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After a Fort Worth car accident, the first hour shapes both your safety and any claim you might bring. Texas law puts specific duties on you at the scene, and the steps you take or skip affect everything from the police report to how much an insurer eventually pays.
What should you do right after a car accident in Fort Worth?
Stop at the scene, call 911, get medical help, document everything, and report the crash, then talk to a lawyer before giving any recorded statement to an insurer.
Before the Adjuster Calls: The Short Version
If you read nothing else, these are the points that matter most in the minutes and days after a crash.
- Texas law requires you to stop, give your information, and render aid at the scene (Transportation Code Sections 550.021 to 550.023)
- Call 911 and notify police when there is injury, death, or disabling vehicle damage (Section 550.026)
- The responding officer files the CR-3 crash report; the old CR-2 driver form was discontinued in 2017
- Get medical care even if you feel fine, because serious injuries often surface later
- Photograph the scene and collect witness information before you leave
- You generally have two years to file an injury claim in Texas (Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003)
Each of these is explained in order below, so you know what to expect and what to do.
What Texas Law Requires at the Scene
The moment a crash happens, the Texas Transportation Code puts three legal duties on you, and skipping them can turn a bad day into a criminal charge.
Stop and stay
Leaving the scene is a crime. Under Sections 550.021 and 550.022, you must stop, and leaving a crash that injured someone is a felony. If your vehicle still drives and it is safe, move it out of live traffic first.
Give information and render aid
Section 550.023 requires you to share your name, address, and insurance details, and to help anyone who is hurt. In practice, rendering aid usually means calling 911 and staying until help arrives.
Report the crash
Under Section 550.026, you must notify police right away when there is injury, death, or disabling vehicle damage. In Fort Worth, that means the Fort Worth Police Department.
These duties apply no matter who caused the crash, so handle them before you start thinking about fault or insurance.
The Crash Report: CR-3, Not the Old Blue Form
The police report is the single document your whole claim will run on, and Texas changed how it works, so it is worth understanding.
- A responding officer files the CR-3, the Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report, with the state within 10 days, under Section 550.062, when a crash causes injury or property damage of $1,000 or more
- The old CR-2 driver self-report, known as the blue form, was discontinued on September 1, 2017, and no longer satisfies any legal duty
- If no officer responds, document everything yourself and confirm a report was made, because the duty to report does not lift just because nobody showed up
- You can request your finished CR-3 from the Texas Crash Records Information System or through the Fort Worth Police Department
Because the CR-3 becomes the backbone of your insurance claim, review it for errors as soon as you can get a copy.
Getting Medical Care and Documenting the Scene
Your health comes first, and the evidence you gather in the same window protects your claim. Do both while the scene is still in front of you.
- Get checked even if you feel okay, since adrenaline masks pain and concussions, soft-tissue injuries, and internal injuries can appear days later
- In serious crashes, Fort Worth trauma care often runs through the Level I trauma center at John Peter Smith Hospital, with Texas Health Harris Methodist and other hospitals nearby
- Photograph the vehicles, their positions, road conditions, traffic signs, and any visible injuries
- Collect the other driver’s insurance details and the names and numbers of any witnesses
- Keep every bill, medical record, and repair estimate in one place
A gap in treatment or thin documentation is the first thing an insurer reaches for when it wants to reduce what it pays.
Dealing With Insurance in an At-Fault State
Texas insurance rules decide who pays and how much, and knowing them keeps you from giving away leverage early.
Who pays
Texas is an at-fault (tort) state, so the driver responsible for the crash, through their insurer, is the one who pays. State minimum liability coverage is just 30/60/25, which often falls short in a serious wreck.
How fault affects your recovery
Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule under Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 33.001. If you are found more than 50% at fault, you recover nothing, which is exactly why adjusters work to shift blame onto you.
Talking to adjusters
You are not required to give the other driver’s insurer a recorded statement, and doing so before you understand your injuries can quietly damage your claim.
For the state’s coverage requirements, see the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, and for practical guidance on handling a claim, the Insurance Information Institute is a useful neutral source.
When to Call a Fort Worth Car Accident Lawyer
Not every minor fender-bender needs an attorney, but several situations call for one before you talk to an insurer.
- Anyone was seriously hurt, or the crash was fatal
- Fault is disputed, or the other driver blames you
- The insurer denies, delays, or lowballs the claim
- The crash involved multiple vehicles, a commercial truck, or an uninsured driver
In those cases, Tate Law Offices handles Fort Worth car accident cases on a contingency fee basis, so there is no fee unless you recover.
Fort Worth Car Accident FAQ
These are the questions Fort Worth drivers ask us most in the days after a crash.
Do I have to report a car accident in Fort Worth?
Yes, if it caused injury, death, or disabling vehicle damage. Texas Transportation Code Section 550.026 requires you to notify police right away, and the Fort Worth Police Department files the official CR-3 report.
How long do I have to file a claim after a Fort Worth crash?
Generally two years from the date of the crash, under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, though acting sooner protects the evidence.
Should I see a doctor if I feel fine?
Yes. Concussions and soft-tissue injuries often show up days later, and a delay in treatment gives insurers a reason to question whether the crash caused your injuries.
What if the accident was partly my fault?
You can still recover as long as you were 50% or less at fault. Texas bars recovery only when you are found more than half responsible.
Do I still need to fill out the old CR-2 blue form?
No. Texas discontinued the CR-2 driver report in 2017. The officer’s CR-3 report is now the official record of the crash.
Talk to a Fort Worth Car Accident Lawyer
If you were hurt in a Fort Worth crash and someone else was at fault, you do not have to sort out the police report, the deadlines, and the insurer on your own.
- A free consultation, available 24/7
- No fee unless we recover for you
- Direct work with the Tate and Rehmet family attorneys
Call Tate Law Offices at (972) 499-4813 to talk through what happened and what your claim may be worth.
