10 Nov
Yes. If you believe another driver caused the accident, you can contact their insurance company to open a claim. You should also notify your own insurer, even if you expect the other company to pay. The Texas Department of Insurance recommends both steps. www.tdi.texas.gov
Make those calls after immediate safety and medical needs are addressed. You don’t need to resolve every question about the crash before reporting it, but it helps to have the basic information ready.
Gather the Details Before You Call
Have the other driver’s name, insurance company, policy number, and vehicle information available. Add the accident date, location, photographs, witness contacts, and police report number if you have one.
TDI recommends preserving these details and reporting the accident promptly. www.tdi.texas.gov
Write a brief account of what you remember. Keep it factual: which direction you were traveling, where your car was, and what happened next. If you don’t know a speed or distance, leave it uncertain rather than supplying a guess.
Use the insurer’s official claims channel. If someone calls you first, verify the company and claim number before sharing sensitive information.
Open the Claim and Get a Contact Person
Tell the representative that you were involved in a collision with their policyholder and want to report the damage or injury.
Before ending the call, ask for:
- The claim number and assigned adjuster’s contact details.
- Instructions for submitting photographs and documents.
- The next step for inspecting the vehicle.
- A date or event that should trigger your follow-up.
Keep these answers together. If separate adjusters handle vehicle damage and injuries, label each contact so you know whom to reach.
Reporting the collision gives the company notice. It does not mean the company has accepted responsibility.
Notify Your Own Insurance Company Too
Tell your insurer about the accident and ask what your policy requires. Explain that you have also contacted the other carrier, if that is the case.
Your insurer may request information even when you believe you did nothing wrong. Respond to those requests and ask for clarification when needed. TDI warns that failure to cooperate can affect policy renewal. www.tdi.texas.gov
Keep the two claim numbers separate. When sending documents, check that they are going to the correct company and adjuster.
If you receive a demand or legal papers connected to the crash, promptly provide them to your insurer and seek advice about responding.
Give Accurate Answers and Understand Requests
Describe what you personally observed. Avoid guessing about the other driver’s intentions or stating a medical diagnosis you have not received.
If an adjuster requests a recorded interview or medical authorization, ask what it involves and why it is needed. Read an authorization before signing it. Seek legal advice if its scope or your obligations are unclear.
Be equally careful when describing injuries. Explain your current symptoms and treatment accurately. You do not have to predict your recovery during an initial claims call.
Expect the Other Insurer to Investigate
The other driver’s insurer may dispute responsibility, identify a coverage issue, or find that its policy limits are insufficient. It may also be waiting for information from its policyholder. Ask what remains under review. www.tdi.texas.gov
If the company denies payment, request its detailed reasons in writing. Compare that explanation with the documents you submitted and identify any factual errors.
Texas’s prompt-payment rules for claims under your own policy do not apply in the same way to a claim against another driver’s insurer. Don’t assume the same timetable governs both claims. www.tdi.texas.gov
Ask About Coverage That Could Help Now
If the other carrier delays or disputes payment, your collision coverage may provide a route for vehicle repairs. A deductible generally applies, and recovering it later is not guaranteed. Liability-only coverage does not provide the same protection for your own car. www.tdi.texas.gov
If the responsible driver has no insurance or insufficient insurance, ask about any uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage you carry. Its availability and benefits depend on the policy and circumstances. www.tdi.texas.gov
Before renting a vehicle, confirm who has authorized payment, the approved rate, and the end date. Keep receipts and written approvals.
Review Any Offer Before Closing the Claim
Opening a claim and accepting a settlement are separate decisions. Read the proposed release and identify which claims it closes. OPIC cautions that an injury release can end the opportunity for further payment on that claim. www.opic.texas.gov
Ask about unresolved expenses and medical questions before agreeing. Also have your legal deadlines checked; Texas generally applies a two-year limitations period to personal-injury lawsuits, with exceptions. tcss.legis.texas.gov
How Parks Law Firm Can Help
Parks Law Firm can explain the insurance process, review a disputed injury claim, and help organize evidence supporting your account of the collision.
If you are unsure how to respond to an adjuster or evaluate an offer, the firm can review the circumstances and discuss your available options.
Important Note
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Coverage, reporting duties, deadlines, damages, and outcomes depend on the facts, applicable policy terms, and Texas law.
