What to Do After a Car Accident in Texas: 10 Critical Steps Most Drivers Forget
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What Should You Do After a Car Accident in Texas?
A car accident can happen in seconds. However, what you do immediately afterward can affect your safety, insurance claim, and ability to document what happened.
The first few minutes can also feel overwhelming. Therefore, having a simple plan before an accident happens can make the situation easier to manage.
First, check yourself and your passengers for injuries. Next, move to a safe location when it is possible and appropriate to do so.
Then, gather information, photograph the scene, and document the people involved.
Most importantly, focus on facts. Avoid guessing about what happened or making statements about fault before all of the information is available.
What to Do After a Texas Car Accident: The Direct Answer
After a car accident in Texas, check for injuries first and call 911 when emergency help is needed.
Next, move to safety if the vehicles can be moved safely. Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver.
In addition, photograph the vehicles, license plates, road, traffic controls, damage, and surrounding scene.
Ask witnesses for their contact information before they leave. Also, preserve dashcam footage and other relevant records.
Finally, report the accident as required and contact your insurance professional to understand the next steps under your policy.
10 Critical Steps Most Drivers Forget After a Car Accident
1. Avoid Admitting Fault at the Accident Scene
After an accident, emotions can take over quickly.
You may feel tempted to apologize even when you do not know exactly what happened.
Instead, stay calm and focus on facts.
For example, tell the other driver that you are calling for help or getting your insurance information.
Most importantly, avoid guessing about fault, speed, distance, or other details when you are not certain.
2. Pay Attention to Possible Injuries
Some injuries may not feel obvious immediately after a crash.
Adrenaline and stress can affect how you feel during the first minutes after an accident.
Therefore, do not ignore new pain, dizziness, confusion, weakness, or other concerning symptoms.
If you believe you may be injured, seek appropriate medical attention.
In an emergency, call 911.
3. Photograph More Than Just the Vehicle Damage
Photos can preserve details that may disappear soon after the accident.
First, photograph all vehicles and visible damage.
Next, take pictures of license plates, the surrounding road, traffic signals, signs, lane markings, and weather or road conditions.
In addition, photograph debris, broken glass, skid marks, and other details that may help document the scene.
If appropriate, keep a clear image of the insurance information exchanged at the scene.
4. Get Witness Contact Information Before They Leave
Independent witnesses may leave before police or insurance representatives arrive.
Therefore, if someone saw the crash, ask for their name and contact information when it is safe to do so.
A witness may later help clarify what happened if the drivers remember the event differently.
However, do not pressure witnesses to give an opinion about fault at the scene.
5. Know When to Call the Police
Some crashes require immediate law-enforcement or emergency assistance.
Call 911 when someone is injured, the scene creates a safety hazard, a driver leaves the scene, or emergency help is otherwise necessary.
In addition, Texas has legal reporting requirements for certain crashes.
A police response may also create an official record of the accident and document information from the scene.
Therefore, do not dismiss an accident as insignificant simply because the damage initially looks small.
6. Be Careful With Recorded Statements
After an accident, an insurance adjuster may ask you questions about what happened.
Before giving a recorded statement to another driver’s insurance company, understand who is asking for the information and why.
Stick to information you know rather than guessing.
In addition, read documents carefully before signing them.
If you are unsure about your obligations or rights, consider seeking appropriate professional guidance.
7. Save Dashcam and Other Accident Data
Dashcam footage can provide useful information about the moments before and during a collision.
Therefore, save the footage as soon as possible so it is not automatically overwritten.
If your dashcam uses a removable memory card, preserve the original data and create a backup when possible.
Modern vehicles may also contain electronic information related to a crash.
However, access to vehicle data can involve technical and legal issues, so preserve the vehicle and records when that information may become important.
8. Understand Texas Comparative Responsibility Rules
Fault can affect how much someone may recover after a Texas accident.
Texas uses a modified comparative responsibility system.
As a result, a person’s percentage of responsibility can affect the amount of damages they may recover.
The BundleBee guide highlights Texas’s 51% rule as an important issue for drivers to understand.
Therefore, avoid estimating percentages of fault or making guesses at the accident scene.
9. Know Your PIP and UM/UIM Coverage
Your own auto insurance may contain coverage that becomes important after an accident.
Personal Injury Protection, or PIP, can provide benefits for covered losses subject to the policy and applicable Texas law.
Meanwhile, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage may become important when the responsible driver has no applicable insurance or does not have enough.
Therefore, review your declarations page before an accident happens.
Knowing your limits, deductibles, and selected coverage can make the claims process easier to understand.
10. Contact Your Insurance Agent and Understand the Claim Process
Your insurance agent can help explain what your policy includes and what information your carrier may need.
Therefore, contacting your agent can be useful when you are unsure how to begin the claim process.
Ask what coverage may apply, what deductible is involved, and what documents you should save.
In addition, keep a record of claim numbers, adjuster names, emails, estimates, receipts, and important conversations.
Good documentation can make it easier to keep track of your claim from beginning to end.
What Information Should You Collect at the Accident Scene?
First, collect the other driver’s name and contact information.
Next, record the insurance company and policy information provided at the scene.
Photograph the license plates and vehicles.
Document the location of the accident.
Take pictures of visible vehicle damage.
