Get safe and exchange information

By Jacob Alford

Should we move out of traffic?

Move to a safer nearby place when it is safe to do so, but do not drive an unsafe vehicle or move an injured person unnecessarily. Getting a photograph is never worth another collision.

Stop, check whether anyone needs help, and fulfill the duties that apply before leaving. Moving a drivable car out of a lane is different from leaving the scene. Texas has a specific prompt-movement rule for qualifying metropolitan-freeway crashes when every involved vehicle can be driven normally and safely. That is not an instruction to move every wreck or to drive while hurt or disoriented. If you are unsure, tell the emergency dispatcher what is blocking the road and follow instructions. Texas Transportation Code §§550.021–550.023; TxDOT collision guidance.

If someone may have a neck or back injury, avoid unnecessary movement. Immediate danger, such as fire, can change what is safest. Let emergency responders guide you rather than improvising a rescue in traffic. American Heart Association and American Red Cross first-aid guidance.

When should I call for emergency help?

Call 911 when someone may be seriously hurt or there is an immediate danger. Difficulty breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, loss of consciousness, a fire, or a dangerous roadway obstruction deserves emergency attention. Do not wait for an insurer, a family member, or a lawyer to decide for you. MedlinePlus emergency guidance.

Tell the dispatcher your location, direction of travel, what happened, whether anyone appears injured, and a callback number. On an interstate, the nearest exit or mile marker can help. Stay on the line and follow instructions. If you cannot call, ask someone nearby to do it. National 911 Program.

For a nonemergency report, use the appropriate law-enforcement agency’s nonemergency route. The need to notify police and the need for an ambulance are related questions, but they are not the same question. See reports and notices.

What information should drivers exchange?

Get the driver’s identity, vehicle information, and insurance information, without stepping into danger or escalating a confrontation. For a collision covered by the exchange requirement, Texas law calls for the driver’s name and address, vehicle registration number, and liability insurer’s name. An available driver’s license must be shown on request. A phone number, policy number, and photographs of the card and plate are useful extras. Texas Transportation Code §550.023; TDI after-wreck checklist.

If safe, also record the time and location, the responding agency and report number, and witness contact information. Photograph the positions and damage you can safely capture, traffic controls, and relevant surroundings. Keep original files. You can sort the evidence later.

Be accurate. Describe what you observed, and say when you do not know. Do not let pressure to finish the roadside conversation turn a guess about speed, timing, or injury into a confident statement.

What can a passenger or witness do safely?

A passenger or witness can call for help, collect contact information, and preserve what they actually saw, as long as doing so is safe. An injured driver should not have to manage every task alone.

Useful help includes noting the location, taking photographs from a safe position, getting witnesses’ names and phone numbers, and writing a short account before details fade. A witness should separate what they saw from what someone else later told them. A passenger should identify which vehicle they occupied and where they were sitting.

Do not enter traffic, pursue another driver, handle someone else’s phone without permission, or move an injured person just to improve a photograph. If you are hurt yourself, get medical attention. Someone else can help organize the file later. In the InjuredTexan.com evidence chapter, Jacob Alford explains how to preserve originals and make later requests.

What if the other driver leaves or will not exchange details?

Do not chase or confront the driver. Contact law enforcement and preserve the details you safely have. A plate, vehicle description, direction of travel, witness, or nearby camera may matter even when you could not get everything. TxDOT collision guidance.

Write down the time and location promptly. Keep any original dash-camera footage, photographs, or messages. Tell your own insurer what happened and ask which policy provisions and reporting requirements might apply. A hit-and-run does not automatically establish uninsured-motorist coverage; the policy, proof, and circumstances matter.

If the other driver is present but uncooperative, tell the responding officer. Do not trade away your safety for an insurance-card photo.

Attorney reviewed by Jacob Alford · November 11, 2026