How to Obtain an Accident Report in Texas
If you were involved in a car accident in Houston, TX, obtaining a copy of the official accident report is extremely important. These reports often contain key details about how the collision occurred and who may be at fault.
At Zehl & Associates, our undefeated trial lawyers have recovered Billions of dollars for accident victims across Texas. We’ve recovered record-breaking verdicts and settlements for our clients.
Reach out to our Houston car accident lawyers at (888) 603-3636 for help obtaining your police report and handling all other aspects of your injury claim.
Table of Contents
- Why Choose Zehl & Associates to Handle My Car Accident Claim in Houston, TX?
- How Are Car Accidents Reported in Texas?
- What Information Do I Need to Get a Copy of the Accident Report?
- How Do I Request a Copy of My Texas Car Accident Report?
- Review Your Car Accident Report for Errors
- Contact Our Undefeated Houston Car Accident Lawyers for Help
Why Choose Zehl & Associates to Handle My Car Accident Claim in Houston, TX?
Accident reports are critical to a victim’s pursuit of justice and full compensation. Unlike other types of evidence, corporations and their insurers can’t make a police report disappear. But they can — and will — scrutinize every word, every diagram, and every detail in an effort to pay you as little as possible.
That’s why you need an experienced Houston law firm with the resources, trial record, and reputation to make sure the evidence works for you — not against you. When a crash report is incomplete or wrong, we challenge it. And when powerful companies try to distort the facts, we uncover the truth and force them to answer for the harm they’ve caused.
Here’s why clients across Texas choose Zehl & Associates:
- Undefeated at trial: Our Houston personal injury lawyers have never lost a case against major insurance companies and corporate defendants.
- Results that speak for themselves: Our firm has repeatedly secured the largest, record-breaking verdicts and settlements in Texas, recovering Billions for injured clients.
- Elite trial lawyers: Our firm has been ranked a “Best Law Firm” in 2025 by Best Lawyers and is nationally recognized for courtroom excellence.
- Refusal to settle for less: We will always refuse any offer that doesn’t fully compensate our clients for all of their injuries and losses.
Accident reports are only the beginning. We know how to turn evidence into results. And we never back down until those results reflect the maximum compensation you need to protect your family’s future.
Call us today to schedule a free case review with a Houston car accident attorney.
How Are Car Accidents Reported in Texas?
The most efficient way to ensure an accident is properly documented is to call 911 immediately after a crash. In Texas, this is required any time the crash involves injury, death, or property damage of $1,000 or more.
When you contact emergency services, provide your location and request police assistance. Law enforcement officers will respond to the scene, assess the situation, and prepare an official crash report.
In Texas, officers typically generate a CR-3 Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report, which documents basic information about the crash, such as driver details, vehicle damage, road conditions, and the officer’s preliminary assessment of fault.
What Information Do I Need to Get a Copy of the Accident Report?
Requesting a copy of your Texas accident report is simple. To locate the correct report, you will generally need to provide at least two of the following pieces of information:
- The date of the accident
- The location where the crash occurred
- The names of the drivers or parties involved
- The crash report or incident number
The crash report number is the most reliable identifier.
How Do I Request a Copy of My Texas Car Accident Report?
Texas crash reports are typically maintained through the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the law enforcement agency that investigated the crash. There are several ways to obtain your report.
Online Request
The most common method is through TxDOT’s Crash Report Online Purchase System (C.R.I.S.).This system allows eligible parties to request a copy of the CR-3 report online for a small fee.
By Mail
You may also request a crash report by mail using the appropriate TxDOT request form. This option generally requires submitting identifying information and a payment by check or money order.
Through Your Attorney
Many accident victims choose to have their car accident attorney obtain the crash report for them.
Review Your Car Accident Report for Errors
Once you receive your accident report, carefully review it for mistakes, including:
- Incorrect dates, times, or locations
- Misspelled names or incorrect driver information
- Inaccurate vehicle descriptions
- Incomplete witness information
Material corrections generally must be made by the officer who prepared the crash report, often via a correction or supplemental report. TxDOT may correct limited administrative fields (such as location) in narrow circumstances. Whether the report is amended is ultimately at the discretion of the investigating officer.
However, an officer’s opinions or conclusions about fault may not change. If the report unfairly assigns blame or omits critical context, an experienced car accident lawyer can challenge the issue.
Contact Our Undefeated Houston Car Accident Lawyers for Help
Accident reports are only one part of a successful injury claim. You need a law firm that knows how to use every shred of evidence to your advantage.
At Zehl & Associates, our record-breaking, undefeated trial lawyers have recovered billions for accident victims across Texas. If you were injured in a car accident and need assistance obtaining or utilizing your crash report, contact our Houston car accident attorneys today for a complimentary consultation.