What to Do Right After a Car Accident in Texas: A Step-by-Step Guide

The First 60 Seconds Matter Most

After an accident, your brain is running in crisis mode. That's normal. But the decisions you make in the first minutes and hours determine whether the aftermath goes smoothly or becomes a legal and financial nightmare. This guide walks you through each step clearly.

Step 1: Check for Injuries — Don't Move People

Before anything else, check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If anyone is injured, do not move them unless the vehicle is in immediate danger (fire, flooding). Moving an injured person can worsen spinal injuries.

Call 911 immediately if there are injuries. Describe your location precisely — street name, intersection, or mile marker.

Step 2: Move to Safety, But Don't Leave the Scene

If your vehicle is driveable and no one is seriously injured, move it to the shoulder or a safe pull-off area to clear traffic. Texas law requires you to remain at the scene of an accident.

Leaving the scene of an accident — especially if there are injuries — is a serious criminal offense in Texas, ranging from a misdemeanor to a felony depending on severity.

Step 3: Call the Police

In Texas, you are required to report accidents resulting in injury, death, or property damage over $1,000 to law enforcement. Given that modern vehicle repairs routinely exceed $1,000, this covers most accidents.

Wait for the officer to arrive and file a report. Get the report number — you'll need it for your insurance claim.

Step 4: Document Everything

Before vehicles are moved (or immediately after if they're already moved for safety):

Photograph damage to all vehicles from multiple angles.

Photograph the license plates of all involved vehicles.

Photograph the broader scene: road conditions, traffic signals, skid marks, weather.

Photograph any visible injuries (carefully and respectfully).

This visual record is invaluable if there's a dispute about fault or damage extent.

Step 5: Exchange Information — But Say Little

With the other driver, exchange:

Full name and contact information.

Driver's license number.

License plate number.

Insurance company name and policy number.

What NOT to say: 'I'm sorry,' 'It was my fault,' 'I didn't see you.' These statements can be used against you in insurance negotiations and legal proceedings. Stick to factual exchanges. Do not speculate about fault at the scene.

Step 6: Talk to Witnesses

If anyone witnessed the accident, get their contact information. An independent witness account can be decisive in a disputed-fault situation.

Step 7: Notify Your Insurance Company

Regardless of fault, notify your insurer as soon as possible — preferably from the scene or within a few hours. Most carriers have 24/7 claim lines.

Provide the basic facts: time, location, other driver's information, police report number.

Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer without understanding your rights. You're not required to do so immediately.

Step 8: Seek Medical Evaluation Even If You Feel Fine

Many accident injuries — especially soft-tissue injuries like whiplash — don't produce symptoms immediately. Adrenaline suppresses pain. Symptoms may appear 24–72 hours later.

Seeking medical evaluation creates an official record linking your injuries to the accident. If you delay treatment, insurers often argue the injuries were pre-existing or unrelated.

Step 9: The Claims Process

Your insurer will assign a claims adjuster who will inspect vehicle damage, review the police report, and determine fault allocation.

You have the right to use your own repair shop or the insurer's recommended network.

If you disagree with the fault determination or settlement offer, you can negotiate or seek independent legal counsel.

The Bottom Line

Accidents are stressful, but you have rights and a process. Document everything, say little at the scene, notify your insurer quickly, and seek medical care. These four principles will protect you through the aftermath.