Fort Worth Car Accident Guide: What to Do After a Crash
Short answer: After a crash in Fort Worth, get checked by a provider experienced with accident injuries even if you feel fine, because pain often shows up days later. Don't sign anything from an insurance adjuster before you talk to a lawyer. Your injury claim and your car repair claim are separate.
Fort Worth drivers spend a lot of time on I-35W, I-30 and Loop 820, and those freeways had more crashes than any other roads in the city from 2021 to 2025.
Car crashes in Fort Worth and the area within 15 miles of its city limits
From 2021 to 2025, police reported 372,637 crashes in Fort Worth and the area within 15 miles of its city limits, and 2,310 people died. Inside Fort Worth city limits alone there were 80,771 crashes and 603 deaths. The freeways carry the biggest share: I-35W had more crashes than any other road in the city.
Roads with the most crashes near Fort Worth: I-35W, I-30, I-820 (Loop 820). See every road and intersection in our Fort Worth crash analysis.
Emergency rooms for Fort Worth crashes
For serious injuries in Fort Worth, JPS Health Network is the only Level I trauma center in Tarrant County.
- JPS Health Network (John Peter Smith Hospital), 1500 S Main St, Fort Worth
- Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave, Fort Worth
- Medical City Alliance, 3101 N Tarrant Pkwy, Fort Worth
- Texas Health Alliance, 10864 Texas Health Trail, Fort Worth
- Medical City ER Saginaw, 727 W Bailey Boswell Rd, Saginaw
The first steps after a car accident in Fort Worth
Start with safety, then evidence, then your health. Texas law requires you to report a crash right away when anyone is hurt or a car can't be driven safely. The full checklist is on our what to do after a car accident in Fort Worth page.
- Call 911 if anyone is hurt or a car can't be driven safely.
- Photograph everything: both cars, plates, the road, signals and any visible injuries.
- Swap information with the other driver, and get witness names and numbers.
- Get checked soon, even if you feel fine. Adrenaline can hide pain. Read why symptoms can show up days later.
- Don't sign anything the other driver's insurance company sends you until a lawyer has reviewed it. Here's how to handle the adjuster.
Crash injuries by the numbers
Crashes injure people in Texas every few minutes, and many injuries last far longer than people expect.
of people with whiplash still report neck pain one year later.
Source: Neck Pain Task Force, Spine 2008 →"I feel fine" is the most common mistake
Not feeling pain right after a crash does not mean you aren't hurt. Adrenaline and the way the nervous system filters pain can mask an injury for hours or days. Many people are told at the ER that they're fine, then wake up stiff two days later. People who skip care can end up with pain, stiffness or limited movement months or years down the road. Learn about the most common injuries after a crash and who to see for an exam.
Insurance adjusters work for the insurance company
The adjuster's job is to close your claim for as little as possible. They often call quickly, before you know how hurt you are. An early settlement offer usually ends your injury claim for good, even if new symptoms appear later. Medical bills can be covered through PIP or MedPay or a letter of protection, and the car repair claim is separate from the injury claim.
All Fort Worth accident guides
What to do after a car accident in Fort Worth
The first hours and days, step by step, including what never to sign.
Read the guide →Injuries after a crash
Whiplash, back and neck injuries, concussion, delayed pain and emotional effects.
Read the guide →Getting checked and treated
Who to see, why documentation matters, and how care can be paid for.
Read the guide →Insurance after a Texas crash
PIP, MedPay, letters of protection, adjusters and uninsured drivers.
Read the guide →Do I need a lawyer?
What a personal injury lawyer does, what it costs, and what the research shows.
Read the guide →Dangerous roads in Fort Worth
The intersections with the most crashes, nearby ERs, and crash reports.
Read the guide →Recreate your crash
Build a short animated replay of how your crash happened.
Read the guide →Get your crash report
How to buy your Texas crash report (CR-3) from TxDOT for $6.
Read the guide →Want a lawyer to look at your case for free?
If you were hurt in a crash that wasn't your fault, in Fort Worth or anywhere else in Texas, you can ask for a free consultation. A participating personal injury law firm will reach out to you promptly. There's no cost to ask and no obligation.