November 25, 2025

What to do after an accident when you’re not sure who to call

An accident shakes people in different ways. Some feel a rush of adrenaline and jump into action. Others freeze. Many sit there wondering who to call first. A friend, the police, insurance, or a doctor. In San Antonio, that choice can affect health, money, and time. This guide lays out simple steps in plain language, so anyone can move from shock to a plan. It also explains when a personal accident lawyer can help and how to find the right personal injury legal attorney for a case here in San Antonio, TX.

First minutes: protect health and create a record

Safety comes first. Move to a safe place if it is possible and safe to do so. Turn on hazard lights. If there are injuries, call 911. A quick medical check helps in two ways. It protects health, and it creates a timestamped record that shows the injury happened because of the accident. In our experience, people in Bexar County often try to tough it out. They go home and rest, then pain sets in later. That gap gives insurance companies room to argue that the injury is from something else. So even if it feels minor, get checked.

Police reports carry weight. For car and truck crashes in San Antonio, calling SAPD or the Bexar County Sheriff can make a big difference. Officers document the scene, note weather and road conditions, and collect driver statements and insurance details. That report often becomes the backbone of an insurance claim. And if someone refuses to share information, the report fills the gap.

If you slipped and fell at H‑E‑B, a Southtown restaurant, a West Side warehouse, or a Northside apartment complex, ask the manager for an incident report. Keep it factual. Note where you fell and what caused it, like spilled liquid or a broken step, and whether warning signs were present. Ask for a copy or at least take a photo of the report with the date and store or property details.

What to document right away, even before you think about a lawyer

Phones are powerful evidence tools. Photos beat memory every time. Take wide shots to show context and close‑ups to capture details. For a crash on Loop 410, get photos of vehicle positions, damage, skid marks, license plates, street signs, and traffic signals. For a fall, photograph the hazard from multiple angles, plus lighting conditions and any warning cones, mats, or signs.

Collect names and contact information for witnesses. A short text message that includes their name and number is enough to keep track. Note surveillance cameras. In San Antonio, many gas stations, taquerias, and apartment complexes use camera systems that overwrite footage in 24 to 72 hours. A quick photo of the camera, carabinshaw.com personal accident lawyer and a note of the business name and address, helps a lawyer request the footage before it is gone.

Keep a simple log. A few sentences each day detailing pain, missed work, sleep issues, and medical visits helps show how the injury affects daily life. Juries and adjusters respond to concrete details. “Woke up at 3 a.m. with shoulder pain. Could not lift my toddler. Missed shift at Methodist.” That is more persuasive than a vague statement months later.

Who to call, and in what order

There is no single right order for every case, but this sequence covers most needs in San Antonio.

  • 911 for emergencies, or a non-emergency police line if injuries seem minor.
  • A medical provider. ER, urgent care, or a primary care doctor, depending on symptoms.
  • A personal accident lawyer, especially before giving a recorded statement to insurance.
  • Your own auto insurer, if it is a vehicle crash.
  • Your employer, if the injury affects work or occurred while on the job.

If a person is unsure where to go for medical care, urgent care clinics on the North Side and South Side can handle many injuries, but head trauma, chest pain, or heavy bleeding calls for an ER. For non‑crash injuries in stores, apartments, or construction sites, let the property owner or manager know the same day. That prevents the “we never heard about this” defense later.

Why timing matters in Texas

Texas law sets a statute of limitations for injury cases. In most personal injury cases, a person has two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. There are exceptions, and some cases have shorter notice deadlines, especially if a city, school district, or other government entity is involved. In San Antonio, claims involving VIA buses, city vehicles, or public property require fast written notice. Waiting can close a door that cannot be reopened. Early contact with an attorney for personal injuries helps confirm deadlines and preserve evidence.

Medical timing matters too. Delays in treatment create gaps. Adjusters argue that gaps mean the injury healed or that it was not serious. Early evaluation and steady follow‑ups build a clear picture of harm and recovery. That does not mean expensive tests for everyone. It means consistent care, honest reporting, and a plan that a doctor can explain.

What to say to insurance, and what to save for your lawyer

Insurance adjusters are trained to sound helpful. Many are polite and local. They will ask for a recorded statement and permission to access medical records. That sounds routine, but it can harm a claim. It is fine to report the basic facts to your own insurer, like where and when the crash happened and the vehicles involved. But before giving a recorded statement or signing broad medical authorizations, talk to a lawyer for personal injuries. A short call can save months of trouble.

Here is a simple approach that works well:

  • Share the basics: date, time, location, vehicles or property involved, and contact details.
  • Decline recorded statements until after legal advice.
  • Keep medical conversations with doctors, not insurance.

