What to Do After a Car Accident in Dallas

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Dallas roads are some of the busiest, and most dangerous, in Texas. According to TxDOT crash data for 2024, one person was killed every 2 hours and 7 minutes, one person was injured every 2 minutes and 5 seconds, and a reportable crash occurred every 57 seconds across Texas. If you drive on I-35E near downtown Dallas, I-635 (the LBJ Freeway), or even surface streets in areas like Deep Ellum or Oak Cliff, you share that risk every single day. Knowing what to do after a car accident in Dallas is not just smart, it can protect your health, your rights, and your ability to recover fair compensation. At Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys, based in Denton, Texas, we work with injured people across the Dallas-Fort Worth area. This page walks you through each step you need to take, from the moment of impact to the moment you call our office.

Table of Contents

Step 1: Stop, Stay Safe, and Call 911

The first thing Texas law requires after a crash is simple: stop. Under Texas Transportation Code Section 550.021, the operator of a vehicle involved in a collision resulting in injury or death must immediately stop at the scene, return to the scene if not already there, and remain until all legal duties are met. Leaving the scene when someone is hurt is a criminal offense in Texas, and it can result in felony charges. Even in a minor crash with only property damage, failing to stop is a Class B misdemeanor under Section 550.022 when damage exceeds $200.

Once you have stopped, check yourself and your passengers for injuries. Do not assume you are fine just because you feel okay in the moment. Adrenaline masks pain. Call 911 immediately, even for crashes that look minor. Police officers will document the scene, and that report becomes critical evidence. If the crash happens on a Dallas freeway like I-30 or the Dallas North Tollway and all vehicles can be safely driven, Texas Transportation Code Section 550.022 requires you to move your vehicle to a frontage road, a designated accident investigation site, or the nearest suitable cross street to avoid blocking traffic. Do not move the vehicles if there are serious injuries or if doing so would create more danger.

While you wait for first responders, turn on your hazard lights. If you have road flares or reflective triangles, use them. Keep yourself and others away from moving traffic. Do not stand in an active lane of traffic on a busy road like I-35E near the Reunion Tower area, where high-speed traffic is constant. Your physical safety comes before anything else at this stage.

Step 2: Gather Evidence and Exchange Information

Evidence collected at the scene of a crash can make or break a personal injury claim. Under Texas Transportation Code Section 550.023, every driver involved in a crash must provide their name, address, vehicle registration number, and insurance information to the other parties involved. If asked, they must also show their driver’s license. Make sure you get all of this from the other driver. Do not rely on the police report alone, because sometimes information gets recorded incorrectly.

Pull out your phone and start documenting. Photograph every vehicle from multiple angles, the point of impact, skid marks, road conditions, traffic signals, and any visible injuries. If the crash happened near a recognizable location, such as the intersection at Loop 12 and I-30 or near the American Airlines Center area, note the exact location. Photographs with GPS metadata can place the crash at a specific spot, which helps establish fault.

Talk to witnesses while they are still at the scene. Ask for their names and phone numbers. Witness statements carry real weight, especially in disputes about who had the right of way or who ran a red light. If a business is nearby, such as a gas station or restaurant, ask if they have security cameras that may have captured the crash. That footage can disappear quickly if you do not act fast.

Under Texas Transportation Code Section 550.065, crash reports are available to parties directly involved in the accident. You are entitled to request a copy of the CR-3 (Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report) filed by the investigating officer. This report includes the officer’s findings, a diagram of the crash, and notes on any citations issued. Your attorney can use this to build a strong picture of what happened and who was at fault. Federal crash data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that Dallas continues to have one of the highest fatal crash rates among large American cities, averaging nearly 14 fatal crashes per 100,000 residents annually between 2014 and 2023. Solid evidence is your best tool in a city with that kind of crash volume.

Step 3: Seek Medical Care Right Away

Getting medical treatment after a crash is not just about your health. It is also about protecting your legal claim. Insurance companies look for gaps in medical care. If you wait days or weeks to see a doctor, the insurance adjuster will argue that your injuries were not serious, or that something else caused them after the crash. Do not give them that opening.

Go to an emergency room or urgent care facility the same day as the crash, even if you feel okay. Injuries like whiplash, traumatic brain injuries, herniated discs, and internal injuries often do not show obvious symptoms for 24 to 72 hours. A doctor can identify these injuries through imaging and examination before they become worse. Tell your doctor exactly what happened and describe every symptom, no matter how small it seems.

Follow every instruction your doctor gives you. Attend all follow-up appointments. Fill your prescriptions. Keep records of every medical visit, every bill, and every out-of-pocket expense. Texas law allows injured accident victims to recover compensation for medical bills, both past and future. But that recovery depends on having clear, documented proof that your injuries were real, treated, and connected to the crash. According to TxDOT data, 14,334 people suffered injuries in Dallas car accidents in 2024 alone, including 1,081 serious injuries. Many of those victims did not realize how serious their injuries were until days later. Do not let a delay in treatment cost you your claim.

If you were involved in a crash on a road like US-75 (Central Expressway) or near a busy area like Uptown Dallas, and you were transported by ambulance, that transport record is part of your medical documentation. Keep it. TxDOT classifies injuries requiring ambulance transport as “suspected serious injuries” in crash reports. That classification matters when valuing your claim.

