Get medical care the same day, photograph everything before the scene is cleared, get the HPD report number, report the crash to your own insurer without giving the other carrier a recorded statement, and call a lawyer before accepting any offer.
Houston scenes are cleared fast, especially on the freeways, so the first minutes matter. Photograph the vehicles, the road, skid marks, debris, the signals, and your injuries. Get names and numbers from witnesses; passing drivers who stopped rarely come back.
Get examined the same day even if you feel fine. Adrenaline hides injuries, and a gap between the crash and the first visit is the insurer’s favorite argument. Memorial Hermann, Ben Taub, and Houston Methodist handle serious injuries; an urgent care visit starts the record for lesser ones.
Ask the officer for the crash report number. Houston Police Department reports, on Texas form CR-3, are available through the TxDOT Crash Report Online Purchase System in about ten days.
Report the crash to your own insurer, as your policy requires, but decline a recorded statement to the other driver’s carrier. Keep every bill and receipt. Stay off social media about the crash. Then call Owsley Law Firm. Both Houston offices are minutes from the courthouse, the consultation is free, and there is no fee unless the firm wins.
What to do, step by step
- Move to safety if you can, call 911, and ask for medical help even if you feel fine.
- Photograph the vehicles, the plates, the road, signals, debris, and your injuries before the scene is cleared.
- Get names, phone numbers, and insurance details from every driver, and contact information from witnesses.
- Ask the officer for the crash report number and the agency that investigated it.
- See a doctor the same day, and follow the treatment plan.
- Report the crash to your own insurer, decline a recorded statement to the other driver's carrier, and call a lawyer.
Texas law sets the baseline. Transportation Code Chapter 550 requires drivers involved in a crash to stop, exchange information, and render reasonable aid, and it requires a report to police when there is an injury or death. If no officer investigates, there is no longer a driver's own crash report to file with TxDOT (that requirement was repealed in 2017), so photograph everything, exchange information, and report the crash to your insurer. Leaving before exchanging information can be a crime, so stay until it is done.
In Houston, the agency that responds depends on where you are. The Houston Police Department covers streets inside the city, the Harris County Sheriff and constables cover unincorporated areas, and DPS often handles the freeways outside city limits. The report number should come from whoever worked the scene, and the report is later available through the TxDOT online system.
Vehicle towing in Houston deserves a mention. If your car is towed to a storage facility, storage charges accumulate daily and facilities are regulated under Occupations Code Chapter 2303, which caps the daily storage fee. Retrieve personal belongings promptly, ask for paperwork, and tell your lawyer where the vehicle is, because it may contain event data that needs to be preserved before repairs or salvage.
Finally, the first days shape the claim. Keep a simple record of symptoms, missed work, and expenses. Avoid posting about the crash or your recovery online, since insurers review social media. And do not sign anything from an insurer before you understand what it releases.
Mistakes that cost people money
- Leaving the scene before exchanging information and getting the report number.
- Declining medical care because adrenaline hides the pain.
- Letting a towing company take the vehicle without knowing where it went.
- Posting photos or comments about the crash or your activities on social media.
Related questions
Do I have to call the police for a minor crash in Houston?
You must report to police when there is an injury, death, or significant damage. Even in a minor crash, a report creates an official record of the parties and insurance that protects you later.
Which hospital should I go to after a Houston crash?
For serious injuries, emergency responders will take you to the appropriate trauma center. For lesser injuries, any emergency room or urgent care that documents your symptoms starts the medical record, which is what matters most.
Should I move my car after a crash?
If it is safe and the car is drivable, moving it out of traffic is reasonable and often required. Photograph the positions first if you can, and never put yourself at risk to preserve a scene.
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