This blog was posted by Shaw-Cowart Personal Injury Lawyer in Austin, representing clients in Austin and the surrounding areas

What to Do After a Car Accident in Austin

A car accident in Austin starts a legal clock the moment the crash happens. Texas law gives most injury victims two years from the date of the wreck to file a claim, under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003. The Austin car accident lawyers at Shaw Cowart use that window to gather evidence, document injuries, and build a claim before key proof disappears. Knowing the right steps early protects both your health and your right to recover.

Austin roads are among the busiest in Texas, and the danger is constant. The Texas Department of Transportation reports that the state has not recorded a single day without a traffic death since November 7, 2000 — more than two decades of daily fatalities (TxDOT, End the Streak TX). For drivers in Travis County, that statistic is a reminder that even an ordinary commute carries real risk. Austin car accident attorneys see the aftermath every day: medical bills, missed work, and insurance companies that move fast to limit what they pay.

What you do in the first hours and days shapes everything that follows. The right actions preserve evidence and strengthen your claim; the wrong ones hand the insurance company reasons to deny it. Austin car accident attorneys consistently point to the same early mistakes — skipping medical care, admitting fault at the scene, and giving recorded statements — as the choices that quietly sink otherwise strong cases. The steps below explain what to do instead.

Get Medical Care Right Away

Prompt medical care is the single most important step after a crash. Adrenaline masks pain, and serious injuries like concussions, internal bleeding, and soft-tissue damage often show no symptoms for hours or days. Seeing a doctor immediately creates a medical record that ties your injuries directly to the accident. Without that record, an insurer will argue your injuries came from something else, and that argument is far harder to beat weeks later.

Document the Scene

Evidence at the scene is the foundation of your claim, and it vanishes quickly. If you are physically able, photograph vehicle damage, license plates, road conditions, traffic signs, and any visible injuries. Collect the other driver’s name, insurance information, and contact details for witnesses. Call 911 so officers create an official crash report — that document carries weight with insurers and courts because it records the responding officer’s neutral account of what happened.

Be Careful What You Say

Your words at the scene can be used against you. A simple apology or an offhand “I didn’t see them” can be treated as an admission of fault, even when the other driver caused the crash. Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 33.001: if you are found more than 50 percent at fault, you recover nothing. Stick to the facts with police, and let your attorney handle conversations about fault.

Do Not Give the Insurance Company a Recorded Statement

The other driver’s insurance adjuster is not on your side. Adjusters are trained to ask questions that lead you into statements that reduce your payout, and Texas law does not require you to give the other side a recorded statement. A friendly “How are you feeling?” can become evidence that your injuries are minor. The safest response is to decline politely and refer the adjuster to your attorney, who can communicate on your behalf without putting your claim at risk.

Understand What Your Claim May Be Worth

A car accident claim is worth more than the dent in your bumper. Under Texas law, an injured driver can seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, future treatment, property damage, and pain and suffering. The value depends on the severity of your injuries and how the crash affects your ability to work and live. Insurers often make a fast, low offer before the full extent of an injury is known — once you accept and sign a release, you cannot reopen the claim, even if your condition worsens.

Why Acting Quickly Matters

Time works against accident victims. Surveillance footage is overwritten, skid marks fade, witnesses forget, and vehicles get repaired or scrapped. The two-year filing deadline is the outer limit, not a target — the strongest cases are built in the first weeks, while evidence is fresh. Austin car accident attorneys move early to send preservation letters, secure footage, and consult accident-reconstruction experts before that proof is gone.

Common Causes of Austin Car Accidents

Most Austin crashes trace back to a handful of preventable behaviors. Recognizing them helps establish how a collision happened and who is responsible:

• Distracted driving — texting, navigation apps, and phone use that pull attention from the road.
• Speeding — higher speeds on I-35, MoPac, and US-183 leave less time to react and cause more severe injuries.
• Impaired driving — alcohol and drugs remain a leading factor in fatal Texas crashes.
• Failure to yield and running red lights — common causes of intersection collisions across the city.
• Fatigue — drowsy driving that slows reaction time as much as alcohol.

How Shaw Cowart Helps Austin Crash Victims

The right legal team levels a fight that is otherwise lopsided. Insurance companies have lawyers and adjusters working to minimize your claim from the first phone call. Shaw Cowart investigates the crash, handles the insurers, calculates the true value of your losses, and pushes for full compensation — so you can focus on recovering. The firm works on a contingency basis, which means you pay no attorney’s fees unless and until your case is won.

