If you've just been in a car accident in the Rio Grande Valley, you're probably overwhelmed. Maybe you're sore. Maybe you're scared. Maybe an insurance adjuster has already called you — even though the accident happened just hours ago.
What you do in the first 24 hours after a crash matters more than most people realize. Insurance companies move fast, and the steps you take right now can either protect your case or quietly weaken it.
As a personal injury attorney based in Alamo, Texas, serving Hidalgo and Cameron counties, here's exactly what I tell my clients to do and what to avoid in the first 24 hours after an accident.
Step 1: Get to Safety and Call 911
Before anything else, make sure you and everyone else involved are safe. If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately. Even if injuries seem minor, calling 911 creates an official record of the crash that will be important later.
If your vehicle is creating a hazard and can be safely moved, pull it to the shoulder. If not, turn on your hazard lights and stay inside the vehicle with your seatbelt on until help arrives.
Step 2: Wait for the Police — Don't Skip the Report
In Texas, you're required to report any accident involving injury, death, or property damage of $1,000 or more. But beyond the legal requirement, the police report is one of the most important pieces of evidence in your case.
Even if the other driver insists on settling things 'between you two' without involving police — don't. That informal agreement almost always falls apart the moment they realize their insurance rate will go up, and you'll be left with no documentation.
Step 3: Document Everything at the Scene
Your phone is your most important tool right now. Take photos of:
All vehicles involved — every angle, including license plates
The position of vehicles on the road before they're moved
Skid marks, debris, traffic signals, road signs, and weather conditions
Your own injuries — even minor cuts or bruises
The other driver's license, insurance card, and license plate
Names and phone numbers of any witnesses
Photos and video tell the story better than memory ever will.
Step 4: Seek Medical Attention — Even If You Feel Fine
This is the step people most often skip — and it's the one that costs them the most. Adrenaline can mask serious injuries for hours or even days. Soft tissue damage, whiplash, and concussions often don't show symptoms until the next morning.
Even if you feel okay, get checked out by a doctor within 24 hours. This protects your health, and it protects your case. If you wait three weeks to see a doctor, insurance companies will argue the injury wasn't caused by the crash.
Step 5: Don't Talk to the Other Driver's Insurance Company
This is the single most important step. You will almost certainly get a call from the at-fault driver's insurance adjuster within 24–48 hours. They will sound friendly. They will say they 'just want to get your side of the story.'
Do not give a recorded statement. Do not accept their first offer. Do not sign anything. Everything you say will be used to reduce or deny your claim.
You're not required to talk to the other party's insurance company at all. Politely tell them to contact your attorney and hang up.
Step 6: Notify Your Own Insurance Company — Carefully
Your own insurance policy almost certainly requires you to notify them of the accident. Do so promptly. But keep it short and factual: when, where, who was involved. Don't speculate about fault, don't downplay your injuries, and don't give a recorded statement until you've talked to an attorney.
Step 7: Call an Attorney Before You Make Any Decisions
Most personal injury attorneys — including our firm — offer free consultations. There's no cost and no obligation to find out whether you have a case. The consultation itself can save you thousands of dollars by helping you avoid the mistakes that insurance companies count on.
If we take your case, we work on a contingency fee basis: you pay nothing upfront, and we only get paid if we win.
The Bottom Line
The first 24 hours after an accident set the tone for your entire case. Document everything. Get medical care. Don't talk to the other side's insurance. And call an attorney before you sign anything.
At Ortega Law, we serve the entire Rio Grande Valley — Alamo, McAllen, Edinburg, Mission, Pharr, Weslaco, San Juan, Donna, and surrounding areas. If you've been hurt in a car accident, call us at 956-GETHELP or visit 956GETHELP.COM for a free consultation. Hablamos Español.