On September 28th, 2025, an adult died at the scene of an Austin car crash and two others were taken to hospital with critical injuries near SH 130. Three more individuals had minor injuries that did not require hospitalization. The accident occurred near Webberville Road in Hornsby Bend around 9:46pm and Austin-Travis County EMS responded to the scene. It is unknown at this time what caused the crash.
Accidents like these can happen in an instant, changing the lives of everyone involved. A single second of negligence from a driver can cause unimaginable harm to the survivors, who then have to face dealing with the aftermath and recovery. At Lassiter Law, our car accident attorneys prepare you for every step of your car accident personal injury claim. Call us at (832) 937-4381 for a free case review. We guide you through the legal process so you can focus on rest and recovery without unnecessary stress.
What To Do After an Austin Car Accident
Being involved in a car accident in Austin is frustrating. Navigating dealing with injuries, mounting bills, and missing work while recovery adds to the stress of the accident. The steps you take in the moments after a collision are crucial. These actions can protect your health, preserve important evidence, and strengthen your ability to pursue a personal injury claim. Knowing what to do ahead of time ensures that you are prepared if an accident ever happens to you or someone you know. Lassiter Law car accident attorneys prepare you for the process of filing a personal injury claim in Austin and prioritize your case so you can have the resources needed to rest after a car crash.
Prioritize Safety and Medical Attention
Your first concern should always be the safety of yourself and others. If you are able to move without risk of further harm, step away from traffic and get to a secure area near the accident scene. Once you are safe, check on passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians who may be involved. Even if injuries do not appear life-threatening, call for emergency assistance immediately. Taking this step shows that you are acting responsibly and ensures that help arrives quickly.
Emergency Response and Medical Evaluation
Dialing 911 ensures that law enforcement and emergency medical personnel respond to the scene. Emergency responders are trained to evaluate visible injuries such as lacerations, broken bones, and burns. They also know how to look for signs of less obvious trauma. Allowing paramedics to examine you creates an official record of your condition, which can play a key role in both your medical treatment and your legal case.
Hidden Injuries That May Not Be Obvious
In many car accidents, injuries do not show symptoms right away. Whiplash, concussions, and internal injuries often develop slowly and may only be noticeable hours or even days later. If you decline medical treatment at the scene, it can be harder to prove that your injuries were caused by the crash. Seeking immediate medical care not only protects your health but also provides documented proof that the accident was the direct cause of your injuries.
Contacting Law Enforcement at the Scene
Texas law requires drivers to report crashes that involve injuries, fatalities, or serious property damage. When officers arrive, they will assess the situation, interview drivers and witnesses, and record important details. The accident report they prepare can later become a cornerstone of your personal injury claim. This official document helps establish who was at fault and provides a neutral account of what happened.
Why the Accident Report Matters
An accident report often contains more than just the basics. Officers may include diagrams of the crash, weather conditions, and any contributing factors such as speeding, distracted driving, or suspected intoxication. Insurance companies and courts rely heavily on these reports to determine liability. Having an official record from law enforcement adds credibility to your account and may prevent the other party from shifting blame unfairly.
Gathering Evidence After an Austin Car Crash
While law enforcement will gather information, your own documentation can make your case stronger. If it is safe, use your phone to take photos and videos of the entire accident scene. Capture images of the vehicles, license plates, damage, road conditions, and traffic signals. This evidence preserves the scene exactly as it looked before cleanup or towing changes it. In addition, speaking to witnesses and collecting their contact details gives your attorney more resources to build your case.
Documenting the Scene Thoroughly
Every detail you capture can help paint a clearer picture of what occurred. Take wide shots of the scene and close-ups of vehicle damage or skid marks on the pavement. Photograph any injuries that are visible right away. When you later work with an attorney, these images can be combined with expert analysis to reconstruct how the collision unfolded. This level of detail often makes the difference in proving fault.
Preserving Evidence for Legal Action
Your responsibility does not end when you leave the scene. Keep all paperwork related to the crash, including hospital records, doctor’s notes, prescriptions, and physical therapy receipts. Save copies of repair estimates for your vehicle and keep a log of all communication with insurance adjusters. This documentation creates a clear timeline of the financial and personal impact the accident has had on your life. The stronger the evidence, the more compelling your personal injury claim becomes.
Contacting an Experienced Austin Car Accident Attorney Early
One of the most important steps you can take is to reach out to an Austin car accident attorney as soon as possible. Insurance companies often try to contact victims quickly, hoping they will agree to settlements that do not reflect the true value of their losses. By securing legal representation early, you protect yourself from being pressured or misled during a vulnerable time.
