stop, provide information, and render reasonable assistance to anyone injured, including arranging transportation for medical treatment when it appears necessary or when the injured person requests it.
If the vehicles are creating a hazard and can be moved safely, move them out of traffic. If the vehicles cannot be moved, stay as safe as possible and wait for emergency help.
Call law enforcement when needed
Call law enforcement if anyone is injured, if there is major vehicle damage, if a driver appears intoxicated, if a commercial vehicle is involved, or if there is any dispute about what happened.
A police report can become an important part of the claim. It may document the drivers involved, insurance information, crash location, witness information, road conditions, citations, and the officer's initial observations.
Even when the report is not the final word on liability, it can help create an official record of the crash.
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Exchange information with the other driver
Get the other driver's name, address, phone number, driver's license information, license plate number, vehicle information, and insurance details.
The Texas Department of Insurance recommends taking pictures of the other driver's insurance card and driver's license at the accident scene.
If the crash involves a company vehicle, delivery van, work truck, 18-wheeler, rideshare vehicle, or other commercial vehicle, also write down the company name, vehicle markings, DOT number if visible, and any identifying information on the vehicle.
Take photos and videos before the scene changes
If you can do so safely, document the scene before vehicles are moved or debris is cleared.
Vehicle damage
Vehicle positions
License plates
Skid marks
Debris
Traffic lights or stop signs
Road conditions
Weather conditions
Visible injuries
Airbags
Seatbelts
Nearby cameras
Business signs or addresses near the crash scene
This evidence can become important later, especially if the other driver changes their story or the insurance company disputes fault.
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Get witness information
Witnesses may leave before police arrive. If someone saw the crash, ask for their name and phone number.
A neutral witness can be very helpful if the insurance company later argues about who caused the collision. Witnesses may also remember details that the drivers missed because of shock, pain, or confusion.
Get medical attention as soon as possible
Do not ignore pain, dizziness, confusion, headaches, numbness, back pain, neck pain, or changes in memory or concentration.
Some injuries are obvious immediately. Others show up hours or days later. Brain and spine injuries can be especially difficult because symptoms may not seem serious at first.
Getting medical care helps protect your health. It also creates documentation that connects your symptoms to the crash. Without medical records, the insurance company may argue that you were not really hurt, that you waited too long, or that something else caused your symptoms.
Be careful what you say to insurance companies
You should report the crash to your insurance company, but be careful with recorded statements, broad medical authorizations, or quick settlement offers.
Insurance adjusters may sound friendly, but their job is to evaluate and limit what the insurance company pays. A statement made early, before you know the full extent of your injuries, may be used later to minimize your claim.
Avoid guessing. Avoid saying you are "fine" if you are not sure. Avoid accepting blame before the facts are reviewed.
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Do not accept a quick settlement before you understand your injuries
A fast offer may seem helpful when medical bills and repair costs are piling up. But once you sign a release, your claim may be over.
That can be a serious problem if you later need surgery, physical therapy, injections, neurological care, pain management, or time away from work. The Texas Department of Insurance advises people to talk to their doctor about future medical treatment before signing a release.
Before accepting a settlement, make sure you understand the full medical picture and the long-term impact of the crash.
Keep records of everything
After a crash, save any documents, photos, videos, and notes connected to the accident, your medical care, and your daily recovery. This may include:
Medical bills
Discharge papers
Imaging reports
Prescriptions
Physical therapy records
Insurance letters
Repair estimates
Rental car receipts
Missed work records
Photos and videos
Police report information
Notes about pain, symptoms, and daily limitations
It may also help to look around the accident scene for nearby businesses, gas stations, restaurants, offices, or homes with cameras facing the roadway or parking area. Video footage can be important, especially when liability is disputed or the other driver gives a different version of what happened.
In a serious injury case, these records can help tell the full story. They show more than what happened on the day of the crash. They can also help explain how the accident affected your health, work, family life, mobility, independence, and future.
Contact a Texas car accident lawyer if the crash caused serious injuries
Not every minor accident requires a lawyer. But if the crash caused a brain injury, spine injury, surgery, broken bones, permanent impairment, lost income, or wrongful death, legal guidance can be important.
A lawyer can help preserve evidence, communicate with insurance companies, review available coverage, identify responsible parties, and build the damages case correctly.
This is especially important in crashes involving commercial vehicles, trucking companies, delivery drivers, company vehicles, uninsured drivers, disputed fault, or serious long-term injuries.
Talk to a San Antonio vehicle accident lawyer
After a serious vehicle accident, the insurance company may move quickly. You should have someone protecting your side just as quickly.
San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyers represents people injured in serious car crashes, commercial vehicle accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, brain injury cases, spine injury cases, and catastrophic injury claims across Texas.
If you or a loved one was hurt in a vehicle accident, contact our team for a free consultation. We can help you understand the claim, the insurance issues, and the next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Check for injuries, call 911 if anyone may be hurt, move to safety if possible, exchange information, take photos, gather witness contact information, and get medical care.
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You should call law enforcement if anyone is injured, there is significant damage, a driver may be intoxicated, a commercial vehicle is involved, or there is a dispute about what happened.
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Get the other driver's name, phone number, driver's license information, license plate number, vehicle information, and insurance details. If possible, take photos of the insurance card and driver's license.
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Yes, if you have any pain, symptoms, or concerns. Some injuries, including brain and spine injuries, may not be obvious right away. Medical documentation can also be important if symptoms worsen later.
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Be careful. You may need to communicate basic information, but you should avoid recorded statements, broad medical releases, or settlement agreements before understanding your injuries and legal rights.
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Do not accept a settlement until you understand your medical condition, future care needs, lost income, and the full impact of the crash. Once you sign a release, the claim may be over.
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You should consider contacting a lawyer if the accident caused serious injuries, disputed fault, missed work, surgery, brain or spine symptoms, a commercial vehicle claim, or pressure from the insurance company.
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Every case is different. Speak with a Texas personal injury attorney about your specific situation.