People in San Antonio who handle this way find that claims move smoother, because the case stays focused on facts that matter.

How a personal injury attorney in San Antonio adds value

A personal injury attorney San Antonio TX focuses on three key areas at the outset. First, evidence. That includes scene photos, black box data from vehicles, body‑worn camera footage, 911 audio, and surveillance video from nearby businesses. Second, coverage. Many accidents involve multiple insurance policies, such as a driver’s policy, an employer’s commercial policy, and UM/UIM coverage on the injured person’s policy. Third, damages. That means medical bills, lost wages, pain and physical limits, future care needs, and property damage.

A personal injury legal attorney also prevents common traps. A quick settlement within days of a crash might feel like relief. But it often does not account for therapy, injections, or surgeries that show up later. Once a release is signed, the claim ends. An experienced personal accident lawyer reviews the full medical picture before discussing settlement. And if the insurer denies fault or lowballs, the attorney files suit and moves the case forward.

In real cases here, we see trends. Intersection crashes along Fredericksburg Road often involve disputed lights. Rear‑end collisions on I‑10 during rush hour come with chain‑reaction impacts and multiple insurers. Trip hazards at older apartments on the West Side may involve code issues and bad lighting. Each pattern has its own proof points. The right personal injuries lawyers already know what to look for, who to call, and how to secure the records fast.

Local insight: San Antonio roads, properties, and common claims

San Antonio’s growth affects accident patterns. Construction zones on Loop 1604 and I‑35 lead to lane shifts and sudden slowdowns. Tourist traffic around the River Walk adds scooters, pedestrians, and rideshare vehicles into tight spaces. Big box store parking lots on the Northwest Side see frequent low‑speed crashes that still cause neck and back injuries.

Apartment and retail properties can present hazards that are easy to miss until it is too late. Uneven sidewalks along older complexes, wet tile floors near entryways, and broken railings on staircases show up in many injury files. Documenting these conditions right away, with clear photos and the exact location, helps personal injury lawyers in San Antonio request maintenance logs, cleaning schedules, and repair records before they disappear.

Commercial vehicle cases are different. Crashes involving delivery vans, oilfield trucks passing through from the Eagle Ford, or company pickups often bring in federal and state safety rules. Vehicle maintenance records, driver qualification files, and hours‑of‑service logs can prove a pattern of negligence. A lawyer for personal injuries who handles commercial cases knows how to get those records quickly, sometimes within days.

The money side: medical bills, liens, and health insurance

After an accident, bills pile up. ER visits, radiology, therapy, and prescriptions all add pressure. In Texas, hospitals may file liens for accident‑related care, which means they get paid from any settlement. That sounds scary, but a personal injury attorney often negotiates those liens. Health insurance can reduce bills if it applies, but the insurer may claim reimbursement from a settlement later. Each case is different, and the details matter.

For people without health insurance, care is still possible. Some providers in San Antonio offer treatment on a letter of protection, which means payment comes from the settlement later. This can provide access to specialists like orthopedists or neurologists who understand trauma care. The goal is simple. Get the right care, at the right time, while the attorney handles the billing maze in the background.

What a strong claim looks like

Good claims tell a clear story. The story starts at the scene with photos and reports. It continues with prompt medical care and consistent follow‑ups. Lost income is documented by pay stubs, W‑2s, or a letter from an employer. Pain and daily limits show up in therapy notes and the personal log. Property damage estimates and repair invoices support the impact.

Adjusters read claims every day. They notice holes. A six‑week gap in care calls out for an explanation. Missing wage proof weakens the loss picture. Disputes over fault require witness statements or video to tip the scale. A personal injury attorney in San Antonio builds the file to answer these issues before they arise.

How to choose the right attorney for personal injuries in San Antonio

People often ask, should they call a big TV firm or a smaller local group. Both can do good work. The better question is fit. Does the lawyer listen. Do they explain things clearly. Will they handle the case or hand it off. Experience with the specific type of case matters. Truck, rideshare, slip and fall, or workplace injury, each category has its own rules and defense tactics.

Ask about communication. Will the client get regular updates. Who will return calls. Ask about past results in similar cases, without expecting promises. A good personal injury legal attorney will talk about ranges and factors, not guarantees.

Look for real San Antonio roots. Knowledge of local courts, judges, medical providers, and even common defense firms helps. If an attorney regularly files cases in Bexar County, they know how local procedures work and how juries react to certain facts.

