Can You Safely Leave Your Car After a Texas Freeway Accident?

 Posted on March 05, 2026 in Car Accidents

A recent tragedy on Interstate 10 in San Antonio is a painful reminder of just how dangerous Texas freeways can be. In February 2026, a 42-year-old man stepped out of his vehicle after a minor collision to speak with the other driver. Police reported to news stations that as he returned to his car, he was struck by another vehicle and later died in the hospital. His death shows that what happens after a freeway crash can be just as dangerous as the crash itself.

If you find yourself in a serious freeway accident, whether during the initial accident or afterward, a Guadalupe County car accident attorney can help you decide your next course of action.

Freeways Are Dangerous Before, During, and After an Accident

The moments immediately after an accident, when there are obstructions in the road but before traffic has slowed to accommodate them, can be even more dangerous than a regular freeway. This is especially true if you leave your vehicle.

Even if traffic slows after a crash, vehicles can still be traveling dangerously. Drivers may be distracted, "rubbernecking," or unable to stop in time to avoid a person outside their vehicle. The shoulder of a highway is one of the most dangerous places for a vehicle or a person to be.

What Should You Do After a Freeway Accident in Texas?

Texas law requires drivers involved in any accident to stop, provide information, and render reasonable aid if someone is injured. How you do this on a freeway, though, matters enormously.

Here is what safety experts and law enforcement recommend:

• Stay in your vehicle if it is safe to do so and you are not in immediate danger from fire or a similar hazard.
• Turn on your hazard lights immediately.
• If you must get out, move as far from traffic as possible — behind a barrier if one is available.
• Call 911 and wait for law enforcement to arrive before approaching the other vehicle.
• Never stand in a live lane of traffic or between your vehicle and oncoming cars.
• If your car is drivable and in a dangerous position, move it to the shoulder or the nearest safe exit before stopping.

The safest approach on a Texas freeway is to stay inside your car with your seatbelt on until help arrives.

Who Is Liable in a Multi-Part Car Wreck?

Texas’s "modified comparative fault rule" under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 33.001 means that a driver may be partially liable for an accident and still recover damages (as long as they weren’t more than 50 percent responsible).

If a second driver, like the truck driver in the I-10 crash, caused additional harm by striking someone who was already outside their vehicle, that driver may be held separately liable for those injuries or death.

In freeway accidents where several cars are often involved, multiple parties can share responsibility:

• The driver who caused the initial collision
• A second driver who failed to slow down or change lanes
• A trucking company, if a commercial vehicle was involved
• A government entity, if road conditions or signage contributed to the crash

Figuring out who is responsible and to what degree takes a careful investigation. This is why legal help is so valuable in these complicated, high-stakes cases.

What Compensation May Be Available After a Serious Freeway Accident?

Victims of serious freeway accidents, or their families if the person died, may be able to recover compensation for:

• Medical expenses, including future care
• Lost income and loss of earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Funeral and burial costs in wrongful death cases
• Loss of companionship and support

Your attorney will work with you to fully understand what types of compensation you deserve.

Call a New Braunfels, TX Car Accident Attorney Today

The team at The Bettersworth Law Firm is ready to help individuals and families involved in serious freeway wrecks. With 25 years of experience handling complex vehicle accident cases and millions recovered for clients, our Guadalupe County car accident lawyers handle every case with the personal attention it deserves.

We keep our caseload intentionally low so you will have direct, regular contact with the attorney on your case. You will never be just a number here. We are aggressive with insurance companies and compassionate with our clients. Call The Bettersworth Law Firm at 830-606-0404 for a free consultation.