The ten minutes after a car accident in Austin are more important than most people realize. Evidence disappears. Witnesses leave. Insurance adjusters start building their narrative. What you do — and don't do — in those first minutes shapes everything that comes after.
This guide walks through what Texas law requires, what your attorney will need, and the mistakes that can quietly kill an otherwise valid claim.
Step 1: Stop and Stay at the Scene
Texas law requires drivers involved in an accident to stop immediately at or near the scene. Leaving is a criminal offense — a misdemeanor if there's only property damage, a felony if anyone was injured or killed. If you weren't able to stop safely at the point of impact, pull over as close as possible.
Once stopped, check on everyone involved. If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately. Don't move injured people unless they're in immediate danger — moving someone with a spinal injury can worsen it significantly.
Step 2: Call the Police
For any accident involving injury, death, or significant property damage on a Texas public road, you're generally required to call law enforcement. Even if you think the accident was minor, a police report creates an official record that becomes critical later.
The police report documents: who was at the scene, statements from drivers and witnesses, the officer's preliminary assessment of what happened, and insurance information for all parties. Your attorney will request this report immediately when you contact them.
When speaking with the officer, stick to facts. Don't speculate about fault, don't say you feel fine if you don't know yet, and don't apologize in a way that could be construed as admitting fault.
Step 3: Document Everything You Can
Before any vehicles are moved (if it's safe to do so), photograph:
- All vehicles involved, from multiple angles
- The position of vehicles before they're moved
- Road conditions, skid marks, debris
- Traffic signs and signals in the area
- Damage to all vehicles
- Any visible injuries (your own)
- License plates of all involved vehicles
- The scene in general — wide shots that show the intersection or road layout
Get witness contact information before they leave. Ask specifically for names and phone numbers. Witnesses to Austin car accidents frequently disappear before anyone gets their contact information. Your attorney can't contact witnesses they don't know existed.
Step 4: Exchange Information
Texas law requires drivers to exchange:
- Name and address
- Vehicle registration number
- Insurance policy information (insurer name and policy number)
- Driver's license number
Get all of this even if the other driver seems cooperative. Memories and goodwill change quickly after accidents.
Step 5: Seek Medical Evaluation — Even If You Feel Fine
This is one of the most important and most ignored steps. Many serious injuries — soft tissue damage, herniated discs, traumatic brain injuries — don't produce obvious symptoms immediately. The adrenaline of an accident can mask pain. Symptoms often develop over the next 24 to 72 hours.
If you wait until symptoms are severe before seeking medical attention, insurance adjusters will argue that the delay means the injury wasn't serious, or that it happened elsewhere. Getting evaluated promptly creates a medical record that connects your injury to the accident.
Even if you feel fine, see a doctor within 24 hours. Tell them about the accident. Let them document your condition. This documentation becomes part of your case.
Step 6: Don't Talk to the Other Driver's Insurance Company
The other driver's insurer will contact you. Often quickly. They may seem sympathetic. Their job is to settle your claim for as little as possible.
Do not give a recorded statement. Do not accept any settlement offer. Do not sign anything. Politely tell them you're represented by an attorney (even if you haven't hired one yet) and that all communication should go through counsel.
Texas law does not require you to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer. Your own insurer may be different — check your policy. But even there, providing a statement before you understand your full damages is a risk.
Step 7: Contact an Austin Car Accident Attorney
Texas gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. That sounds like time. It isn't — not for building a strong case.
Evidence deteriorates. Surveillance footage overwrites. Witnesses' memories fade. The insurance company has been building their file since day one. Your attorney needs to start building yours.
Most Austin car accident attorneys work on contingency — you pay nothing unless they win your case. There's no financial reason to wait.
What Your Attorney Will Need
When you contact an attorney, have ready:
- The police report number (or a copy if you have it)
- All photographs from the scene
- Witness contact information
- Insurance information for all parties
- Records of any medical treatment you've received
- Documentation of any expenses related to the accident
- Records of any wages lost due to injury
The more organized you are at the first meeting, the faster your attorney can begin protecting your claim.
Learn more about car accident claims in Austin, or contact us to connect with an Austin car accident attorney.
Disclaimer: This article provides general legal information for educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. Your specific situation may differ. Consult a licensed Texas attorney for advice about your case.