The Benefit of Having Legal Guidance
An experienced attorney does more than file paperwork. They investigate the accident, consult with medical experts, and negotiate aggressively with insurance companies. They ensure your rights are not overlooked and that you are not left with unpaid medical bills or out-of-pocket expenses. Having an advocate in your corner allows you to focus on healing while knowing your case is being handled by professionals who understand the law and the challenges accident victims face.
Compensation Available After Car Crash in Austin
Victims of car accidents in Austin often find themselves dealing with more than just physical injuries. The financial consequences can be immediate and overwhelming, from hospital bills to car repairs, while the emotional burden of pain, stress, and uncertainty can linger for years. Texas law recognizes these hardships by allowing injured individuals to pursue compensation for the full range of losses they experience. Understanding the different categories of damages is a vital step in preparing for your recovery and holding negligent drivers accountable.
Economic Damages That Cover Financial Losses
Economic damages are designed to replace the financial resources lost due to the crash. These damages can typically be proven with paperwork and financial records, which makes them more straightforward than other forms of compensation. Still, without careful legal guidance, accident victims often underestimate the long-term financial toll of their injuries.
Medical Expenses and Future Treatment Costs
Medical costs are often the largest and most urgent expense after a serious car crash. Victims may face ambulance transportation fees, emergency room bills, hospital stays, and surgical procedures within days of the collision. Beyond the immediate treatment, many people also require physical therapy, prescription medications, and long-term rehabilitation to regain mobility and independence. These costs can easily extend into the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on the severity of the injuries.
The Role of Expert Testimony in Proving Medical Costs
Proving medical expenses goes beyond presenting hospital bills. Attorneys often work with medical professionals and financial experts to calculate the projected cost of future care. This may include treatments not yet scheduled, such as follow-up surgeries, specialized rehabilitation programs, or assistive devices like wheelchairs and prosthetics. By presenting testimony from experts, victims can demonstrate the true scope of their medical needs and ensure that compensation reflects long-term recovery instead of short-term fixes.
Lost Wages and Reduced Earning Capacity
When injuries prevent victims from returning to their jobs, the loss of income quickly becomes a pressing issue. Some people are unable to work for weeks or months, while others may be permanently unable to return to the same line of work. Lost wages cover the income you miss while recovering, but compensation for reduced earning capacity addresses the broader impact of a long-term or permanent disability.
Proving Income Loss With Documentation
Proving lost income requires clear documentation. Pay stubs, bank records, tax returns, and employer statements can all be used to establish the wages you earned before the accident and the losses you suffered afterward. For those with permanent injuries, expert financial analysis can project lifetime earning losses, taking into account raises, promotions, and career progression that may no longer be possible. Without this careful documentation, victims risk leaving significant compensation on the table.
Non Economic Damages That Address Personal Suffering
Not all injuries leave a paper trail of bills or receipts. Some of the most devastating consequences of a crash are emotional and personal, and non economic damages are designed to recognize these deeply human losses.
Pain and Suffering After an Austin Auto Collision
The physical pain from injuries like broken bones, nerve damage, or spinal cord trauma can be constant and debilitating. Beyond the physical harm, many victims also endure intense emotional suffering. Anxiety about getting back on the road, depression caused by limited mobility, and post traumatic stress from the crash itself are common. Compensation for pain and suffering recognizes that recovery is not only about physical healing but also about the emotional toll that follows a traumatic accident.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
When injuries prevent victims from engaging in the activities that once brought them joy, the impact is profound. Compensation for loss of enjoyment of life acknowledges these losses and provides financial recognition of the ways a crash changes a person’s daily living.
Examples of Activities Affected by Severe Injuries
A passionate runner may be unable to jog again, or a parent may struggle to pick up their child due to permanent back pain. Hobbies like gardening, traveling, or even attending social gatherings may no longer be possible. These changes reflect the lasting impact of the crash, and compensation aims to help restore some measure of justice for these deeply personal losses.
Punitive Damages in Cases of Extreme Negligence
While economic and non economic damages focus on the victim’s recovery, punitive damages serve a different purpose. They are meant to punish the defendant for reckless or intentional misconduct and deter others from engaging in similar behavior.
When Punitive Damages May Apply
Punitive damages are not awarded in every case. They are typically reserved for extreme situations where the at fault driver acted with gross negligence or malicious intent. For example, a driver who chose to get behind the wheel while intoxicated or someone who engaged in street racing may face punitive damages. In these cases, the court recognizes that ordinary compensation is not enough to address the severity of the misconduct, and an additional financial penalty is imposed to send a strong message of accountability.
