Big Spring Towing · Big Spring, TX · Updated July 2026

What to Do After a Car Accident in Big Spring, TX

A car accident is one of the most disorienting things that can happen on the road. One second you are cruising down I-20 or heading through town on US-87, and the next you are sitting in a damaged vehicle with your heart pounding, not sure what to do first. If it just happened to you here in Big Spring, TX, take a breath. This guide walks you through exactly what to do after a car accident, step by step, so you protect your health, your rights, and your wallet, and so you know precisely who to call when your vehicle can no longer be driven.

We are a local, 24/7 towing and accident-recovery company based right here in Howard County, and we respond to crashes across the I-20 corridor every week. We wrote this from real experience helping Big Spring drivers on their worst days, and we kept it practical.

First Steps to Take Right After a Big Spring Crash

The moments right after impact matter most. Your first job is to protect people, not property. Cars can be replaced; you cannot. Work through these steps in order:

• Check yourself and your passengers. Look for pain, bleeding, dizziness, or trouble breathing. Adrenaline masks injuries, so move slowly and deliberately.
• Call 911 if anyone is hurt. Big Spring EMS and the fire department respond quickly, and it is always better to be checked out than to shrug off a symptom that turns serious hours later.
• Turn on your hazard lights. This warns other drivers, which is critical on fast stretches of I-20 and TX-350 where traffic does not slow down for a stopped car.
• Stay calm and stay put unless your vehicle is on fire or in a live traffic lane where staying inside is more dangerous than getting out.

Once you know everyone is safe, you can start dealing with the vehicles and the paperwork. Do not skip the safety check just because the damage looks minor. Whiplash and concussions do not always show up in the first five minutes.

Move to Safety on I-20 and US-87

Big Spring sits right on Interstate 20, and a large share of the wrecks we tow happen between Exits 174 and 179 where speeds are high and shoulders are narrow. If your car still runs and the crash is minor, carefully pull onto the shoulder or the nearest exit ramp so you are out of the flow of traffic. A fender-bender that blocks a travel lane on I-20 can quickly turn into a second, worse collision.

If your vehicle cannot move, leave it where it is, keep your hazards on, and stay behind the guardrail or well off the pavement while you wait. Standing next to a disabled car in a live lane is one of the most dangerous things you can do on a Texas highway. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers clear guidance on staying safe near a disabled vehicle, and the short version is simple: get people away from traffic first, worry about the car second.

Document the Scene and Exchange Information

Once everyone is safe and traffic is handled, it is time to build your record of what happened. Insurance claims and any future dispute live or die on documentation, so take a few extra minutes here. Use your phone to capture:

• Photos of every vehicle from multiple angles, including close-ups of the damage and wider shots that show the position of the cars.
• The other driver's information: name, phone number, insurance company and policy number, license plate, and driver's license.
• The scene itself: road conditions, skid marks, traffic signs, and any nearby landmarks like the Comanche Trail, an I-20 exit sign, or a mile marker.
• Names and numbers of any witnesses who stopped to help.

Be polite, but avoid admitting fault or apologizing at the scene, even out of instinct. Stick to the facts. Fault is determined later by the insurers and, if needed, the crash report, not by anything said in a stressful moment on the roadside.

When to Call the Police and File a Report

In Texas, you are legally required to report a crash that causes injury, death, or property damage that appears to be $1,000 or more. On today's roads that dollar figure is easy to reach with even moderate damage, so calling the Big Spring Police Department, or the Howard County Sheriff if you are outside city limits, is almost always the right move. The responding officer files an official crash report, and that document becomes powerful evidence when you deal with insurance.

If police are not dispatched for a very minor crash, you can still file a driver's report on your own. Either way, get the report or exchange information thoroughly. A clean paper trail is your best protection weeks later when a claim is being decided.

When You Need Accident Towing in Howard County

Not every accident leaves a drivable car. If your vehicle is leaking fluid, has a bent wheel or suspension, has airbags deployed, or simply will not start, do not try to limp it home. Driving a damaged car can turn a repairable vehicle into a total loss and put you back in danger. That is where professional accident towing comes in.

A proper accident recovery is different from a routine tow. It often calls for a flatbed so the damaged vehicle is fully supported and no further stress hits the frame, and sometimes a wheel-lift or winch-out when a car has slid off the road into a ditch along TX-350 or a US-87 embankment. Our operators are DOT compliant, fully licensed and insured, and trained to clear a scene safely without adding to the damage. You can see the full range of what we handle on our accident towing and recovery services page.

We also know how stressful the insurance side feels. Big Spring Towing works directly with most major insurers, gives you a clear quote before we hook up, and can deliver your vehicle to the body shop or storage yard of your choice anywhere in Big Spring, Coahoma, Stanton, Forsan, or the wider Howard County area.

Choosing a Licensed, Insured Local Tow Company

After a wreck you may be approached by a tow truck you did not call, especially on busy stretches of I-20. You are never obligated to use a random operator who shows up uninvited. You have the right to choose your own towing company, and choosing a trusted local one protects you from inflated fees and surprise storage charges. Look for a company that is upfront about pricing, licensed and insured, and based in your community rather than passing through. Being local to Big Spring means we know every exit, back road, and body shop in the county, and we are there in minutes, not hours.