Key takeaways
- Police first, when it applies. Texas Transportation Code Section 550.026 makes the driver report a collision immediately if anyone was hurt or killed, or if a vehicle cannot be driven normally and safely.
- Your own insurance company next. The Texas Department of Insurance says to call your insurance company to report the accident and to get the name and phone number of the adjuster assigned to your claim.
- The shop is your call, with no clock on it. Estimates here are free, and we work directly with insurance providers to help process your claim and manage repairs.
The wreck is over, everybody is standing on the shoulder, and your phone is in your hand. Now what. Most people guess. There is a better order, and two of the three calls have rules attached.
Who do I call first after a car accident in Texas?
Police first if anyone is hurt or a vehicle cannot be safely driven. Your own insurance company second, the same day if you can. The body shop third, whenever you are ready. Only the first two have deadlines attached. The shop will be there tomorrow, and next week.
That order holds whether the wreck happened on US-75 in Howe, on Highway 5 through Van Alstyne, or in a Sherman parking lot. It holds when the other driver clearly caused it too. TDI still says to tell your company about the accident as soon as possible.
What should I do at the scene before I call anybody?
Get out of traffic if nobody is hurt, then collect what the claim will need: the other driver's information, photos of the damage on both vehicles, the location and time, and the name of anyone who saw it. Five minutes at the scene can save a week of phone tag.
TDI puts the scene in two sentences: "If no one was injured, move out of the road. If someone was injured or the other driver drove away, call the police." The same page adds one more line worth following, "Get a copy of the police report for your insurance company."
In Texas that report is the Texas Peace Officer's Crash Report, the CR-3. You do not get a copy at the scene. Officers file it, and you buy a copy later through TxDOT's Crash Report Online Purchase System. Anyone involved in the accident may request one. There is a fee, and it is worth paying, because the adjuster may ask for the report number.
Does Texas law require me to report the wreck?
Sometimes, yes, and the test is specific. Section 550.026 of the Transportation Code puts the duty on "the operator of a vehicle involved in a collision" when the collision results in injury to or death of a person, or damage to a vehicle to the extent that it cannot be normally and safely driven.
When that test is met, the report has to go out "immediately by the quickest means of communication." Inside a city that is the local police department. Within 100 feet of a city limit it is the police or the sheriff's office. Everywhere else it is the sheriff's office or the nearest Department of Public Safety office.
If nobody is hurt and both cars drive away fine, the statute doesn't force that call. TDI still tells you to get a copy of the police report for your insurance company, so the call is often worth making anyway.
What happens when I call my insurance company?
You report the loss, they open a claim and assign an adjuster, and you walk away with a claim number and a name. That call is also where you tell them which shop has your vehicle. Nothing on it commits you to a shop the insurer suggests.
TDI's guidance is short: "Tell your company about the accident as soon as possible. Most companies have deadlines for filing claims." Your insurance card should have a number you can call to report claims. Before you hang up, get the adjuster's name and phone number, and write the claim number somewhere you will not lose it.
Our own answer to this question says the same thing: contact your insurance company to report your accident, and let them know where you are taking your vehicle for repairs. That second half is the part people skip.
One more thing comes up on that call. TDI: "Your insurance company might give you a list of body shops, but you can take your car to any shop you choose." That is not a courtesy, it is Texas law, and we wrote it out section by section in can my insurance company make me use their body shop in Texas.
When should I call the body shop?
Any time. Before you file, after you file, or while you are still sitting in the insurance company's hold music. A shop visit starts no clock and commits you to nothing. Estimates at Star Auto Body are free, and the one we hand you is detailed and carries no obligation.
Calling a shop first is a practical way to know what you're dealing with before you talk to anybody about money, and TDI notes some companies might ask you to get your own estimates anyway. Our free estimate page explains how to bring the vehicle by or send photos. And no, you do not need three estimates. Asked whether multiple estimates are required, our answer is that it is up to you to decide who will repair your vehicle.
Can Star Auto Body help with the insurance claim?
Yes, on the repair side of it. We work directly with insurance providers to help process your claim and manage repairs. Dealing with insurance can be confusing, so we help walk you through the process and make sure nothing gets overlooked. The first call is yours. Our own FAQ says to contact your insurance company to report your accident and tell them where you're taking the vehicle, and TDI says to tell your company as soon as possible. Here's the division of labor.
| Step | Who does it |
|---|---|
| Report the accident and open the claim | You, the policyholder |
| Assign an adjuster and set the claim number | Your insurance company |
| Inspect the vehicle and write the repair estimate | The shop |
| Estimate the cost of repairs for the insurer | The adjuster |
| Raise the number when hidden damage shows up | You or the repair shop, with the adjuster |
| Pay the deductible, on a claim under your own policy | You |
| Pay the rest of the agreed claim | Your insurance company |
Two lines there come straight from TDI. On the estimate, "the adjuster will estimate the cost of repairs" and "the company will base its payment on the adjuster's estimate." On hidden damage, "if the damage turns out to be worse than the adjuster originally thought, you or the repair shop can talk to the adjuster about raising the estimate." That second one is why having a shop in the conversation matters once the bumper cover comes off.
What if the other driver caused the wreck?
Report it to your own company anyway, then deal with the other driver's insurer for payment. TDI sends you to that driver's insurance company for repairs, medical bills and rental car costs. Your choice of shop does not change. Ask your own adjuster whether filing under your own collision coverage is faster, and let the two companies settle who pays.
Call the shop when you are ready
If you have been in a wreck anywhere in Texoma, make your two calls, then make one more. Call (903) 532-5365, see what we repair on our services page, or request a free estimate. Our home page says you can schedule a time that works for you, online or by phone.
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