TL;DR: Get the other driver’s name, license number, insurance policy details, and vehicle registration, plus contact information for any witnesses and the responding officer’s name and badge number. Both Texas and Tennessee legally require drivers to exchange this information at the scene. This post covers exactly what to collect and how to make sure you don’t miss anything while everyone’s still standing there.
The Legal Process: What information to get after an auto accident
After a crash, collect the other driver’s full name, address, driver’s license number, license plate, insurance company, and policy number. Add the names and phone numbers of any witnesses, plus the responding officer’s name, badge number, and report or case number. In both Texas and Tennessee, drivers are legally required to exchange this information, not just encouraged to.
Skipping any one of these pieces can slow your claim down later, since a missing policy number or an unreachable witness is often the difference between a smooth settlement and a drawn-out dispute. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tracks millions of these exchanges every year as part of standard crash data, underscoring how routine — and how expected — this step really is.
Why this exchange is required, not optional
Texas’s Transportation Code requires drivers to give their name, address, vehicle registration, and insurer’s name to anyone injured or to the other driver involved. Tennessee’s law is nearly identical, requiring the same exchange plus your driver’s license on request.
What to do if the other driver refuses to cooperate
If someone won’t share their information, don’t argue at the scene. Note their license plate, vehicle description, and direction of travel, then let the responding officer document the refusal — it becomes part of the official record either way.
The details insurance companies actually ask for
Adjusters move faster when they don’t have to chase down basic facts. Beyond names and policy numbers, have the make, model, and color of every vehicle involved, along with the exact location, time, and direction each car was traveling. If a passenger or pedestrian was involved, get their information too, even if they seem uninjured at the scene.
Witness information matters more than people think
A witness who leaves without giving contact information is evidence you’ll never get back. Ask politely and quickly, since witnesses often want to leave once they’ve seen you’re not seriously hurt.
Employer and rideshare details
If the other vehicle has a company logo, or the driver mentions they were working, get the employer’s name and any rideshare or delivery app they were logged into. This can matter for who’s actually liable.
How to collect this information without missing anything
In the chaos after a crash, it’s easy to forget half of what you need. A short, repeatable routine helps:
- Photograph the other driver’s license, insurance card, and license plate directly, rather than writing numbers down by hand.
- Ask the responding officer for their name, badge number, and how to obtain the report once it’s filed with the Tennessee Department of Safety or local police records division.
- Get phone numbers from witnesses before they leave, even a text sent right there confirms the number works.
- Write down the exact time, location, and weather conditions while they’re still fresh, since memory fades within hours.
Once you have this information gathered, our page on what to do after an accident walks through the rest of the process, from medical care to filing your claim.
What This Means: complete information protects your claim from day one
The information you gather in the first few minutes becomes the foundation of everything that follows — your insurance claim, any dispute over fault, and, if it comes to it, a lawsuit. Missing a policy number or a witness’s phone number rarely gets fixed later. Whether you’re in Texas or Tennessee, treat this exchange as a legal obligation that protects you, not a formality to rush through.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Contact Culpepper Law Group for guidance specific to your situation.
Take This Step: Get Help From a Houston or Memphis Car Accident Lawyer
If you’re holding a stack of names and numbers and aren’t sure what to do with them, we can help make sense of it. Culpepper Law Group offers a free consultation for anyone hurt in a motor vehicle accident in the Houston or Memphis area. A personal injury lawyer can put that information to work right away. You pay nothing unless we win. Bring us what you’ve got, and let’s figure out your next step together.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I have to pay for a consultation to review what information I collected?
No. Culpepper Law Group’s consultations are free, and you owe nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
2. What if I forgot to get the other driver’s insurance information?
It can often still be recovered through the police report or by working with an attorney who protects your claim, though it’s harder than getting it at the scene.
3. Is it true that only the police report matters, not what I collect myself?
No — that’s a common misconception. Your own notes and photos often fill gaps the police report doesn’t cover, like witness contact details.
4. Do passengers need to exchange information too?
Yes, especially if they were injured. Their contact and insurance details may matter later even if they seem fine at the scene.
5. Should I give the other driver my Social Security number?
No. Name, address, license, registration, and insurance information are all that’s legally required — never hand over your Social Security number at the scene.
Key Takeaways
- Both Texas and Tennessee legally require drivers to exchange name, license, registration, and insurance information after a crash.
- Photographing documents directly is more reliable than writing numbers down by hand.
- Witness contact information is often impossible to recover once someone leaves the scene.
- A personal injury lawyer can often help fill gaps in missing information, though it’s harder than collecting it upfront.
- Never share your Social Security number at the scene — it isn’t part of what either state legally requires.
