Just Been in a Car Accident in Dallas–Fort Worth?

Your safety comes first. Before thinking about vehicle damage, insurance, or fault, take a breath and check whether you or your passengers are hurt.

Call 911 even if injuries seem minor. Texas law requires drivers to report any accident involving injury, death, or property damage exceeding $1,000. The Dallas Police Department (DPD), Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD), or the relevant suburban agency will respond and create an official crash report — a critical piece of evidence for any future claim.

Adrenaline masks pain. Injuries like whiplash, concussions, herniated discs, and internal bleeding often don't produce symptoms for hours or even days. Don't tell anyone at the scene "I'm fine" — that statement can be used against you later by an insurance adjuster looking for reasons to deny or minimize your claim.

The DFW metro is the fourth-largest metro area in the United States, with over 8 million residents and massive daily traffic volumes. Dallas recorded approximately 210 fatal crashes in 2024, while Fort Worth saw 12,865 total crashes with 116 deaths. Speed has been the leading factor in fatal Dallas crashes in nine of the last ten years. You are not alone, and there is a clear path forward.

If your vehicle is drivable and you're not seriously injured, pull to the shoulder, a parking lot, or a side street to avoid blocking traffic. Turn on your hazard lights. DFW's freeway network — I-35E, I-35W, I-30, I-635 (LBJ Freeway), I-20, US-75 (Central Expressway), SH-114 (Airport Freeway), and SH-121/Sam Rayburn Tollway — carries enormous traffic volumes, and a disabled vehicle on any of these corridors creates dangerous secondary crash risk.

The intersection of I-30 and I-35E south of downtown Dallas is one of the most crash-prone interchanges in the region, where high speeds meet complex merging patterns. I-635 between US-75 and I-30 is another high-fatality stretch, particularly near the Skillman Street interchange, which logged over 250 crashes in a recent five-year period. If your accident happened on one of these corridors, getting out of the travel lanes quickly is critical.

If you cannot move the car, stay inside with your seatbelt on and your hazard lights activated until first responders arrive. Standing on the shoulder of a DFW freeway is extremely dangerous, especially during rush hour or in the rain.

Pull out your phone and photograph everything: all vehicles involved from multiple angles, the intersection or stretch of road where the crash happened, traffic signals or signs, skid marks, debris, road conditions, weather conditions, and any visible injuries. These photos become evidence that insurance adjusters and attorneys rely on.

Exchange information with the other driver: full name, phone number, insurance company and policy number, driver's license number, and license plate number. If there are witnesses, ask for their names and phone numbers — witness testimony can make or break a disputed fault claim, especially on DFW's massive multi-lane freeways where accidents happen fast.

Do not apologize or admit fault at the scene, even if you think you might be partially responsible. Fault determination in Texas is a legal question that depends on all the evidence — not a split-second impression while you're shaken up at the scene.

If DPD or FWPD responded to the scene, they'll generate a crash report automatically. If officers did not respond — which can happen given the sheer volume of daily crashes — you should file a report yourself.

Texas law (Tex. Transp. Code § 550.062) requires drivers to file a crash report with TxDOT within 10 days if the crash caused injury, death, or property damage of $1,000 or more and was not investigated by a law enforcement officer.

To obtain a copy of your Dallas Police Department crash report, you can request it in person or by mail from the DPD Records Section at 1400 Botham Jean Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75215, Monday through Friday, for $6 per report. Reports are typically available 5 to 7 business days after the crash. You will need a name of someone involved, the date, or the location. Call (214) 671-3343 for details. Note: DPD does not currently offer online crash report purchases directly — however, you can also order any Texas crash report through the TxDOT Crash Reports Online Purchase System (CRIS) at cris.dot.state.tx.us/public for $6 once the report is in the system (usually 14 days).

For Fort Worth crashes investigated by FWPD, you can purchase reports online through the LexisNexis BuyCrash portal or request them from FWPD Records. For crashes on Texas highways investigated by the Department of Public Safety (DPS), order through the TxDOT CRIS portal for $6.

Even if you feel fine, see a doctor within 72 hours of the accident. Concussions, herniated discs, soft tissue injuries, and internal bleeding often have delayed symptoms. A prompt medical evaluation creates a documented link between the accident and your injuries — without it, the insurance company will argue your injuries were pre-existing or caused by something else entirely.

The DFW metro has some of the best trauma care in the country. Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas is a Level I trauma center — one of the busiest public hospitals in the nation, treating over 800 trauma patients per month and providing care regardless of ability to pay. Baylor University Medical Center in East Dallas, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, and Methodist Dallas Medical Center are also Level I trauma centers. Children's Medical Center Dallas provides Level I pediatric trauma care. In Fort Worth, JPS Health Network (John Peter Smith Hospital) and Texas Health Harris Methodist Fort Worth are both Level I trauma centers. Across the Metroplex, Medical City Dallas, Medical City Plano, and Texas Health Arlington Memorial provide additional emergency and trauma services.

Keep every receipt, every doctor's note, and every prescription. These records form the foundation of your injury claim and directly impact the compensation you may be entitled to.

The at-fault driver's insurance company will contact you quickly — often within 24 to 48 hours. They may sound friendly and sympathetic. They are not on your side. Their job is to settle your claim for as little as possible, and everything you say in a recorded statement can be used to reduce or deny your claim.

You are not legally required to give them a recorded statement. If they ask, say: "I'm not prepared to give a statement at this time." They may also offer a quick settlement. Don't accept it — early offers are almost always far below the true value of your claim, especially before you know the full extent of your injuries.

Texas is an at-fault state. The driver who caused the accident (and their insurance company) is responsible for paying the other driver's damages. Texas requires minimum liability insurance of 30/60/25: $30,000 per person for bodily injury, $60,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage. However, these minimums often fall far short of covering serious injuries. An estimated 14% of Texas drivers are uninsured, which means you may need to rely on your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage if the at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient coverage.

Under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Texas. Miss this deadline and you permanently lose the right to seek compensation through the courts — Texas courts enforce this strictly.

Two years may sound like enough time, but building a strong case requires gathering evidence, obtaining complete medical records, reaching maximum medical improvement, and negotiating with insurance companies. DFW car accident cases may be filed in either Dallas County or Tarrant County depending on where the crash occurred — each has its own civil district courts and docket speed. Dallas County's George Allen Sr. Courts Building handles civil cases for Dallas, while Tarrant County cases go through the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center complex in Fort Worth. Knowing which jurisdiction applies matters for strategy and timeline.

If your accident involved a government vehicle or a crash on a government-maintained road, the notice deadline is much shorter: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101 requires formal written notice within 6 months of the incident. Missing this notice deadline can bar your claim entirely.

If you were injured, if the other driver was at fault, or if you're getting the runaround from an insurance company, it's worth having a conversation with a personal injury attorney. Initial consultations are free, and most PI attorneys work on contingency — you pay nothing unless they win your case.

An experienced DFW car accident attorney can evaluate whether your case has value, handle all communication with insurance companies, gather evidence and expert opinions, and negotiate a settlement that accounts for your full damages — not just your current medical bills, but future treatment, lost income, pain and suffering, and reduced earning capacity.

DFW is one of the largest personal injury markets in Texas. Look for an attorney with trial experience in Dallas County or Tarrant County courts, a track record with car accident cases specifically, and transparent communication about their process and fees.