The mistake is waiting for the insurer to "figure it out" after a crash in a lane shift on I-35W near downtown Fort Worth or a work zone on Loop 820. By then, cones move, skid marks fade, the flagger is gone, and the contractor's daily logs are harder to get.

The correct approach is to build proof in layers, starting the same day if possible.

First, lock down the scene evidence. In Texas, the police crash report matters, but it is only the start. You need photos or video of the lane configuration, barrels, signs, arrow boards, lighting, heavy equipment, and any missing warning signs. In construction season, the key question is often whether the traffic control matched the approved TxDOT traffic-control plan and the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

Next, identify who controlled the zone. That may be a general contractor, paving subcontractor, flagging company, or a public entity. Behind the scenes, claims often turn on contracts, work orders, inspection logs, and crew assignments from that specific date and time. A preservation letter usually targets:

• dashcam footage
• bodycam or nearby business video
• daily field reports
• equipment GPS data
• incident reports
• road-closure permits and traffic-control plans

Then prove medical causation. If you are a nurse or other healthcare worker and tried to "push through" the shift, the insurer may argue the injury came later. Early records from Texas Health Harris Methodist, JPS, or a transfer to a Level I trauma center in the Texas Medical Center can connect the crash forces to the injury. Chart notes should tie symptoms to the roadwork crash, not just list pain.

After that comes the paper fight: insurer review, liability dispute, and often blame-shifting to your employer or a coworker. In Texas, the general injury lawsuit deadline is 2 years. If a city or other government unit was involved, notice can be due much sooner, sometimes within 6 months under the Texas Tort Claims Act. If you were hurt while working, a workers' comp claim and a separate third-party claim may run at the same time.