Independent reference · State by state
The crash was days ago. Here’s what matters now.
A plain-language reference for what happens after a car accident — the deadlines, the paperwork, and the phone calls, in the order they actually come at you, under your state’s rules. We are not a law firm, and we never recommend one.
2 years
to file an injury or property-damage lawsuit in Texas, counted from the day of the crash. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003
- CR-3 · ~$6
Order the crash report
The official report is the record of what happened. In Texas that’s the CR-3, ordered from TxDOT’s CRIS portal — most are ready within days of the crash.
- Day 1–3
Tell your insurer — carefully
You’re required to report the crash to your own carrier promptly. You do not owe the other driver’s insurer a recorded statement.
- Week 1+
Get checked, and keep going
Gaps in treatment are the first thing an adjuster points to. See a doctor early, follow the plan, keep every visit on record.
- Ongoing
Save every number
Medical bills, mileage, missed shifts, repair estimates. If it cost you money or time, it belongs in the file.
- 2 years
Watch the clock
Texas gives you two years. Between treatment, paperwork, and negotiation, it isn’t as long as it sounds. Know your dates from day one.
Tools
Free · no sign-up · tuned to your stateCrash checklist
Every step, checkable and saved on your phone.
CalculatorDeadline calculator
Enter your crash date; get your real dates.
TimelineClaim timeline
What happens when, from tow truck to settlement.
WorksheetDamages worksheet
What you can claim, and how the categories work.
State guides · Texas
All Texas guides →- Car Accidents Involving Passenger Vehicles in Texas: Legal Duties, Insurance Rules, and Filing DeadlinesGuides
- Dealing With Insurance Adjusters: Texas Deadlines, Rights, and Red Flags for a Fair SettlementGuides
- Economic Damages in Texas Motor Vehicle Accidents: How Financial Responsibility Law, Insurance Rules, and Liability Standards Affect Recovery of Medical Bills, Lost Wages, and Property DamageGuides
- Enhanced Damages in Texas Drunk Driving Accidents: How DWI Evidence Drives Exemplary Damage AwardsGuides
- Evidence Gathering After a Motor Vehicle Accident in Texas: Financial Responsibility Proof, Insurance Certificates, and Special Vehicle DocumentationGuides
- Excess and Additional Auto Coverage Beyond Texas Policy Limits: What the Law Actually Allows and Where Gaps RemainGuides
- Health Insurance Subrogation vs. Auto Insurance Recovery: Protecting Your Texas Settlement From Medical Bill ClaimsGuides
- Hit-and-Run Claims and Uninsured Motorist Recovery: What Actually Pays You in Texas (and the Government-Vehicle Exception Most Guides Skip)Guides
- How Texas Law Assigns Fault and Financial Responsibility in a Motor Vehicle Accident ClaimGuides
- How to Get Your CR-3 Crash Report in Texas: CRIS Retrieval Options ComparedGuides
Choose your state
Every state gets the same treatment: statewide law first, then city pages with the local courts, report pickup, and towing rules. More states are on the way — the playbook is the same everywhere; the numbers are your state’s. Want yours sooner? Tell us where you drive: hello@accidentatlas.com.