Sean O' Rourke | August 26, 2025 | Car Accidents
Following a traffic collision in Houston, a car accident report can be a helpful tool to help victims recover compensation, as it provides a wealth of information regarding the details of the crash and the parties involved.
However, before you can realize any of these benefits, you need to obtain a copy of that report. Thankfully, there are several ways to do so in Houston, as you’ll discover below.
What Is a Crash Report?
Whenever a traffic collision causes injury, death, or more than $1,000 in property damage, the drivers involved must immediately report it to law enforcement. Upon arriving at the scene and conducting an investigation of the accident, officers will document the participants, road conditions, injuries, damage, and other facts about the collision.
How Can a Crash Report Help Me?
That information is then assembled into a crash report, an official document that can help you do the following:
- Identify the other parties involved in your crash
- Determine who may be liable for damages
- Calculate the compensation you need for injuries and property damage
- Refute counterclaims filed by others
A well-documented crash report can be a powerful tool to strengthen your claim, ensuring you have the evidence to pursue fair compensation.
What Is Included in a Crash Report?
Furthermore, a crash report is just one piece of evidence an experienced attorney will use when preparing a client’s injury claim.
It can be remarkably versatile and detailed, meaning it can do the following:
- Contain necessary identifying information about other liable parties so they can be sued
- Indicate the type of truck and its owner (if you were hit by an 18-wheeler or commercial truck)
- Help you and your lawyer determine which insurance company should pay your claim
- Note any road or weather conditions that could have also contributed to the crash
- List your injuries and describe the damage to your vehicle, which can then be compared against your medical records and repair bills
- Diagram the scene of the crash, including where any skid marks or other important items of evidence were located
Finally, crash reports generally contain the names of the officers who prepare them and their opinions regarding who is responsible for the crash. Both of these can be critical elements of a successful injury claim if the other party denies responsibility for causing the crash.
As such, it is crucial that you receive a copy of the report as soon as possible to ensure the best possible outcome for your legal claim.
Why Is Getting My Crash Report Critical for My Insurance Claim?
Though some insurance companies will request a copy of your crash report upon submitting a claim, a report’s true usefulness becomes readily apparent when you are actively seeking compensation from the other driver’s insurance company.
Texas is an at-fault insurance state, which means the other driver must be found at fault before their insurance company will pay. With all of the information it includes, a crash report will help immensely here.
How to Get Your Crash Report
An attorney can obtain your crash report for you, but you can also do it yourself. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) maintains all crash reports filed by law enforcement officers following wrecks on the state’s public roads and highways. To get a copy of your report, you can make your request online to TxDOT or visit the Houston Police Department in person.
Be advised, though, that you will need to provide your name, the date of the crash, and the location of your accident so your report can be located. There is also a small fee that must be paid before you can receive your copy of the report.
Do Not Neglect Your Crash Report
TxDOT keeps crash reports on file for up to ten years, but your injury claim for damages should be filed far before then. Law enforcement officers have ten days after investigating a crash to submit their report to TxDOT, so you or your lawyer can usually obtain your crash report and begin using it to help build your claim in just a couple of weeks.
Contact the Houston Car Accident Lawyers at Simon & O’Rourke Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, the Houston car accident attorneys at Simon & O’Rourke Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers can help. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Simon & O’Rourke Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers
440 Louisiana St Suite 1115, Houston, TX 77002
(281) 667-4081
About The Author
Sean O’Rourke earned his law degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law and is licensed to practice in Texas. He frequently assists clients with their legal needs in Houston, with a focus on personal injury cases, especially those involving motor vehicle accidents (such as cars, commercial trucks, 18-wheelers, & motorcycles). Click here to view some of the amazing case results that Sean has successfully handled.
Location: Houston, TX