If you or a loved one was hurt in a crash, talk to the Austin car accident attorneys at Shaw Cowart before you speak with an insurance adjuster. The consultation is free, and the call costs you nothing. Contact Shaw Cowart today at [PHONE] to learn what your claim may be worth and how to protect your rights under Texas law.

What to Do After a Car Accident in Texas — And Why Your Insurance Coverage Determines Your Rights

The moments after a car accident are disorienting. Adrenaline is running, the scene may be chaotic, and the decisions made in that window — who you speak with, what you say, whether you seek medical attention, and who you call first — can have a lasting impact on your ability to recover compensation. Understanding what to do immediately after a motor vehicle accident, and why having proper insurance coverage matters to your legal case, is essential for every Texas driver.

If you have already been in an accident, the single most important step is to consult with a personal injury attorney before speaking substantively with any insurance company — including your own. Most Texas personal injury attorneys offer free telephone consultations and can tell you quickly whether you have a viable case. If medical treatment is needed and you don’t have insurance, an attorney can refer you to a physician who will treat you immediately without upfront payment, with payment deferred until your case is resolved. You do not need to delay medical care because of insurance concerns.

Why Liability Insurance Is Required — And What Happens Without It

Texas law requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance. This requirement exists to protect other drivers from bearing the financial consequences of someone else’s negligence. But many Texans don’t realize that being uninsured at the time of an accident doesn’t just create legal exposure — it directly affects what you can recover as an injured victim, even if the accident wasn’t your fault.

If you were driving without minimum liability insurance coverage at the time of an accident in Texas, you are generally not entitled to general damages. General damages cover compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life — the non-economic categories that often represent the largest portion of a personal injury award. Without liability coverage at the time of the accident, your recoverable damages may be limited to out-of-pocket economic losses only: property damage, medical expenses, medication costs, and documented lost wages.

This means that even if the other driver was 100% at fault, your failure to carry required liability insurance can significantly cap your recovery. Most personal injury attorneys will not take an uninsured motorist’s case on contingency for this reason — the value of the claim is simply too limited to justify the time and resources required.

What Liability Insurance Actually Covers

Liability insurance is the foundation of every auto insurance policy — the coverage that protects other people from the harm you cause. It covers the losses of other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians when you are at fault in an accident, up to your policy’s dollar limits. Some liability policies cover you in any vehicle you drive, including rentals. Others are limited to specifically listed vehicles. Knowing the scope of your own policy — by reading it directly, not just relying on a phone conversation with your agent — is important.

The state minimum liability coverage in Texas is $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. These minimums are dangerously inadequate in today’s environment. A single-vehicle collision can produce more than $20,000 in property damage. A moderate injury requiring surgery, hospitalization, and physical therapy can generate $100,000 or more in medical expenses. If your liability limits are exhausted and you caused the accident, you may be personally responsible for the balance.

Additionally, some liability policies exclude household family members from making claims against you — meaning your spouse or child injured in your vehicle while you were at fault may not be covered under your own policy. Reviewing this exclusion carefully and asking your insurance agent specifically about coverage for passengers and household members is strongly recommended.

The Right Coverage Amount

The general principle when purchasing liability insurance is straightforward: buy as much as you can reasonably afford. The cost difference between minimum coverage and more substantial limits is often modest — but the financial exposure of carrying minimum coverage can be enormous. A judgment against you that exceeds your policy limits is your personal financial responsibility.

Texas also offers a personal umbrella policy as an option for additional coverage above standard auto limits. For drivers with significant assets to protect, umbrella coverage provides an extra layer of security at relatively low cost.

What to Do at the Scene of an Accident

Regardless of insurance coverage, the steps you take at the scene of a car accident are critical. Call 911. Seek medical attention for anyone injured. Document the scene with photographs. Exchange insurance information and contact details with the other driver. Get the names and contact information of any witnesses. Do not admit fault, apologize, or speculate about the cause of the accident.

See a doctor promptly after the accident, even if you feel fine. Many serious injuries — soft tissue damage, disc herniations, and traumatic brain injury among them — have delayed symptom onset. A medical record that begins close in time to the crash is far more credible than one that starts days or weeks later.

Before providing recorded statements to any insurance adjuster, consult a personal injury attorney. What you say in those early conversations can be used against your claim.