What should I do after a car accident in Texas?

At the scene

Texas law requires drivers involved in a crash to stop, exchange information, and render reasonable aid, so stay at the scene and call 911. Ask for police and, if anyone may be hurt, for medical responders. When officers come, a Texas Peace Officer's Crash Report gets created, which becomes the first official record of what happened. Give the officer facts. Do not guess about speeds or distances, and do not apologize or accept blame; those words find their way into reports and recorded files.

If you are physically able, photograph the vehicles from multiple angles before they are moved, the entire scene including skid marks, debris, traffic signals and lane markings, the other driver's license, insurance card, and plate, and your own visible injuries. Get the name and phone number of every witness. Witnesses leave in minutes and are often never found again.

Get medical care the same day

Adrenaline masks injury. Neck, back, shoulder, and head injuries commonly announce themselves the next morning, not at the scene. See a doctor the same day if at all possible, and describe every symptom, however minor it seems. Insurance companies build entire defenses on what they call gaps in treatment: if you waited five days to see anyone, the adjuster will argue you were not really hurt, and later, if surgery becomes necessary, that argument follows the case all the way to a jury. Same-day care protects your health first and your claim second.

Report and notify

Notify your own insurance company promptly; your policy requires it, and doing so protects benefits you paid for, such as personal injury protection, medical payments coverage, and uninsured motorist coverage. Notifying your own carrier is different from giving a statement to the other driver's carrier, which you should not do without counsel. Within about two weeks, the crash report will be available to purchase, and it should be reviewed for errors while supplementation is still practical.

Preserve, and do not post

Keep the damaged vehicle unrepaired until it has been photographed thoroughly, and if the damage is serious, until a decision is made about downloading its electronic data. Save every receipt, discharge paper, and work absence record. And stay off social media about the crash entirely. Defense lawyers pull posts, photos, and check-ins and use them out of context. The safest post about your wreck is the one you never make.

Injured in Arizona? Some rules on this page are Texas-specific. Arizona differs on points that change outcomes, including pure comparative fault and government-claim deadlines. See our Arizona answers or call (888) 508-6967.

Related: Car Accident Lawyer · Get Your Crash Report · Submit Your Case · All Common Questions

This page is general information about Texas law, not legal advice about your specific situation. Deadlines and outcomes depend on facts; talk to a lawyer about yours.