What to Do After a Car Accident in Austin, TX
The first 24 hours decide your case. Follow this checklist, then call our 24/7 hotline before talking to any insurance adjuster.
On the scene
1) Call 911 if anyone is hurt. 2) Move to safety, do not leave. 3) Photograph all vehicles, damage, road, skid marks, plates, IDs, and injuries. 4) Get the other driver name, license, insurance, and plate. 5) Get the responding officer name and police report number. 6) Get contact info from witnesses.
Within 24 to 72 hours
1) See a doctor even if you "feel fine" - whiplash and TBI often appear days later, and a treatment gap kills cases. 2) Do NOT give a recorded statement to the other driver insurance company. 3) Do NOT post about the crash on social media. 4) Save all medical bills, receipts, and missed-work documentation. 5) Call our 24/7 hotline:.
Within 2 weeks
Open a Letter of Protection with an Austin physician so treatment is deferred until settlement. Let us handle every call from the at-fault insurer. Texas statute of limitations is 2 years, but evidence preservation deadlines are days, not years.
Common questions
What does it cost to hire a car accident lawyer in Austin?▾
Nothing out of pocket, ever. We work purely on contingency, which means our fee only comes out of money we win for you -- if there's no recovery, you owe us nothing. The first call is always free, any hour.
I was just in a crash in Austin -- what do I do right now?▾
Call 911 if anyone's hurt. Stay at the scene and get everyone to safety. Take photos of the cars, the road, and any visible injuries. Get the other driver's license, insurance, and plate number, plus the police report number. See a doctor within a day or two even if you feel okay. Don't give a recorded statement to the other side's insurer -- call our hotline first.
How long do I have to file a claim after a Texas car accident?▾
Two years from the crash date, for both injury and property damage claims -- that's Texas's statute of limitations, and it's the same two years for a wrongful death claim. But don't wait: surveillance footage often gets erased in 30 to 90 days and memories fade fast. Call within hours if you can.
What happens if the other driver has no insurance?▾
It happens more than you'd think -- close to 1 in 5 drivers in Texas are uninsured. If your own policy carries Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage, that's what pays, and we make sure your insurer treats that claim seriously instead of stalling.
“Got rear-ended on MoPac during rush hour and thought I'd be fighting the insurance company myself. Called the hotline instead, had an attorney on the phone in minutes, and the whole thing wrapped up in under four months with a check that covered every bill.”
“Un conductor borracho nos choco en la 79. Este equipo peleo por los danos adicionales que la ley de Texas permite en casos de DUI y consiguieron mucho mas que la oferta inicial. Atendieron todo en espanol para mi mama tambien.”
Free 24/7 consultation. No fee unless we win.
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This is attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in future matters. Content on this site is offered for general information only and is not a substitute for individual legal advice about your specific situation.