What to Do After a Parking Lot Accident in Austin, TX

You’d think you’re safe in a parking lot, especially since most cars there are either stationary or slowing down.

On Halloween 2025, a UT student learned otherwise. A Ford F-150 lost control in a Raising Cane’s drive-thru lane near campus and struck her and four others on the sidewalk. She suffered a traumatic brain injury, a brain bleed, a fractured hip, and a fractured foot, and required emergency brain surgery. She later filed a lawsuit in Travis County seeking more than $1 million, alleging the restaurant failed to install protective bollards along its drive-thru.

If you were recently in a parking lot accident in Austin, you are probably sorting through a lot right now, such as insurance calls, repair estimates and maybe some pain you did not feel at first. This guide covers what you should be doing in the days following the accident to protect your health, your claim, and your rights.

Did You Check for Injuries and Call 911?

If you did not call 911 at the scene, call now to find out if a report was filed. If it was not, you may still be able to file one.

Texas law requires drivers to report accidents involving injury, death, or damage exceeding $1,000. A police report is an official record that becomes critical if the other driver disputes what happened or if an insurer tries to lowball your claim. Without one, it becomes your word against theirs.

Do not assume the damage was too minor to matter.

Did You Exchange Information With the Other Driver?

If you did, make sure you have all of the following:

• Full name and home address
• Phone number
• Driver’s license number and state of issue
• Insurance company name and policy number
• Vehicle make, model, year, and license plate number

If you left the scene without getting everything, try to retrieve what you are missing through the police report or by contacting your insurer. The sooner you close those gaps, the better.

Did You Document the Scene?

If you took photos at the scene, pull them together now and back them up. If you did not get the chance, it is worth returning to the location. Skid marks, debris, and property damage may still be visible.

Look for:

• Security cameras on nearby businesses or the lot itself
• Traffic cameras in the area
• Any businesses or residents who may have witnessed the accident

Security footage is often deleted within days. If you believe a camera captured the collision, act quickly. Your attorney can send a preservation letter to prevent that footage from being erased.

Have You Contacted Any Witnesses?

Witness accounts carry real weight, especially in disputed accidents where both drivers have different versions of events.

If you collected names and contact information at the scene, reach out now while their memory is still fresh. If you did not get any contacts, check the police report, as officers sometimes note bystander information. A witness who can corroborate your account is one of the strongest things you can have on your side.

Watch What You Say Going Forward

If you have already spoken to the other driver’s insurance company, be careful about what you said and what you sign. Insurers move quickly, and recorded statements or early settlement offers can be used to limit what you recover later.

Going forward, keep communication factual and brief. Do not speculate about fault. Do not agree to anything in writing without understanding what you are giving up.

Have You Seen a Doctor Yet?

If not, go now. Do not wait any longer.

Whiplash, soft tissue injuries, and mild concussions often do not surface until a day or two after impact. If you are feeling soreness, headaches, stiffness, or anything unusual, those symptoms matter. Seeing a doctor creates a medical record that ties your injuries directly to the accident.

Insurance companies use gaps in treatment to argue that injuries were not serious or were caused by something else. Every day without documentation makes that argument easier for them to make.

Have You Notified Your Insurance Company?

Most policies require you to report accidents promptly. If you have not done so yet, contact your insurer today.

When you call, stick to the facts: the location and time of the accident, a description of what happened, and the other driver’s information. Do not speculate about fault and do not minimize your injuries. Let the adjuster ask their questions and answer only what you know.

Are You Keeping Records of Everything?

Start a folder (physical or digital) and put everything in it. That means:

• The police report and report number
• All photos and videos from the scene
• Medical bills, treatment records, and referrals
• Vehicle repair estimates and receipts
• All correspondence with insurance companies
• Notes from every phone call, including dates, times, and names

Gaps in your records make it harder to build a complete claim. The more organized you are, the easier this process becomes.

Should You Talk to a Lawyer?

If you were injured, if the other driver is disputing fault, or if the insurance company is already pushing back, yes.

Parking lot accidents can involve more complexity than they appear: unclear right-of-way, shared driveways, business or property owner liability, and surveillance footage that disappears fast. An attorney can handle insurer communications, preserve evidence, and tell you what your claim is genuinely worth. Most work on contingency, so there is no upfront cost.

The sooner you reach out, the more options you have.

How Long Do You Have to File a Claim in Texas?

Texas gives accident victims two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. Miss that window and you typically lose the right to pursue compensation entirely.

Two years sounds like plenty of time. It is not.

Evidence fades, witnesses move on, and security footage is long gone. The strongest cases are built early. If you are still sorting things out days after your accident, now is the right time to get ahead of it.

Get Help With Your Parking Lot Accident in Austin

If you were involved in a parking lot accident in Austin, contact our Austin car accident lawyers today for a free case review. We will review your situation and help you understand your next steps.

Call us, submit an online form, or visit us at 7801 N Capital of Texas Hwy #300.