What to Do After a Crash on the Dallas North Tollway
A crash on the Dallas North Tollway can happen in an instant. Heavy traffic, high speeds, distracted drivers, sudden lane changes, rear-end collisions, and changing road conditions can turn an ordinary drive through North Dallas into a serious car accident.
If you have been involved in a Dallas North Tollway accident, knowing what to do in the moments immediately afterward can protect your health, your rights, and your potential claim for compensation.
Whether you were involved in a Dallas North Tollway car accident, rear-end collision, sideswipe, multi-vehicle crash, or another type of motor vehicle accident, take the following steps if you are physically able to do so.
1. Check Yourself and Others for Injuries
Your first priority after a Dallas North Tollway crash should always be safety.
Check yourself for injuries and, if you are able, check on passengers and other people involved in the accident. Some injuries may be obvious immediately, while others may not become apparent until hours or even days after a collision.
If anyone is injured or you believe emergency medical assistance is necessary, call 911.
Texas guidance also recommends notifying the appropriate law enforcement agency when a crash involves an injury or fatality, when vehicles cannot be safely moved from the roadway, when a driver leaves the scene, or when you suspect an intoxicated driver.
Do not assume that you are uninjured simply because you do not feel significant pain immediately after a crash.
2. Get Out of the Flow of Traffic If It Is Safe
The Dallas North Tollway is a busy roadway, and a disabled vehicle sitting in an active lane can create an additional hazard.
If your vehicle can be safely driven and there are no serious injuries preventing you from moving it, Texas law generally requires drivers involved in certain crashes on metropolitan freeways to move vehicles out of the roadway when it can be done safely. The North Texas Tollway Authority has similarly advised motorists involved in minor crashes to move vehicles to a safe location when possible.
However, do not put yourself in danger just to move your vehicle.
If your vehicle cannot be moved safely, turn on your hazard lights and follow instructions from law enforcement or emergency responders. NTTA also provides Roadside Safety Services on its toll roads. Drivers can dial #999 for roadside assistance; in an emergency, call 911.
3. Call 911 and Report the Dallas North Tollway Accident
A police report can become an important piece of evidence after a serious car accident.
When you call 911, provide the dispatcher with as much information as possible about the location of the crash. Tell them:
You are on the Dallas North Tollway
Your direction of travel
Your approximate location
The nearest exit or cross street
Whether vehicles are blocking traffic
How many vehicles are involved
Whether anyone appears to be injured
Whether you suspect the other driver is intoxicated
Whether a driver left the scene
The more specific your location information is, the easier it may be for emergency responders to locate the crash.
If law enforcement investigates the collision, a Texas Peace Officer's Crash Report may become an important document for an eventual insurance claim or personal injury case. Texas crash records can be obtained through the state's crash-record system.
4. Exchange Information With the Other Driver
If it is safe to do so, exchange information with the other driver or drivers involved in the Dallas North Tollway crash.
Texas driver's guidance recommends obtaining information such as:
Full name
Address
Phone number
Driver's license information
License plate number
Vehicle identification information
Insurance company
Insurance policy number
You should also obtain contact information from witnesses who saw what happened.
Avoid arguing with the other driver about who caused the accident. Your focus should be on safety, documenting the collision, and obtaining the information you need.
5. Take Photos and Videos of the Crash Scene
If you can safely use your phone, photograph as much of the accident scene as possible.
Take pictures of:
Damage to your vehicle
Damage to the other vehicle
The position of the vehicles
Traffic lanes
Road signs
Traffic signals
Skid marks
Debris
Road conditions
Visible injuries
Vehicle license plates
Surrounding businesses or landmarks
Any other property damaged in the collision
If you are involved in a Dallas North Tollway car accident, documenting the scene can help preserve information that may become important later.
Do not put yourself in danger by walking into active traffic lanes to take photographs.
6. Get Medical Attention
One of the most important things you can do after a Dallas car accident is seek appropriate medical care.
Some accident injuries are immediately obvious. Others may initially appear minor. Symptoms associated with certain injuries can develop or become more noticeable later.
Medical documentation can also establish a record of your injuries and treatment following the crash.
If a doctor recommends follow-up treatment, physical therapy, diagnostic testing, or specialist care, follow those recommendations and keep records of your appointments, medical bills, prescriptions, and other accident-related expenses.
7. Do Not Assume the Insurance Company Is on Your Side
After a Dallas North Tollway accident, you may hear from one or more insurance companies.
Remember that an insurance company is evaluating a claim based on its own interests. The other driver's insurer may attempt to determine whether its policyholder was responsible, how severe your injuries are, and how much your claim may be worth.
Be careful about giving recorded statements, signing documents, or accepting a settlement before you understand the full extent of your injuries and damages.
A quick settlement is not necessarily an appropriate settlement.
8. Be Careful What You Say After a Dallas North Tollway Crash
What you say after a car accident can become relevant to an insurance claim or personal injury case.
Avoid statements that could be interpreted as accepting responsibility for the collision.
For example, you do not need to tell the other driver:
"I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention."
Even seemingly polite statements can later be taken out of context.
Instead, provide the factual information required by law and cooperate with responding officers.
