Immediate Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Austin, Texas

A collision on I-35 or surface streets in Austin can escalate quickly. If vehicles are drivable and it is safe, move to a shoulder or parking lot. Turn on hazard lights.

Call 911 when anyone reports pain, airbags deploy, fluids leak, or traffic is blocked. Travis County dispatch will route Austin police or state patrol depending on location.

Photograph all vehicles, license plates, VIN stickers, skid marks, traffic signals, and visible injuries. Austin insurers expect timestamped photos.

Collect names and phone numbers from witnesses — independent accounts matter on I-35, MoPac, US-183 and in Travis County.

Exchange insurance policy numbers and registration; note employer if the other driver was working.

Austin has Dell Seton Medical Center and St. David's Medical Center among its major facilities. Level I trauma care is available at Dell Seton Medical Center at UT Austin.

Whiplash, concussion, and internal injuries may appear hours later. A same-day urgent care or ER visit creates a medical record insurers cannot easily dismiss.

Texas requires crash reporting when injuries, death, or significant property damage occur. Minimum liability limits are 30/60/25.

Cooperate with officers; request a copy of the report through local police. If police do not respond, check https://www.txdot.gov/ for self-report thresholds.

Notify your carrier with basic facts — date, location, vehicles involved. Decline recorded statements until you understand your coverage and injuries.

Texas uses 51% bar comparative negligence; anything you say can affect fault allocation.

Dashcam, Ring doorbell, and business security footage near I-35 downtown is often deleted within 7–30 days. Send written preservation letters when appropriate.

Save repair estimates, rental receipts, and mileage to medical appointments.

Consider a free consultation if you were hospitalized, fault is disputed, a commercial vehicle was involved, or the adjuster offers a quick settlement before treatment finishes.

WreckMatch LLC connects Austin residents with licensed Texas attorneys — we are a referral service, not a law firm.

Austin residents often use Dell Seton Medical Center, St. David's Medical Center, Ascension Seton after serious collisions. Level I trauma care is available at Dell Seton Medical Center at UT Austin.

Document every provider visit — gaps in treatment are a common reason TX insurers reduce settlement offers.

Keep receipts for prescriptions, imaging (MRI/CT), physical therapy, and medical transport.

The metro area sees roughly 18,000 reported crashes annually (est.). High-risk areas include I-35 downtown; MoPac at US-183; I-35 at US-290.

If your collision occurred near I-35, note mile markers, exit numbers, and direction of travel for the police report.

Texas DOT data is available via https://www.txdot.gov/ — useful when disputing fault or road conditions.

Request the official crash report through local law enforcement. Travis County District Courts handles many civil injury filings in the region.

Business security video near Austin retail corridors is often deleted within 7–30 days — send preservation letters quickly when appropriate.

The Austin Bar Association offers lawyer-referral resources; WreckMatch LLC can also connect you with independent Texas attorneys at no obligation.

WreckMatch LLC is a legal referral service — not a law firm. This Austin guide is general education only and does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Laws and insurance rules change; verify all deadlines, coverage, and rights with a licensed Texas attorney before making decisions about your claim.

Minor property-damage claims in Austin may resolve in weeks, but injury claims involving treatment, lost wages, or disputed fault often take months. Insurers may request recorded statements, independent medical exams, and broad medical authorizations — review each request carefully.

Texas uses 51% bar comparative negligence with a 2-year statute of limitations for most injury cases. Calendar your deadline from the date of injury.

If you were transported from I-35 to Dell Seton Medical Center, keep ambulance, ER, and follow-up bills organized. UM/UIM and MedPay endorsements may apply when the other driver is underinsured.

Organize a folder (physical or digital) for every document tied to your Austin crash: police report number, insurance claim numbers, tow and storage receipts, and rental car agreements.

Request itemized medical bills from Dell Seton Medical Center rather than summary statements — itemized bills help catch billing errors and support future negotiations.