When fault is unclear, or both sides share blame

Texas uses proportionate responsibility. That means a person can recover damages if they are not more than 50 percent at fault. The amount gets reduced by their percentage of fault. So if someone is found 20 percent at fault, they can still recover 80 percent of their damages. This rule matters in many San Antonio crashes with lane changes, merges from access roads, or four‑way stops in neighborhoods from Stone Oak to Harlandale. It also applies to falls where the property claims the danger was open and obvious.

In these gray cases, evidence wins the day. Camera footage, light timing data, accident reconstruction, and human factors experts can tip the balance. Statements made at the scene can help or hurt, which is why it is best to stick to facts and avoid guessing. A personal accident lawyer knows when to bring in a specialist and when a simple witness statement is enough.

What to expect in the process

The process runs in stages. Investigation comes first. That is where evidence is gathered and medical care begins. Then comes the demand stage, where the attorney sends a detailed letter to the insurer with facts, liability arguments, medical proof, and a settlement figure. Many cases resolve here. If the offer is unfair, the attorney files a lawsuit. That moves the case into discovery, depositions, and motions. Some cases settle during this stage. Others go to trial.

Most personal injury lawyers in San Antonio work on a contingency fee. That means the fee is a percentage of the recovery, and the client does not pay upfront attorney fees. Case costs, like filing fees and experts, are usually advanced and reimbursed from the recovery, but the agreement should spell out how this works. People should read the fee agreement closely and ask questions. Clarity here prevents surprises later.

A short, practical checklist for San Antonio accidents

  • Get safe, call 911 if anyone is hurt, and request police for vehicle crashes.
  • Photograph the scene, vehicles or hazards, and visible injuries from multiple angles.
  • Collect witness names and numbers, and note any cameras nearby.
  • Get medical care the same day, and follow doctor advice on rest and therapy.
  • Call a personal injury attorney San Antonio TX before recorded statements.

This sequence keeps the case clean and protects health and rights.

Real stories, real choices

Two examples show small choices that changed outcomes. A teacher from Alamo Heights felt fine after a side‑impact crash on Broadway. She skipped the ER, then developed neck pain a week later. Because she emailed her principal that same day explaining the crash and a late arrival, that timestamp helped connect the later medical care to the collision. Her attorney secured nearby shop camera footage within 48 hours, which showed the other driver running a red light. That proof turned a disputed case into a clear one.

A warehouse worker on the South Side tripped on a broken pallet at work. He told a coworker but did not report it because he feared lost hours. The pain got worse, and he called a lawyer three weeks later. The attorney found that the employer kept digital incident logs with photos, but entries cleared after two weeks. Because there was no report, getting evidence became harder, and the employer fought the claim. Had he filed a simple report on day one, the evidence would have been stronger. The lesson is simple. Report injuries right away, even if they feel small.

Why local matters for legal help

San Antonio is unique. Local roads, weather patterns, property codes, and even insurer habits shape cases. A hailstorm the day before a crash can affect skid mark visibility. Fiesta traffic can explain delays in EMS response. A lawyer who works here knows the small details that make a big difference. And they know the doctors who understand injury patterns, from shoulder impingement after a rear‑end crash to vestibular problems after a fall.

People searching for personal injury lawyers in San Antonio or an attorney for personal injuries can feel overwhelmed. Ads fill the airwaves and billboards crowd I‑10. The right move is a short, calm call with a lawyer who answers questions clearly. The goal is a plan for health, money, and time, explained in plain words without pressure.

Ready for the next step

If confusion and pain are taking over, it helps to hand the legal stress to someone who does this daily. A lawyer for personal injuries can handle calls, protect evidence, and push the claim while doctors handle healing. The person injured can focus on rest and family.

Anyone in San Antonio who is unsure what to do after an accident can start with three actions. Get medical care today. Gather the basic evidence described above. Then speak with a personal injury attorney San Antonio TX to review options. Whether the case involves a rideshare crash on St. Mary’s, a slip and fall at a North Star Mall store, or a T‑bone on Culebra, early guidance shapes better outcomes.

This article provides general information and is not a substitute for legal advice; consult with experienced lawyers for personalized guidance Attorney Advertising: The information contained on this page does not create an attorney-client relationship nor should any information be considered legal advice as it is intended to provide general information only. Prior case results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Carabin Shaw, PC. represents accident and injury victims across San Antonio and throughout Texas. Our firm focuses on helping individuals and families recover from car accidents, trucking crashes, motorcycle collisions, and workplace injuries. With more than three decades of service and over 200 years of combined legal experience, our attorneys have handled thousands of personal injury and wrongful death cases. We fight for fair compensation and hold negligent parties accountable. Contact our San Antonio law office for dependable legal representation and clear communication during every stage of your claim.


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