What should I do immediately after a car accident in San Antonio?

The 8 Steps to Take After a Car Accident in San Antonio

Call 911 immediately, seek medical attention the same day, document the scene thoroughly, and contact Wayne Wright LLP before giving any statement to an insurance adjuster. What you do in the first 48 hours directly determines what evidence is available for your claim — and what the insurance company will try to use against you.

Step 1: Call 911 and Get a Police Report

Texas law requires reporting accidents involving injury, death, or significant property damage. More importantly, a Bexar County police report creates an official record of the crash. Without it, the other driver's insurer has no obligation to acknowledge what happened. Request the report number at the scene and retrieve the full report from SAPD or the Bexar County Sheriff's Office within a few days.

Step 2: Seek Medical Care the Same Day

Adrenaline suppresses pain signals for hours after a serious crash. Many cervical injuries, concussions, and soft tissue injuries do not manifest until 24–72 hours later. If you wait to seek treatment, the insurance adjuster will argue your injuries were not caused by the accident. Go to an emergency room or urgent care the same day — not the next morning, not after the weekend.

Step 3: Document the Scene Thoroughly

Before any vehicles are moved, photograph: all vehicles from multiple angles, license plates, skid marks, road conditions, traffic signals, any visible injuries, and the surrounding intersection or stretch of road. If there are witnesses, get their names and phone numbers immediately — bystanders leave quickly and are often not identified in the police report.

Step 4: Exchange Information Without Admitting Fault

Get the other driver's name, license number, insurance carrier, policy number, and vehicle registration. Do not say "I'm sorry" or discuss what you were doing before the crash. These statements are admissible and insurance adjusters are trained to use them to assign fault to you under Texas's modified comparative fault system.

Step 5: Notify Your Insurance Company

Texas requires prompt notification to your own carrier. However, this notification is different from giving a recorded statement. You are required to report the accident — you are not required to provide a detailed statement before consulting with an attorney.

Step 6: Do Not Talk to the Other Driver's Insurance Adjuster

The at-fault driver's insurer will often call within hours of the accident. They will be friendly. They will ask for a "quick recorded statement to process your claim faster." Do not give it. Adjusters are trained to get you to say something that reduces or eliminates your recovery. You have no legal obligation to provide a recorded statement to the opposing insurance company.

Step 7: Preserve All Documentation

Keep every medical bill, pharmacy receipt, and record of missed work. Take dated photographs of injuries as they evolve over days and weeks. Save all communications with insurance companies in writing. This documentation is the foundation of your damages calculation.

Step 8: Contact Wayne Wright LLP

Call 210-888-0078 before giving any recorded statement to any insurance company. Wayne Wright attorneys begin preserving evidence immediately — surveillance footage is typically overwritten within 24–72 hours, witness memories fade, and physical evidence at the scene disappears. Consultations are free. There is no fee unless we win your case.