Nobody thinks clearly right after a collision. Adrenaline is running, you’re worried about the car, and there’s someone standing in front of you who may or may not be reasonable.
That’s exactly why it helps to have the sequence in your head ahead of time. Here it is.
1. Check for Injuries and Get to Safety
Before anything else. If anyone is hurt, call 911 immediately.
If the vehicles are drivable and the crash is minor, Texas law generally expects you to move them out of the traffic lanes. Sitting in a live lane on I-30 waiting for police is far more dangerous than the original collision. Hazard lights on.
2. Call the Police
In Texas, you’re required to report a crash that results in injury, death, or apparent property damage of $1,000 or more. Given current repair costs, almost any collision involving contact between two vehicles clears that threshold.
Get a report even when the other driver asks you not to. “Let’s just handle this between us” sounds reasonable at the scene and goes badly surprisingly often — the story changes, the phone number stops working, or an injury appears three days later. If police won’t dispatch for a minor crash, you can file a driver’s crash report yourself.
3. Document Everything Before Anything Moves
Your phone is the most valuable tool you have right now. Capture, in roughly this order:
- Wide shots showing both vehicles’ positions relative to each other and the road
- Close-ups of every point of damage on both vehicles
- The other driver’s license, insurance card, and license plate
- Context — traffic signals, signage, skid marks, debris field, weather, road conditions
- A quick voice memo describing what happened while it’s fresh
If there are witnesses, get a name and phone number. Witnesses vanish fast, and a neutral third party is worth a great deal in a disputed claim.
4. Exchange Information — but Watch What You Say
You need: name, address, phone, insurance company, policy number, driver’s license number, plate number.
Here’s the part worth being deliberate about. Texas follows modified comparative negligence. Fault gets assigned in percentages, your recovery is reduced by your share, and if you’re found more than 50% at fault you generally recover nothing.
That makes reflexive apologies genuinely costly. “I’m so sorry” is a normal human reaction and can be read as an admission. Be civil, be helpful, but stick to facts. Don’t speculate about fault, and don’t guess about your injuries — you often don’t know yet.
5. Report It to Your Insurer Promptly
Call your insurer or agent the same day if you can. Most policies require prompt notice, and delay gives an insurer a reason to question a claim.
Report it even if you think the other driver’s insurance will pay. Their carrier may dispute fault, may be slow, or may not exist. Your own insurer can’t help you if they don’t know it happened.
6. Get Checked Out
Soft-tissue injuries frequently don’t present for 24 to 72 hours. Beyond the obvious health reason, a gap between the accident and your first medical visit is the most common argument used to dispute an injury claim. Get evaluated even if you feel fine.
7. Keep a Paper Trail
Start a folder — physical or digital — the day it happens. Claim number, adjuster name and direct line, every estimate, every receipt, every rental agreement, dates of every phone call and what was said. Claims that go smoothly and claims that go badly are often distinguished by exactly this.
Key Takeaways
- Safety first, then police, then documentation — in that order.
- Texas requires a report for injury or roughly $1,000+ in damage. Get one anyway.
- Photograph positions before moving vehicles, if it’s safe to wait.
- Texas comparative negligence means apologies at the scene can cost you money.
- Report to your own insurer regardless of who was at fault.
- See a doctor within a couple of days even if you feel fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to call the police for a minor accident in Texas?
Reporting is required for injury, death, or apparent damage of $1,000 or more. Most two-vehicle collisions meet that bar today, and a report protects you if the other party’s account changes later.
Should I file a claim if the other driver was at fault?
Report the accident to your insurer either way. You’re not obligated to file against your own coverage, but your insurer can advocate for you and step in if the other carrier disputes fault.
How long do I have to file a car insurance claim in Texas?
Policies typically require prompt notice rather than naming a fixed deadline. Texas generally allows two years to file a personal injury lawsuit, but waiting that long to notify your insurer can jeopardize the claim.
What if the other driver has no insurance?
That’s what uninsured motorist coverage is for. If you carry UM, file with your own insurer. If you declined it, your options are considerably more limited.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information and is not insurance or legal advice. Coverage varies by policy and insurer. Consult your agent or the Texas Department of Insurance for guidance on your situation.
Been in an accident and unsure what’s next? Call us at (817) 750-1051 and we’ll walk you through it. Or review your coverage before you need it.