What to Do After a Car Accident in Houston | Texas Guide

By Wendi R. Bailes-Dodson, Managing Attorney

A car accident can leave you shaken and unsure what to do next. Start with safety, then create a record of what happened and get the medical care you need. The steps below are general information for Texas drivers and are not a substitute for emergency help or advice about your specific situation.

What to Do After a Car Accident in Houston: 9 Steps

1. Check for injuries and get to a safe place

Check yourself, your passengers, and anyone else involved. Call 911 for an emergency or injury. If no one is hurt and your vehicle can be moved safely, move it out of active traffic. Do not put yourself in danger to move a vehicle or document the scene. Turn on your hazard lights and follow directions from emergency personnel.

2. Call 911 and report the crash when required

Call 911 when someone is injured, a vehicle cannot be safely moved, you suspect impairment, a driver has no insurance, or a driver leaves the scene. Texas law also requires drivers involved in qualifying collisions to stop, remain as required, provide information, and render reasonable assistance. Read the Texas Transportation Code collision provisions and follow the instructions of law enforcement.

When you call, give the dispatcher the location, direction of travel, nearby exits or landmarks, and information about injuries or hazards. Do not assume that a minor-looking crash has no legal or medical consequences.

3. Exchange information without arguing about fault

When it is safe, exchange your name, contact information, driver’s-license information, vehicle and license-plate information, and insurance information with the other driver. Ask witnesses for their names and contact information. Keep the conversation focused on identifying information and safety. Do not argue at the scene or guess about fault. Avoid posting about the crash while a claim is pending.

4. Preserve evidence from the scene

Take photographs or video only when it is safe. Capture the vehicles from several angles, visible damage, license plates, the roadway, traffic signs, lane markings, skid marks, debris, weather, lighting, and the position of the vehicles. Save the original files and preserve dashcam or phone footage. Write down the date, time, location, weather, what you remember, and the names of witnesses while the details are fresh.

If you cannot safely document the scene, do not risk another injury. Ask whether a witness can preserve contact information or whether law enforcement has documented the crash.

5. Get medical care and keep your records

Get emergency care for serious symptoms. For other injuries, arrange medical evaluation promptly and follow the clinician’s instructions. Tell the provider that the symptoms followed the crash and describe what you are experiencing accurately. Keep medical records, bills, prescriptions, work restrictions, follow-up instructions, and a simple record of symptoms and missed work. Do not ignore symptoms because they did not appear immediately.

6. Notify your insurance company and keep claim records

Notify your insurance company promptly and provide accurate facts. Ask for the claim number and the adjuster’s name and contact information. Keep copies of your notice, correspondence, estimates, receipts, and any statements you provide. Before signing a release or accepting a payment, read the document carefully and consider getting advice about what rights it may affect. Insurance coverage depends on the policy and the facts of the crash.

The Texas Department of Insurance’s wreck-claim guidance explains information to collect, prompt notice, medical records and bills, repair estimates, and coverage questions.

7. Request the crash report and save related documents

Ask how to obtain the law-enforcement crash report and keep it with your other records. You can review the Texas crash reports and records resource for report information and access options. Also save tow and storage records, repair estimates, photographs, medical documents, wage-loss information, and communications with insurers or other drivers.

8. Understand Texas deadlines and fault rules

Texas generally gives two years to bring a personal-injury lawsuit, but deadlines can vary and exceptions may apply. Claims involving a government entity, a minor, or other special facts can have different requirements. The Texas limitations statute is one starting point, not a decision about your claim.

Responsibility for a crash and the amount, if any, that may be recoverable depend on the evidence, the parties, the insurance policies, and the law that applies. Do not assume an insurance decision is the final word about fault or value.

9. Know when to speak with a car-accident attorney

Consider legal advice if you have an injury, disputed fault, significant vehicle damage, a hit-and-run or uninsured driver, a denied or delayed claim, a request for a release, or questions about a deadline. Dodson Law Firm’s Houston car-accident attorneys can explain whether a free case review is appropriate for an injury matter. A review does not promise a result.

Texas resources for accident victims

• TxDOT: tips to avoid collisions and what to do after a crash
• Texas Department of Insurance: tips for auto insurance claims
• TxDOT: crash reports and records
• Texas Transportation Code: collision duties
• Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code: limitations period

Talk with Dodson Law Firm

If you were injured in a Texas car accident, call Dodson Law Firm at 713-338-2525 or Contact Us to discuss a free case review. Injury matters may be handled with no fee unless there is a successful recovery. This page is educational and does not promise a particular result.