Photograph relevant traffic signs, signals, lanes, and road conditions.
Collect witness names and contact information when available.
Save the police report or incident number when one is provided.
Finally, write down the date, time, weather conditions, and basic facts while they are still fresh in your memory.
Do Not Wait Too Long After a Texas Car Accident
The BundleBee guide highlights a two-year limitations period as an important issue after many Texas car accidents.
However, legal deadlines can depend on the type of claim, parties involved, and specific circumstances.
Waiting can also create practical problems.
For example, witnesses may become difficult to locate, video may disappear, and records can become harder to gather.
Therefore, begin documenting the accident and addressing insurance issues promptly rather than waiting until a deadline approaches.
One Thing to Do Before a Car Accident Happens
Preparing before an accident can save valuable time later.
Create a note on your phone called “AFTER ACCIDENT.”
Then add your insurance company, policy number, insurance agent’s phone number, and an emergency contact.
In addition, save BundleBee’s number at 915-591-0075.
Finally, pin the note or save it somewhere easy to find.
You may never need it. However, if an accident happens, you will not have to search through emails or insurance documents while dealing with the stress of the crash.
Texas After-Car-Accident Checklist
Check Your Coverage Before You Need It
An accident is not the ideal time to learn what your auto insurance does and does not cover.
Before a crash happens, review your liability limits, deductibles, PIP, UM/UIM, collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, rental reimbursement, and roadside assistance when applicable.
In addition, make sure you know where to find your current insurance card and declarations page.
A few minutes spent reviewing your policy today can make the claims process much easier to understand later.
Free Auto Insurance Coverage Check-Up
Not sure whether your PIP, UM/UIM, liability limits, deductibles, and other auto insurance coverage are where they should be?
Send BundleBee your current declarations page. We can help explain what your policy shows and identify questions you may want to ask about your coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accidents in Texas
What Should I Do First After a Car Accident in Texas?
First, check yourself and your passengers for injuries.
If emergency help is needed, call 911.
Next, move to a safer location when appropriate, exchange information, and begin documenting the accident.
Should I Call the Police After a Minor Accident in Texas?
You should call for emergency assistance when someone is injured, the scene is dangerous, a driver leaves, or another emergency exists.
Texas also has legal reporting requirements for certain accidents.
Therefore, do not assume that a crash does not need to be reported simply because the visible damage initially appears minor.
What Photos Should I Take After a Car Accident?
Photograph each vehicle, all visible damage, license plates, the road, lanes, traffic controls, debris, skid marks, and relevant surrounding conditions.
In addition, preserve any dashcam footage related to the crash.
Should I Apologize After a Car Accident?
It is better to focus on safety and factual information rather than making statements about responsibility.
You may not know all of the facts immediately after the collision.
Therefore, avoid admitting fault or guessing about what caused the accident.
Should I Give the Other Driver’s Insurance Company a Recorded Statement?
Before giving a recorded statement, understand who is requesting it and whether you are required to provide it.
Do not guess or speculate when answering questions.
If you are uncertain about your rights or obligations, consider getting appropriate professional guidance.
What If the Other Driver Does Not Have Insurance?
Your own Uninsured Motorist coverage may become important when an at-fault driver has no applicable insurance.
However, coverage depends on your policy, limits, state law, and the facts of the accident.
Therefore, review your UM/UIM selections before you need them.
What Is PIP Coverage in Texas?
Personal Injury Protection, commonly called PIP, is auto insurance coverage that can provide benefits for certain covered losses after an accident.
Coverage depends on the applicable policy terms and Texas law.
What Is Texas’s 51% Rule?
Texas uses a modified comparative responsibility system.
The percentage of responsibility assigned to a person can affect whether and how much that person may recover.
Because liability decisions depend on the facts, avoid assigning percentages of fault yourself at the accident scene.
Should I Save My Dashcam Footage After an Accident?
Yes. If your dashcam recorded the accident, preserve the footage promptly.
Some devices automatically overwrite older recordings, so saving a copy early can help preserve the information.
How Long Should I Keep Accident Records?
Keep relevant accident and claim documents while the matter remains unresolved.
This can include photographs, estimates, medical records, receipts, correspondence, police information, claim numbers, and adjuster contact information.
What Information Should I Exchange With the Other Driver?
Exchange basic identifying, contact, vehicle, and insurance information.
In addition, record the other vehicle’s license plate and preserve the information accurately.
When Should I Contact My Insurance Agent?
Contact your insurance professional promptly when you need help understanding your policy or the claim process.
Your agent can explain the coverage shown on your policy and help you identify information the carrier may request.
What Should I Keep in My Car in Case of an Accident?
Keep access to your current insurance information, registration, emergency contacts, and a simple after-accident checklist.
In addition, keeping your insurance agent’s phone number saved in your phone can make it easier to find after a crash.
This article provides general insurance and accident-preparation information only and is not legal or medical advice. Texas accident-reporting requirements, insurance rules, comparative responsibility laws, legal deadlines, claim procedures, policy terms, and coverage requirements can change and may vary based on the facts of an accident. Seek emergency medical care when appropriate. Coverage is determined by the actual policy language, endorsements, limits, exclusions, applicable law, and facts of the loss. For legal questions about fault, deadlines, recorded statements, settlements, or your individual rights, consult a qualified attorney.