What to Do After a Car Accident in Texas — Pointers Every Driver Should Know

Car accidents are disorienting by nature. In the moments after a crash, adrenaline is running, the scene may be chaotic, and the decisions you make — or fail to make — carry real consequences. Knowing in advance what steps to take, what to document, and what you are legally required to do protects you in ways that matter when injuries, insurance claims, and legal liability come into play. If you’ve already been in an accident and believe someone else was at fault, contact the Houston legal experts at our firm for a consultation.

Seat Belts — Your First Line of Defense

Texas law requires seat belt use for all drivers and passengers age eight and older. Children under eight must be secured in an appropriate child passenger restraint system unless they are taller than four feet, nine inches. The back seat is the safest position for children 12 and under. Infants under 20 pounds should ride in a rear-facing car seat secured in the back seat and should never be placed in the front passenger seat of a vehicle equipped with a passenger-side air bag.

Seat belts remain the most effective safety measure available in any vehicle. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration consistently shows that seat belts reduce the risk of death in a crash by approximately 45 percent for front seat passengers. Failure to wear a seat belt not only increases injury risk — it can also affect your personal injury claim. Texas’s comparative fault rules allow the defense to argue that your failure to buckle up contributed to the severity of your injuries, potentially reducing what you recover.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Texas

Understanding what causes accidents helps drivers recognize and avoid dangerous conditions. The most common contributing factors on Texas roads include unsafe speed, driving on the wrong side of the road, improper turns, failure to yield the right of way, and running stop signals and signs. Distracted driving — particularly cell phone use — has become a leading cause of preventable crashes over the past decade.

When you hear about an accident on a nearby road, take an alternate route if possible. If you must pass an accident scene, do not slow down to look — rubbernecking causes secondary collisions and compounds traffic disruption. Drive carefully, watch for people who may be in the road, and obey any direction given by a police officer or other emergency personnel at the scene.

If You Witness an Accident

If you are the first person to arrive at an accident scene, pull completely off the road and away from the wreckage so that emergency vehicles can access the scene freely. Check for injured people. Search the surrounding area for victims who may have been thrown from a vehicle — they can sometimes end up in grass, ditches, or brush where they aren’t immediately visible.

Call 911 immediately. Be prepared to provide the location — including cross streets or highway mile marker information — and describe the number of people who appear to need help. Don’t hang up until the dispatcher releases you. If another bystander stops to help, direct them to call 911 if you have not already done so.

Use flares or emergency triangles to mark the scene if you have them — but if you smell gasoline or see fuel leaking, do not use flares and do not smoke near the vehicle. Fire risk is real, and a secondary fire can rapidly escalate an already serious situation.

Do not attempt to move an injured person unless they are in immediate danger — inside a burning vehicle or in the path of oncoming traffic. Moving an injured person incorrectly can significantly worsen spinal and head injuries. If a vehicle can be moved safely out of the traffic lane without risk to anyone, do so and turn off the ignition.

If You Are Involved in an Accident

Stop your vehicle immediately. Leaving the scene of an accident — even a minor one — is a criminal offense in Texas and can result in serious charges if anyone is injured. You are legally required to exchange your driver’s license, vehicle registration, proof of insurance, and current address with the other driver and any responding law enforcement officer. Your insurance information must include the company name and policy number.

Texas law requires that accidents involving injury, death, or property damage exceeding $1,000 be reported to the Texas Department of Transportation within 10 days. If someone is killed or injured, notify local law enforcement or the Texas Department of Public Safety within 24 hours. These reporting obligations exist regardless of who caused the accident — and failing to comply can affect your legal standing in any subsequent claim.

If you strike a parked vehicle and cannot locate the owner, leave a note in a visible location with your name, address, and the vehicle owner’s information if you are driving someone else’s car. Report the incident to local law enforcement without delay. If you injure an animal, stop, try to locate the owner, and contact the nearest animal control authority or law enforcement if the owner cannot be found. Never leave an injured animal at the scene.

Texas Auto Insurance Requirements

Every Texas driver is required by law to carry minimum liability insurance. Current Texas minimums are $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage — commonly referred to as 30/60/25 coverage. These minimums are often inadequate in serious crashes, which is why many drivers and attorneys recommend carrying significantly higher limits. For questions about the right coverage levels for your situation, consult your insurance provider about options that go beyond the state minimum.

If you are involved in an accident without valid insurance coverage, your driving privileges can be suspended. Driving without insurance also limits your legal options as an injured party in ways that can be devastating — uninsured motorists in Texas are generally not entitled to non-economic damages even when the accident was not their fault. For guidance on your insurance situation and what it means for your rights after an accident, an experienced attorney can review your coverage and advise accordingly.

What to Gather at the Scene

Thorough documentation at the scene protects your legal position. Collect the other driver’s name, address, date of birth, driver’s license number and state, license plate number and state, insurance company name, policy number, policy expiration date, and the name and address of the vehicle’s owner if different from the driver. Note the time, date, and exact location of the accident. Photograph vehicle damage, road conditions, skid marks, and any visible injuries before the scene is cleared.

If you were injured and believe another driver was at fault, do not give recorded statements to any insurance company before speaking with legal counsel. Contact our car accident attorneys or visit the board-certified attorneys at our firm to understand your rights. Our truck and auto accident legal team and our Houston accident lawyers are available to evaluate your case at no cost and help you pursue every dollar you are entitled to under Texas law.