Step 4: Be Careful with Insurance Companies

After a crash, the other driver’s insurance company will likely contact you quickly. They may sound helpful and sympathetic. They are not on your side. Their goal is to settle your claim for as little money as possible. Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance adjuster before talking to an attorney. Anything you say can be used to reduce or deny your claim.

Texas uses a modified comparative fault system. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 33.001, you can still recover damages as long as you are not more than 50 percent at fault for the crash. But if the insurance company can get you to say something that suggests you share blame, they will use that to reduce your payout. For example, if you say something like “I didn’t see them coming,” the adjuster may use that to argue you were not paying attention.

Do not accept a quick settlement offer without understanding the full value of your claim. Early offers rarely cover the full cost of your injuries, especially if you are still treating. Once you sign a release, you cannot go back and ask for more money, even if your injuries turn out to be worse than expected. Texas law does not allow you to reopen a settled claim. The car accident attorney at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys can review any offer before you accept it and advise you on whether it fairly covers your damages.

Under Texas Transportation Code Section 601.293, a driver who fails to provide evidence of financial responsibility after a crash may be brought before a magistrate, who can order the vehicle impounded under Section 601.294 if proof of insurance is not provided. If the other driver was uninsured, you still have options under Texas law, including uninsured motorist coverage. An attorney can help you understand all available avenues for recovery.

Step 5: Contact a Dallas Car Accident Attorney

Hiring an attorney after a Dallas car accident is one of the most important decisions you can make. Texas law gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit under the statute of limitations. That may sound like a lot of time, but evidence disappears, witnesses forget details, and insurance companies use delay to their advantage. The sooner you involve an attorney, the better your chances of building a strong case.

A car accident attorney handles the investigation, gathers the CR-3 crash report, requests medical records, and communicates with insurance companies on your behalf. They can also identify all liable parties. In some crashes, liability extends beyond the other driver. If a commercial vehicle was involved, the employer may share liability. If a defective road condition near a dangerous Dallas intersection played a role, a government entity may be responsible. Identifying every source of liability takes experience and resources.

Compensation in a Texas car accident claim can include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and in serious cases, damages for permanent disability or wrongful death. Every case is different, and the value of your claim depends on the specific facts. No attorney can guarantee a particular outcome, and past results in other cases do not predict what you will recover in yours. What we can tell you is that having skilled personal injury lawyers in your corner gives you the best chance of being treated fairly.

Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys serves clients throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including those involved in crashes near Denton’s Loop 288, I-35E through Lewisville, or on highways running through Flower Mound and Garland. Whether your crash happened on a Dallas highway or a neighborhood street near White Rock Lake, our team is ready to help. Call us today at (940) 800-2500 for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. The car accident lawyer at our firm handles cases on a contingency fee basis, so there is no financial risk to you in reaching out.

If you were hurt in a crash in Garland, Plano, or anywhere in the greater Dallas area, you deserve an attorney who knows the local roads, the local courts, and the tactics insurance companies use in this region. Our team at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys, based in Denton, is here for you. Contact the car accident lawyer serving Garland or the car accident lawyer serving Plano to discuss your case at no cost.

FAQs About What to Do After a Car Accident in Dallas

Do I have to call the police after a car accident in Dallas?

Texas law requires you to report a crash to law enforcement if it results in injury, death, or property damage over a certain threshold. Even in minor crashes, calling the police is strongly recommended. An officer will file a CR-3 crash report, which becomes one of the most important documents in any insurance claim or lawsuit. Without a police report, it becomes much harder to prove what happened and who was at fault. If police do not respond to the scene, you may be required under Texas Transportation Code Section 550.061 to file your own written report with TxDOT within 10 days if the crash was not investigated by an officer.

What should I not say to the other driver’s insurance company after a crash?

Do not apologize, admit fault, or speculate about what caused the crash. Avoid giving a recorded statement before speaking with an attorney. Even casual comments like “I’m okay” can be used to argue that you were not seriously injured. Insurance adjusters are trained to ask questions in ways that minimize your claim. The safest approach is to provide only your basic contact information and tell the adjuster you will have your attorney contact them. Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys can handle all insurance communication on your behalf once you retain our firm.

How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Texas?

Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the date of the accident. If you miss this deadline, you lose the right to sue, no matter how serious your injuries are. Certain situations, such as crashes involving government vehicles or wrongful death claims, may involve different deadlines or notice requirements. Do not wait to find out which rules apply to your case. Contact an attorney as soon as possible after your crash.

What if the other driver had no insurance?

Texas law requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance under the Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act, codified in Texas Transportation Code Chapter 601. But not every driver follows the law. If the at-fault driver was uninsured, you may be able to recover through your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, if you have it. Texas does not require drivers to carry UM coverage, but insurers must offer it. If you declined it, other options may still exist, including a personal lawsuit against the at-fault driver. An attorney can help you identify every available source of compensation.

Can I still recover compensation if I was partly at fault for the crash?

Yes, in most cases. Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 33.001. As long as you are found to be 50 percent or less at fault for the crash, you can still recover damages. However, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 20 percent at fault and your total damages are $100,000, you would recover $80,000. Insurance companies will often try to assign you more blame than is fair to reduce what they owe. Having an attorney who can push back on those fault determinations is critical to protecting your recovery.

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