Reporting Rules After a Car Accident

Informing the local police department or sheriff’s office of your car accident is a legal requirement in Texas. That applies to any crash where someone was injured or killed, or if a vehicle was damaged too much to be driven away safely. It is a good idea to err on the side of caution and always inform law enforcement of a crash.

Telling Your Insurance Company

Texas law does not require you to tell your insurance provider that you were in a car crash. That said, your policy may require you to report, and in a timely manner. There is no reason to delay in telling your insurance company that you were in an accident. Discussing the specifics of the crash, however, needs to be done carefully.

Mistakes in Reporting Your Crash

The last thing you want to do is make a statement to police, insurance representatives, bystanders, or anyone else that hurts your ability to collect compensation for the harm you’ve suffered. The first thing to understand is that you don’t have all, or even most of the answers about your accident. 

There are countless factors that can lead to a car or truck accident: 

• Was another driver drunk, sleep-deprived, distracted, or otherwise not in a position to drive safely? 
• Were all the vehicles involved in perfect working order before the accident? 
• Did the accident happen in a spot that sees a lot of crashes? 

You can’t know the answers to all of these questions when you speak to your insurance provider.

The lack of those answers is why it’s so important not to volunteer your opinions on things like the cause of the accident. You might think the accident was your fault, when in reality it would have been avoided if the other driver had been paying attention. 

You can only hurt yourself by volunteering information at this stage. Speak to an experienced lawyer before making any statements beyond basic facts like where and when the accident happened.

Get Legal Help Now

There is no substitute for experience. At the Law Firm of Ted B. Lyon & Associates in Dallas-Fort Worth, our attorneys have the experience, resources, and skill to protect you after your crash. 

We can help you understand your rights. And we can handle all the necessary communications with insurance companies, yours and those of other parties involved. Call us today at 877-Ted-Lyon / 877-833-5966 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with a dedicated car accident lawyer.