If you are in a motor vehicle accident that appears to have injured or killed someone, Texas law requires that you stop and remain at the scene until you have done several things:

* Given your name, address, the registration number of the vehicle you are driving, and the name of your motor vehicle liability insurer to anyone else involved in the accident.

* Shown your driver’s license if you are requested to do so. 

* Provided assistance to anyone who appears to have been hurt in the accident, including either taking them to receive medical treatment, or making arrangements for transporting them to a doctor or hospital (for example, by calling 911).

The failure to do these things is actually considered a criminal offense under Texas law.

If you are in this type of accident, you also must report the accident to the local police department or sheriff’s office and, if a law enforcement officer does not investigate the accident, the law requires that you make a written report of the accident, no later than ten days after the accident.

On the other hand, if you are in a motor vehicle accident that has not resulted in injuries, but only appears to have damaged one or both of the vehicles involved, Texas law requires first, if the accident has occurred on a main lane, ramp, shoulder, median, or adjacent area of a freeway in a metropolitan area, that you move your vehicle as soon as possible to a location on the frontage road, the nearest suitable cross street, or other suitable location so as to minimize interference with freeway traffic (that is, if your vehicle can be normally and safely driven). The law then requires that you stop and remain at the scene until you have done these things:

* Given your name, address, the registration number of the vehicle you are driving, and the name of your motor vehicle liability insurer to anyone else involved in the accident.

* Shown your driver’s license if you are requested to do so. 

Again, the failure to do these things is considered a criminal offense under Texas law.

If the vehicle was damaged to the extent that it can’t be safely driven, you must also report the accident to the local police department or sheriff’s office. If a law enforcement officer does not investigate the accident, and if the accident resulted in damage to the property of any one person to an apparent extent of $1,000 or more, the law requires that you make a written report of the accident, no later than ten days after the accident.

 If you hit a parked car or any vehicle that is not occupied at the time you hit it, you have to stop and either locate the driver or owner of the vehicle, or leave a note for that person, in a conspicuous place stating your name and address, and describing what happened in the collision.

If you are injured in a car accident, click here to contact an experienced attorney in Texas.

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