Why Timing Matters in Filing for Damages in Texas
After a car accident in Austin, many victims focus on immediate needs such as medical treatment, vehicle repairs, and dealing with insurance companies. While these concerns are urgent, it is equally important to understand that the clock starts ticking on your ability to file a personal injury claim the moment the crash occurs. Texas law imposes strict deadlines that can impact your right to recover compensation, and missing these deadlines may permanently bar your claim. Acting quickly protects both your legal rights and your financial recovery.
Understanding the Statute of Limitations in Texas
The statute of limitations is the legal deadline for filing a lawsuit. In Texas, most personal injury claims, including those arising from car accidents, must be filed within two years of the date of the accident. If you miss this deadline, the court will likely refuse to hear your case, no matter how strong the evidence may be.
Why the Two Year Deadline Is Important
Two years may sound like plenty of time, but accident claims require careful preparation. Attorneys need time to investigate the crash, gather medical records, interview witnesses, and negotiate with insurance companies. Waiting too long can cause crucial evidence to disappear and make it more difficult to build a strong case.
Consequences of Missing the Deadline
If you attempt to file after the two year deadline, the defendant can move to dismiss your case. In most instances, the court will grant the dismissal, leaving you without any legal avenue to pursue compensation. This is why acting quickly after a crash is essential.
Preserving Evidence Before It Fades
One of the key reasons timing matters is that evidence does not last forever. Skid marks fade, damaged vehicles are repaired, and witnesses’ memories grow less reliable with each passing day.
How Delay Weakens an Austin Car Accident Claim
If weeks or months pass before action is taken, important records may be lost. Surveillance footage from nearby businesses is often erased within days. Witnesses may move, change phone numbers, or simply forget key details about what they saw. When evidence becomes unavailable, it becomes harder to prove fault and maximize the value of your claim.
Immediate Steps That Strengthen Your Case
Acting quickly allows your attorney to secure photographs, accident reports, medical records, and testimony before they become harder to access. These materials help build a timeline of events that clearly demonstrates the other party’s liability.
Dealing With Insurance Companies Quickly
Insurance adjusters are trained to protect their company’s bottom line, not the victim’s financial future. The sooner you have an attorney step in, the sooner you prevent the insurer from taking advantage of you.
Why Insurance Companies Want You to Wait
Delays often benefit insurance companies. If they can stall the process long enough, evidence may disappear, or you may accept a low settlement out of financial desperation. They may also use the statute of limitations as leverage, knowing that your options shrink as the deadline approaches.
The Advantage of Acting Early With Representation
By hiring a lawyer soon after the accident, you take control of the process. Your attorney handles communication with insurers, keeps the claim moving forward, and ensures that all deadlines are met. This not only reduces stress but also increases the likelihood of receiving full and fair compensation.
Exceptions to the General Deadline
Although the two year statute of limitations applies to most personal injury claims, there are exceptions. Certain circumstances can shorten or extend the filing window, which makes it even more important to seek legal guidance as soon as possible.
Claims Involving Minors or Incapacitated Victims
When a minor is injured in a car accident, the statute of limitations may not begin until they reach the age of eighteen. Similarly, if a victim is mentally incapacitated, the deadline may be paused until they regain legal capacity. These exceptions ensure that vulnerable individuals are not unfairly denied their right to seek justice.
Claims Against Government Entities
If the crash involves a government vehicle or employee, victims may be required to file a notice of claim within just a few months of the accident. These deadlines are much shorter than the standard statute of limitations and missing them can immediately end your case.
Contact an Austin Car Accident Lawyer Today
Recovering after a serious Austin car accident is never easy. Victims often face painful injuries, mounting medical expenses, and uncertainty about how to move forward. You shouldn’t have to navigate the legal system alone while trying to heal. Having an experienced attorney on your side gives you the strength and guidance needed to pursue the compensation you deserve.
At Lassiter Law, we understand the challenges that come after a car crash. Our team has helped countless Texans stand up to insurance companies and fight for the resources they need to rebuild their lives. We handle every detail of the legal process, from investigating the crash to negotiating with insurers and keeping up with deadlines, so you can focus on your health and recovery.
If you have been injured in an Austin car accident, reach out to us today. Call Lassiter Law at (832) 937-4381 or contact us online through our secure form to schedule a free case review. We are here to listen, to guide, and to fight for the justice you deserve.