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Car accidents happen every day on Fort Worth's busy highways and intersections — from I-30 to Loop 820 to local surface streets. When they happen to you, the moments that follow can feel chaotic and disorienting. Your heart is racing, you may be in pain, and you are trying to process what just occurred while cars move around you and other drivers approach.
What you do in the immediate aftermath of a car accident can have a significant impact on both your physical recovery and your ability to pursue compensation if someone else was at fault. Here is a clear-headed guide to the steps you should take.
1. Check for Injuries and Call 911
Your safety comes first. Before anything else, check yourself and any passengers for injuries. If anyone is hurt — or even if you are not sure — call 911 immediately. Do not assume that because you feel okay in the moment, you are uninjured. Adrenaline is a powerful thing, and many serious injuries, including whiplash, internal trauma, and traumatic brain injuries, do not present symptoms right away.
Texas law requires drivers to report accidents that result in injury, death, or property damage that renders a vehicle undrivable. A police report also creates an official record of the accident, which can be valuable if you later need to file a claim.
2. Move to Safety if You Can
If your vehicle is drivable and remaining at the scene poses a safety risk — for example, if you are on a high-traffic road — move to the shoulder or to a nearby safe location. Turn on your hazard lights and set out flares or warning triangles if you have them. Do not leave the scene of the accident entirely, as this can create legal problems regardless of fault.
3. Do Not Admit Fault
This is one of the most important things to remember in the immediate aftermath of an accident: do not say anything that could be interpreted as an admission of fault. This includes apologizing, saying "I did not see you," or speculating about what happened. Even a well-intentioned comment made in the heat of the moment can be used against you later by an insurance company.
Stick to exchanging basic information and speaking with law enforcement. Save the detailed discussion of what happened for your attorney.
4. Document the Scene
If it is safe to do so, use your phone to document the accident scene thoroughly. Photograph the positions of all vehicles, visible damage to each car, skid marks, road conditions, traffic signals, and any visible injuries. Take photos from multiple angles and distances. If there are witnesses, try to get their names and contact information before they leave.
This documentation can be critical evidence if there is a dispute about how the accident occurred or who was at fault.
5. Exchange Information with the Other Driver
Collect the following information from every driver involved in the accident: full name, contact information, driver's license number, license plate number, insurance company name, and policy number. Provide your own information in return. You are legally required to do so under Texas law.
If the other driver is uncooperative or leaves the scene, make note of as many details as you can — including the make, model, and color of their vehicle — and provide this information to law enforcement when they arrive.
6. Seek Medical Attention Promptly
Even if you feel fine, see a doctor as soon as possible after the accident — ideally the same day. Some of the most serious injuries sustained in car accidents are not immediately apparent. Traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, and soft tissue damage can take hours or even days to manifest. A prompt medical evaluation creates a documented record linking your injuries to the accident, which is important for both your health and any potential legal claim.
Delaying medical care can give an insurance company grounds to argue that your injuries were not caused by the accident or were not serious enough to warrant treatment. Do not give them that opening.
7. Notify Your Insurance Company
Contact your insurance company to report the accident, but be careful about what you say. Provide the basic facts — when and where the accident occurred, the vehicles involved — but avoid giving a detailed recorded statement or accepting any blame until you have spoken with an attorney. Insurance adjusters, including those from your own company, are trained to minimize payouts. A statement made without legal guidance can be used to reduce or deny your claim.
8. Be Careful With the Other Driver's Insurance Company
If the other driver's insurance company contacts you, you are not required to give a recorded statement. In fact, it is generally in your best interest not to do so without legal representation. Their adjuster's goal is to settle your claim for as little as possible — and statements made without full knowledge of the extent of your injuries can lock you into a settlement that does not cover your actual losses.
9. Understand Texas's Fault-Based Insurance System
Texas operates under a fault-based insurance system, meaning the driver who caused the accident is generally responsible for the resulting damages. Texas also follows a modified comparative fault rule — meaning that if you were partially at fault for the accident, your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault. As long as you were not more than 50% responsible, you can still recover damages.
Insurance companies will often try to assign a greater share of fault to the injured party to reduce their liability. An experienced personal injury attorney can push back against unfair fault assignments and fight for a result that accurately reflects what happened.
10. Consult a Personal Injury Attorney
If you have been injured in a car accident in Fort Worth, speaking with a personal injury attorney before accepting any settlement offer is one of the most important steps you can take. An attorney can evaluate the full value of your claim — including medical expenses, lost wages, future care costs, and pain and suffering — and make sure you are not pressured into settling for less than you deserve. At Turner-Monahan, PLLC, we handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
We Are Here to Help
A car accident can disrupt your life in ways that go far beyond the initial crash. Our personal injury team understands what you are up against, and we are committed to making sure the insurance company does not take advantage of you during an already difficult time.
If you have questions or are ready to take the next step, the team at Turner-Monahan, PLLC, is here to help. Contact us online or call (817) 623-0129 to schedule your free consultation. Virtual appointments are available.
