0:57What does my car accident lawyer need from me?
Matthew Graham
The first days
Should I see a doctor after a Texas car accident?
The short answer
Yes, everyone involved in a car accident should see a doctor right away. In a 2026 video, the firm's managing litigation attorney Matthew Graham reminds viewers that you and a lawyer are not qualified to diagnose injuries, so medical providers come first and any talk of settlement waits until treatment is under way.
“Recovery is the goal. That's what people lose sight of sometimes. This isn't about money as much as it is about your physical health.”
Key points from Matthew
Matthew Graham says the first priority after a crash is making sure you are okay and getting medical attention, including a 911 call and an ambulance ride if needed.
Everyone involved in the accident should be seen by a doctor immediately, because neither you nor a lawyer can diagnose injuries or decide on a treatment plan.
Proper medical facilities and treatment providers can help you recover and perhaps bring you back to full health, and that has to happen before a case is negotiated.
At the start of a case your job is getting better, while the legal side of how it all works out is left to our team.
Why treatment comes before any settlement talk
Matthew Graham starts with a plain order of events. A hospital visit or an ambulance ride is the most important item on the list if you need one, and nothing the firm does can stand in for it. A lawyer cannot look at a person and say what is wrong or what treatment will help.
He also explains why money comes later. You cannot trade a settlement check for a new back or a new leg, so the goal is recovery and, where possible, a return to full health. Only after that care is under way does it make sense to start negotiating or try to resolve the case.
Read next on our site
What Texas law asks of drivers at the scene, plus the police paperwork and the first medical bills, is in our first steps guide for Texas drivers.
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Get treated, then call us
Once a doctor has seen you, our team can pick up the legal questions. Phone 1-800-INJURED, then bring any worry to whoever answers on our side.
This video and answer explain Texas law in general terms; they are not advice about your own case, and watching does not make us your lawyers.