What to Do After a Car Accident in Kyle, TX

Getting into a car accident is disorienting. Even a minor fender bender can leave you shaking, unsure what to do next. Here’s a calm, practical guide for what to do in the immediate aftermath — especially if you’re in Kyle, Buda, or San Marcos.

Step 1: Make Sure Everyone Is Safe

Before anything else, check on the people in your car and the other vehicle. If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately. Don’t try to move injured people unless there is immediate danger (like a fire). Turn on your hazard lights and, if safe to do so, move vehicles out of traffic.

Step 2: Call the Police

In Texas, you’re required to report accidents involving injury, death, or property damage over $1,000. Call Kyle PD or Hays County Sheriff and wait for an officer. Get a copy of the police report number — you’ll need it for your insurance claim.

Step 3: Document Everything

Take photos before anyone moves the vehicles. Photograph:

• All vehicle damage from multiple angles
• The other driver’s license plate
• The other driver’s insurance card and license
• The overall accident scene — road conditions, traffic signals, skid marks
• Any visible injuries

Get the other driver’s name, phone number, insurance company, and policy number. Get contact information from any witnesses.

Step 4: Contact Your Insurance

Notify your insurance company as soon as possible — even if you weren’t at fault. Most policies require prompt notification. They’ll start a claim and assign an adjuster. This is also when it matters to know: in Texas, you have the right to choose your own body shop. Your insurance can recommend shops, but they cannot force you to use one.

Step 5: Choose Your Body Shop Wisely

This is one of the most important decisions after an accident. The shop you choose determines whether your car comes back to you properly repaired or just “good enough.” Look for a shop that:

• Is locally owned and accountable
• Has certified technicians (ASE or I-CAR certified)
• Offers a written warranty on repairs
• Works directly with your insurance — handling the estimate and supplements
• Does both body work and mechanical repair (so if the collision damaged your suspension, they catch it)

Chapa Autocraft in Kyle checks all of these boxes. We’re at 700 Veterans Dr, Kyle, TX 78640. We handle insurance coordination, frame straightening, factory paint, and any mechanical damage from the collision — all in one shop.

Don’t Wait Too Long

Adrenaline sometimes masks soreness and pain after an accident. Get checked out medically if you feel anything unusual in the days following. And don’t delay on the car — some damage that looks cosmetic is actually structural, and driving on it makes it worse.

Call Chapa Autocraft at 512-504-9577 to schedule a free collision estimate. We serve Kyle, Buda, San Marcos, and all of Hays County.

Also see: Collision repair service | Body shop in Kyle | Areas we serve