If you’ve been in a car accident, you may need to get a copy of the car accident report prepared by law enforcement. The crash report can clear up questions you may have about the accident, or it can fill in missing information you need for your personal injury case. When you were seriously injured or knocked unconscious in the accident, you might not remember what happened, and the report can help tell your story. Or your personal injury lawyer may need the report as evidence of the severity of your injuries and the damage to your car.
When Is a Car Accident Report Required Under Texas Law?
Texas Transportation Code § 550.062 requires law enforcement officers who investigate serious motor vehicle crashes to submit collision reports. A serious crash is considered one that “resulted 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.” Officers must complete these reports regardless of whether they investigated the collision scene or worked on the case afterward by interviewing drivers and witnesses. There is a specific form officers must use, and they must submit their reports online within 10 days of each collision.
If you believe you’ve been injured in a car accident or your vehicle appears to have sustained significant damage, it’s a good idea to call the police to investigate. Because of the legal requirement for the officers to file a collision report, you can receive documentation of key details regarding the accident that could help with a personal injury claim or insurance claim for the vehicle. The officers may interview witnesses or obtain video that could help your case. In addition, the police can help you obtain appropriate medical attention, remove your vehicle from the roadway, and assist if you are having difficulty obtaining the other driver’s insurance information.
How Do You Get a Copy of a Texas Collision Report?
Car accident reports are not available to the general public except in heavily redacted form, because they are considered confidential. However, Texas law provides that a variety of people who are “directly concerned in the accident” or otherwise have a stake in what happened can access the unredacted reports. The list includes, but is not limited to:
- Anyone actually involved in the accident
- The accident victims’ lawyers or other authorized representatives
- An “employer, parent or legal guardian of a driver involved in the accident”
- Anyone who could sue for wrongful death due to the accident
- “[T]he owner of a vehicle or property damaged in the collision”
- Insurance companies that insure people or vehicles involved in the collision
The Texas Department of Transportation maintains an online Crash Report Online Purchase System that you can use to access your report. If you have a personal injury lawyer, they can obtain a copy of the report for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Law enforcement didn’t investigate my accident – do I still have a personal injury case?
If you were injured in a car accident, you may have a personal injury case regardless of whether law enforcement investigated or prepared a collision report. It’s important to speak with a personal injury lawyer, who can make an individualized assessment of your facts. You may have the right to compensation for your injuries under Texas law.
I got a copy of my car accident report. Now, what’s next for my claim?
If you’re working with a personal injury attorney because you were hurt in the accident, your lawyer will continue to investigate your case and communicate with the insurance company on your behalf. If you weren’t injured but your car was damaged, you should contact insurance to make a claim and determine what they will cover in terms of car repair or replacement.
We’re First to Fight for Victims Injured in Car Accidents
Were you hurt in a Texas car accident? You could have a personal injury claim. At Allen & Nunnally, we work tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcomes for our clients’ cases. Injured Texans trust us to fight for the compensation they deserve because we have a steadfast commitment to client service that you can depend on. To schedule a consultation with one of our Houston-based attorneys, call (713) 955-2217, use our convenient Contact Form, or email us at info@allen-nunnally.com.