Injured in a Houston Car Accident: Critical Steps to Protect Your Claim
Houston’s roadways are among the most dangerous in the nation. The Texas Department of Transportation reports thousands of serious injury crashes in Harris County each year, and the Houston metropolitan area consistently ranks among the highest in the state for traffic fatalities. If you have been injured in a car accident in Houston, the steps you take immediately after the collision can significantly affect your ability to recover fair compensation for your injuries.
First and foremost, seek medical attention. Even if you believe your injuries are minor, many serious conditions — including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and internal bleeding — may not present obvious symptoms immediately after an accident. The adrenaline response can mask pain for hours or even days. A prompt medical evaluation creates a documented connection between the accident and your injuries, which is essential for your legal claim.
At the scene, if you are physically able, document everything. Use your phone to photograph vehicle damage, skid marks, traffic signals, road conditions, and any visible injuries. Obtain the other driver’s insurance information, driver’s license number, and license plate. If there are witnesses, get their contact information. Request a copy of the police report — in Houston, you can obtain this from the Houston Police Department or Harris County Sheriff’s Office, depending on jurisdiction.
Do not provide recorded statements to the other driver’s insurance company without first consulting an attorney. Insurance adjusters are trained to ask questions designed to elicit admissions that can be used to reduce or deny your claim. Common tactics include asking whether you feel ‘okay’ (which can later be characterized as an admission that you were not injured) or asking leading questions about the circumstances of the accident. You are not legally obligated to provide a recorded statement to the adverse insurer.
Texas follows a fault-based system for car accidents, meaning the at-fault driver (or their insurer) is responsible for compensating injured parties. Texas also requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance of $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury. However, these minimums are often insufficient to cover serious injuries. If the at-fault driver is underinsured or uninsured, your own underinsured/uninsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may provide additional recovery.
The statute of limitations for personal injury claims arising from car accidents in Texas is two years from the date of the accident. While two years may seem like ample time, building a strong case requires early action — evidence deteriorates, witnesses become unavailable, and medical records become harder to obtain as time passes. Consulting an attorney promptly allows for preservation of critical evidence and early engagement with the insurance process.
About the Author: Jonathon G. Nixon is the managing attorney of Nixon Law PLLC, a Houston-based litigation firm focused on property insurance disputes, construction defects, personal injury, and commercial litigation. Contact Nixon Law PLLC at (713) 482-1523 or jnixon@nixon-law.com.