Avoid These Common Mistakes if You Are in a Car Accident in Texas
Anyone who has been involved in a car accident, from minor fender benders to catastrophic collisions, will report that it is an extremely stressful situation. Emotions can run high even after the smallest scrapes. Unfortunately, this stress and emotion leads many auto accident victims to make mistakes in the minutes, days, and weeks after the accident. These mistakes can be costly.
As we go into 2026, here is a rundown of common mistakes that car accident victims make, and what you should do instead. As always, you can protect yourself and any potential compensation you are owed by working with Reynolds & Reynolds, trusted personal injury and auto accident attorneys in Frisco, TX.
Let’s get to the list of common mistakes you should avoid when you are in a car accident.
1. Leaving the Scene Too Soon
No matter how cut and dry the scene seems to you, no matter how sure you are of the facts of the accident, leaving the scene of the collision before following basic protocol can severely decrease your chances of receiving compensation should you have a case. Stay on the scene until your version of the events is recorded in a police statement.
Follow these steps:
- Check for injuries and report any immediately by calling 911.
- Call law enforcement, even if there are no injuries.
- Exchange insurance information with the other driver.
- Wait for the police to arrive, always.
- Give an honest and full statement of what happened to your best understanding.
Critically, do not lie, fake injury, or attempt to discredit the at-fault driver. Dishonest behavior can shred your credibility and hurt your chances of receiving future compensation.
2. Assuming Personal Fault By Accident
Sometimes human nature gets in the way. It’s very common for crash victims to admit to at least partial fault for the collision, even when they know logically that they are not at fault. It’s common decency in a stressful situation to apologize or say anything to put others at ease, but this behavior can be interpreted as admission of fault.
Instead, it’s best to say as little as possible, direct your statement to law enforcement, and acknowledge that even in the most clear cut situation, there are still things you don’t know:
- Was the other driver distracted? Were they texting or otherwise on their phone?
- Were there unusual road conditions?
- Did the other driver’s vehicle have a mechanical malfunction making it unsafe to drive?
- Are there recordings of the event?
Staying tight-lipped and sticking to the facts as you know them will help you to avoid accidental admission of any fault while the investigation is handled by authorities.
3. Not Seeing a Doctor or Waiting Too Long
It’s also human nature to want to downplay a situation and to say, “I’m fine,” and forgo medical treatment. This is a mistake. Some injuries from auto accidents, including whiplash, concussions, and internal trauma may not show symptoms right away. It can be hours or even days before you notice that something doesn’t feel right.
Of course if you do wait, you should still seek medical attention as soon as possible, but by waiting, you may have created a situation that hurts a potential claim. An insurance company may argue that you weren’t really hurt and seek to discredit your claim, or at the least they may seek to reduce the value of your claim by saying you weren’t hurt enough to need medical attention right away.
4. Talking Too Much to Insurance Companies
Put simply, once you have made a claim against another driver’s insurance, that company will make it its mission to minimize its loss. Insurance companies tend to move quickly, contacting you to collect as much information as possible, often before you’ve had time to get a medical assessment or seek your own legal representation. This is strategic for them: you are not a legal professional, and so you are more likely to say something or provide information which could threaten your future claim. They want you to make one of those admissions discussed above in #2, even if by accident.
In fact, it’s a mistake to talk too much to anybody, especially online. Anything you post about the accident or your medical situation on social media may be fair game to an insurance company, so it’s in your interest to avoid this altogether.
The best way to avoid this mistake is to not commit our final mistake…
5. Not Hiring an Auto Accident Attorney
Many accident victims assume they can handle their claim on their own. While this may seem straightforward, insurance companies are businesses focused on protecting their bottom line.
Without legal representation, you may:
- Accept a settlement that is far less than you deserve.
- Overlook future medical expenses.
- Miss filing deadlines.
- Struggle to prove fault.
An attorney who specializes in auto accidents and personal injury will be able to guide you step-by-step through the claims and, if necessary, litigation process. They will know how to handle communication with insurance companies, assess the true value of your damages (something a competing insurance company will always lowball), and then fight strategically to get you the compensation that you deserve.
Protect Your Claim with Reynolds & Reynolds
At Reynolds and Reynolds, we are experienced car accident attorneys based in Frisco, TX, and proudly serving the whole of Dallas-Fort Worth and beyond. Put the right legal team in your corner, and avoid the common pitfalls that can prevent you from earning what you deserve.
If you have been injured in a car accident in Frisco, TX, contact Reynolds & Reynolds Law Firm today.