Steps to Take Immediately After a Car Accident in Texas

If you are involved in a car accident in North Texas, move to a safe location, check for injuries, call 911 when appropriate, exchange information, document the crash, seek medical care, notify your insurer, and consider reaching out to Anderson, Cummings & Drawhorn before accepting a settlement. The steps you take in the first hours can help protect your health and preserve evidence about what happened.

Whether your crash occurred on I-35, I-30, I-20, I-635, the Dallas North Tollway, or a local road in Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Plano, Frisco, or Denton, our North Texas car accident lawyers can help preserve evidence, deal with insurance companies, and assess whether another driver’s conduct caused your injuries.

Ensure Your Safety and Check for Injuries

Get yourself and your passengers out of immediate traffic if it’s safe. Call 911 if anyone is injured, the vehicles create a roadway hazard, or you suspect the other driver was intoxicated.

Receive medical care even if you don’t feel hurt. You may only notice some injuries hours or days following a crash. Get medical treatment if you have pain, headaches, dizziness, weakness, numbness, or other symptoms. Keep copies of your medical records, prescriptions, bills, and follow-up instructions. Tell your medical provider that the symptoms followed the crash, so the connection is clearly documented in your records.

Report The Car Crash to the Police

Call law enforcement after a serious collision, particularly when someone’s injured, the vehicles have significant damage, the drivers disagree about what happened, or the other driver leaves the scene. Texas law requires drivers involved in certain crashes to stop and provide information and reasonable assistance to injured people under Texas Transportation Code § 550.023. A police report can also preserve an early account of the crash, including statements from all drivers and witnesses.

Exchange Insurance and Driver Information

Get the other driver’s name and contact details, driver’s license information, license plate number, vehicle information, and their insurance company and policy details. Give the other driver the information required by Texas law. However, do not argue with the other driver about who caused the crash or make statements accepting blame.

Document The Collision Scene Before Evidence Disappears

Take photos and video of the vehicles, damage, debris, skid marks, traffic signals, road signs, lane markings, and the surrounding area. Photograph any visible injuries as well. In North Texas, nearby businesses, homes, parking lots, and other vehicles may also have surveillance or dashcam footage. Identify potential sources before recordings are overwritten.

Preserve The Evidence From The Car Crash

Save photographs, videos, witness information, repair estimates, towing records, medical records, and insurance communications. Preserve your dashcam footage if applicable. Don’t assume vehicle damage or surveillance footage will remain available. A damaged vehicle, for example, may contain evidence about the force and direction of the impact.

Notify Your Auto Insurance Provider Carefully

Report the accident as required by your policy and provide accurate information about what happened. Avoid guessing about fault or making definitive statements about injuries before you understand their full extent. The other driver’s insurer may also contact you. You don’t have to treat a settlement offer as the final word on your claim.

Call Our North Texas Car Accident Attorneys As Soon As You Can

Consider speaking with our car accident lawyers in North Texas if you suffered significant injuries, fault is disputed, several vehicles were involved, the crash involved a commercial vehicle, or an insurer is pushing you to settle quickly. You can talk to our lawyers free of charge to explore your options. They can investigate the collision, identify available evidence, communicate with insurers, and evaluate the losses connected to your injuries.

Learn More About Your Claim From Our Car Accident Lawyers in North Texas

Take action before the crash evidence is gone. The first steps after a North Texas car accident are about more than exchanging insurance information. Getting medical care, documenting the scene, preserving evidence, and getting legal advice can help you make informed decisions before an insurance company asks you to settle. Arrange your free case review by contacting Anderson, Cummings & Drawhorn online or at 817-920-9000.