If you have been involved in a car accident in Texas, you must report the incident to law enforcement. You can do this by calling 911 to request emergency assistance or contacting local law enforcement or the state police directly.
The Texas Transportation Code §550.062 requires any law enforcement officer who, in the regular course of duty, investigates a motor vehicle crash that results in injury to or the death of a person or damage to the property of any one person to the apparent extent of $1,000 or more, to submit a written report of that crash to Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) not later than the tenth day after the date of the crash.
TxDOT is the custodian of all Texas crash records completed by law enforcement agencies for crashes on public roadways and the state highway system. The state retention schedule for crash reports and data is ten years plus the current year.
What is Included in the TxDOT Crash Report?
The TxDOT Crash Report is a critical document law enforcement agencies, insurance companies, and other parties use to investigate and analyze motor vehicle crashes in Texas. It provides valuable information for understanding the causes and consequences of crashes and developing strategies to improve roadway safety.
Reports may contain varying details about the crash based on the information available, including:
- General information about the crash, including the date, time, location, reporting agency, and case number.
- Details about the vehicles involved in the crash, including make, model, year, license plate number, insurance, and owner information.
- Information about the drivers and occupants of the vehicles involved, including names, addresses, dates of birth, and driver’s license numbers.
- Details about any witnesses to the crash, including names, addresses, and phone numbers.
- A narrative description of the crash, including road conditions, weather, and contributing factors, such as speeding, distracted driving, or alcohol impairment.
- A diagram or sketch of the crash scene shows the vehicles’ position, road markings, and other relevant details.
- Information about the extent of damage to vehicles involved in the crash.
- Details about injuries sustained by individuals involved in the crash, including the severity of injuries and whether any fatalities occurred.
- Any citations issued to drivers involved in the crash and information about charges filed due to the collision.
It can take up to 14 days from the crash date for your crash to appear in TxDOT search results.
Using the TxDOT Online Crash Report Request System
All Texas traffic collisions that require a police report to be filed can be requested online with the Crash Records Information System. The report costs $6 for a regular copy and $8 for a certified copy, an official document for a legal proceeding, and an additional processing fee if using a credit card to order.
To obtain a crash report, you may need one or more of the following:
- The name of the person or company involved in the crash.
- The driver’s license/identification card number of the person involved in the crash.
- The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the vehicle involved in the crash.
- The TxDOT Crash ID.
If you’ve been in a car accident in Texas, you may pursue a legal claim against the other driver(s) responsible for the crash. A successful car accident claim will require compelling evidence, and a copy of any police accident reports drafted by officers who responded to the crash scene is a crucial part of that. A crash report can provide a third-party perspective of the accident that may help resolve conflicting accounts of the crash. We can help.
Contact Our Skilled Accident and Injury Attorneys Today
If you have been injured in a vehicle accident caused by another person’s negligence in Texas, our experienced Austin personal injury attorneys can guide you through the legal process, gather evidence to support your claim—including your crash report—and advocate for your rights in negotiations with insurance companies or courts. Call our skilled accident and injury attorneys at (512) 883-0277 or contact us online today to schedule a free consultation.
We pursue dedicated, driven results for our clients, and there is never a charge to talk to an attorney. We stand ready to help you.
