Dallas law firm warns accident victims about the first 72 hours after a crash

Frenkel & Frenkel says the first three days after a Texas car accident can shape the value of an injury claim, because insurers move quickly to lock in statements, medical releases and fault narratives. The Dallas firm says its former insurance-defense lawyers use that experience to help clients avoid early mistakes.

Why it matters: - The first 72 hours after a crash can affect how much an injury claim is worth. - Early statements, medical releases and treatment delays can give insurers material to argue injuries were minor, unrelated or partly the victim’s fault. - Texas’ modified comparative negligence rule can bar recovery if a victim is found 51% or more at fault.

What happened: - Frenkel & Frenkel, a Dallas personal injury firm, said insurance companies build claims defenses in the first three days after an accident. - The firm said former insurance-defense attorneys Mark D. Frenkel and Scott B. Frenkel now use that background to represent accident victims across Texas. - The firm framed the 72-hour window as the period when adjusters try to secure evidence before victims fully understand their injuries or legal rights.

The details: - Insurance adjusters often contact victims while they are in shock, in pain or dealing with vehicle damage and medical concerns. - The firm said adjusters use that timing to lock in evidence before a victim sees a doctor or speaks with counsel. - Insurance companies focus on four early moves: securing a recorded statement, obtaining broad medical authorizations, establishing fault narratives and minimizing injury documentation. - A recorded statement can be used later if a victim describes injuries as minor before the full extent of harm is known. - Broad medical releases can expose a victim’s medical history and give insurers a basis to argue pre-existing conditions caused the injuries. - Early fault arguments matter in Texas because a victim who crosses the 51% fault threshold recovers nothing. - Adjusters may suggest emergency treatment is unnecessary, and later gaps in care can be used against the claim. - The firm said many serious injuries do not show symptoms immediately because adrenaline and shock can mask pain. - Internal injuries may take 24 to 72 hours to become noticeable. - Traumatic brain injuries can appear later as headaches, confusion and dizziness. - Herniated discs can start as stiffness and later cause radiating pain and numbness. - Soft tissue injuries often worsen as inflammation builds during the first week. - By the time some victims seek care, insurers may already have records showing the victim said they felt fine.

Between the lines: - The firm’s message is as much about timing as medicine: delays in care and communication can become evidence, even when the injuries are real. - The attorneys are also selling a strategic advantage tied to their prior defense-side experience, which they say helps them anticipate insurer tactics. - The release mixes consumer advice with firm positioning, including references to multimillion-dollar past recoveries, which are not predictors of future results.

What’s next: - Frenkel & Frenkel is urging accident victims to seek medical evaluation within 24 hours, even if injuries seem minor. - The firm recommends declining recorded statements to the at-fault driver’s insurer and not signing broad medical authorizations. - Victims are advised to document the scene, damage, injuries, witnesses, medical visits and expenses. - The firm says Texas accident victims should consult an attorney early, and notes that many lawyers offer free consultations. - Frenkel & Frenkel says it is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from offices in Dallas and Fort Worth.

The bottom line: - In the first three days after a crash, victims may be building their case at the same time an insurer is building its defense.