Quick answer: After a car accident in Texas, get emergency care first for any danger sign. Once emergencies are ruled out, get checked for neck pain, back pain, stiffness or headaches, even if they seem small. Keep the crash report details, your claim number and copies of every medical visit. The Texas Department of Insurance says to tell your insurance company if you were injured and to give it copies of medical reports and bills.
What should you do right after the crash?
Safety comes first. If anyone is hurt, call 911. Go to an emergency room for severe pain, a head injury, confusion, numbness or weakness, or trouble breathing. Those need emergency care, not a chiropractor.
When an officer comes to the scene, the Texas Department of Insurance suggests getting the officer’s name and badge number so you can follow up later. TxDOT explains that Texas Transportation Code §550.062 requires an officer who investigates a crash with an injury, a death, or apparent property damage of $1,000 or more to send a written report to TxDOT within ten days.
Why get checked if you feel okay?
Adrenaline can hide pain for a while. MedlinePlus, from the National Library of Medicine, notes that falls and accidents, including car accidents, are a common cause of neck pain. It describes whiplash as a soft tissue injury to the neck, also called a neck sprain or strain.
Some people feel fine at the scene and notice stiffness, soreness or headaches the next day. Read more about whiplash symptoms that show up later. A visit soon after a crash gives you a starting point, so you and your provider can tell whether things are getting better or worse.
What if your symptoms change over the next few days?
Pay attention to how you feel in the days after a crash, not only on the day itself. A short symptom diary helps: write down when a symptom started, what makes it better or worse, and whether it is spreading. Pain that moves into an arm or leg, numbness, tingling, or a headache that keeps getting worse is worth a prompt call to a doctor. Severe or sudden changes mean emergency care.
The diary also helps whoever examines you. It is easier to describe “stiff every morning since Tuesday” than to remember it on the spot. Bring it to your visit along with any discharge papers from an emergency room.
Which records should you keep?
A simple folder, paper or digital, saves time later. These are the records most people end up needing:
| Record | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Crash report number and officer’s name | To request the report and follow up |
| Insurance claim number | To keep every call and letter tied to one claim |
| Medical visit notes and bills | The Texas Department of Insurance says to give copies to your insurer |
| Photos of the scene and your car | To remember details accurately |
| A short symptom diary | To show how you felt day by day |
TxDOT says you can buy a copy of a Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report (CR-3) through its Crash Report Online Purchase System.
How do you tell your insurance company you were hurt?
The Texas Department of Insurance’s auto guide says to tell the company if you were injured. If you went to the emergency room or to a doctor, give the company copies of the medical reports and doctors’ bills. TDI also explains that Texas law sets deadlines for how insurers handle claims: a company must accept or reject a claim within 15 business days of getting all the information it needs, or take up to 45 days if it explains why it needs more time.
Most Texas auto policies also include personal injury protection, or PIP, unless you turned it down in writing. See how PIP works in Texas. Questions about coverage belong with your insurance company or agent.
When should you see a chiropractor?
Once emergencies are ruled out, a chiropractor can check neck pain, back pain and stiffness after a wreck. At Dr. Ali Chiropractic and Wellness Center in McKinney, a first visit starts with a conversation about the crash and how you feel now. Dr. Ali then examines you and explains what he found before any care starts. Learn about car accident injury care and neck and back pain care.
What should you bring to your first visit?
- Your photo ID and insurance card
- The crash report number or the officer’s name, if you have it
- Your claim number
- Notes from any emergency room or doctor visit
- A list of medications
Where is the practice?
Dr. Ali Chiropractic and Wellness Center is at 2001 Auburn Hills Parkway, Suite 101, McKinney, TX 75071. Book online, call (214) 945-3911, or text your name and preferred times. You can also contact the office or read more on the McKinney page.