9. Preserve Evidence From the Dallas Tollway Accident
Evidence can disappear quickly following a motor vehicle collision.
Vehicles may be repaired. Surveillance footage may be overwritten. Witnesses may become difficult to locate. Road conditions can change.
For that reason, preserve anything related to your accident, including:
Photographs and videos
Police or crash reports
Medical records
Medical bills
Prescription information
Insurance correspondence
Repair estimates
Vehicle photographs
Pay stubs or employment records documenting missed work
Witness contact information
Text messages or emails concerning the accident
Notes about symptoms and how your injuries affect your daily activities
If you believe another driver's negligence caused your injuries, an experienced Dallas car accident attorney can help identify and preserve potentially relevant evidence.
10. Do Not Post About Your Accident on Social Media
Social media can create unexpected problems after a personal injury accident.
Avoid posting detailed information about your crash, your injuries, your activities, or your recovery while your claim is pending. Photos and statements posted online may be taken out of context and potentially used in an insurance dispute or litigation.
When in doubt, keep the details of your accident private.
11. Understand Who May Be Responsible for a Dallas North Tollway Crash
Determining responsibility for a Dallas North Tollway accident is not always straightforward.
A crash may involve one or more potentially responsible parties, depending on the circumstances. For example, a collision could involve:
A distracted driver
A speeding driver
A driver who failed to yield
An intoxicated driver
A driver who made an unsafe lane change
A commercial vehicle driver
A trucking company
A vehicle manufacturer
A negligent maintenance provider
Another party whose conduct contributed to the collision
Texas crash investigations and personal injury claims are fact-specific. Determining liability requires examining the available evidence and the circumstances surrounding the collision.
12. Contact a Dallas Car Accident Lawyer if You Were Injured
If you suffered injuries in a Dallas North Tollway crash, you may be dealing with far more than vehicle damage.
You may have medical expenses, lost income, ongoing treatment, physical pain, property damage, and other losses resulting from the collision.
A Dallas personal injury lawyer can evaluate the circumstances of your accident, investigate potential liability, communicate with insurance companies, and help you understand your legal options.
This can be particularly important when an accident involves serious injuries, multiple vehicles, a commercial truck, disputed liability, or an insurance company that refuses to fairly evaluate your claim.
How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Texas?
Texas law generally provides a two-year limitations period for personal injury claims, although the precise deadline can depend on the circumstances of a particular case. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §16.003 provides a two-year period for many personal injury claims.
That does not mean you should wait two years before speaking with a Dallas car accident attorney.
Evidence can become harder to obtain as time passes. Witness memories can fade, vehicles can be repaired or sold, and other evidence may become more difficult to preserve.
If you believe someone else's negligence caused your injuries, consider discussing the accident with a qualified Texas personal injury attorney as soon as reasonably possible.
What If the Other Driver Leaves the Scene?
A hit-and-run crash can make an already stressful situation even more complicated.
If another driver leaves the scene of a Dallas North Tollway accident, do not chase the vehicle. Instead, call 911 and provide law enforcement with as much information as you can remember.
If possible, record:
The vehicle's make and model
Color
License plate number
Direction of travel
Vehicle damage
Driver description
Any identifying characteristics
Witnesses and nearby cameras may also provide important evidence.
What If a Commercial Truck Caused the Crash?
A collision involving a commercial truck can be substantially different from a typical passenger-vehicle accident.
Commercial truck accidents can involve additional evidence and potentially multiple parties, including trucking companies, drivers, maintenance providers, and other entities.
If you were injured in a Dallas North Tollway truck accident, preserving evidence quickly can be particularly important.
An attorney handling a serious commercial vehicle collision may investigate driver conduct, company policies, vehicle maintenance, electronic records, and other evidence relevant to determining how the crash occurred and who may be legally responsible.
What If You Were Partially at Fault?
People sometimes assume that being partially responsible for an accident automatically prevents them from recovering compensation.
Texas uses a modified comparative responsibility system. The specific impact of your percentage of responsibility depends on the facts and applicable law.
Because fault disputes can become complicated, do not assume you have no legal options simply because the other driver's insurance company says you contributed to the accident.
Instead, gather the available evidence and speak with a Dallas personal injury attorney about the specific circumstances of your case.
The Bottom Line After a Dallas North Tollway Accident
A crash on the Dallas North Tollway can leave you dealing with injuries, vehicle damage, medical bills, missed work, insurance companies, and uncertainty about what happens next.
Remember these basic steps:
Check for injuries.
Call 911 when appropriate.
Move to a safe location if it can be done safely.
Exchange information with the other driver.
Document the accident scene.
Get medical attention.
Preserve evidence and records.
Be cautious when speaking with insurance companies.
Avoid posting details about your accident online.
Consider speaking with a Dallas car accident lawyer if you were injured.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Dallas North Tollway accident, the circumstances of your crash deserve a thorough investigation.
The J. Bock Firm represents individuals dealing with serious personal injury matters and complex litigation in Dallas and throughout Texas. If you are dealing with the aftermath of a car accident, our team can evaluate the circumstances of your case and explain your potential legal options.
Tactical. Aggressive. Bold.
This article is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Every car accident and personal injury case is different. For advice regarding your specific circumstances, consult a qualified Texas attorney.