Car accidents occur in Houston every day. Overall, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) reported 67,386 traffic crashes in the city in 2022. Most crashes are reported to the police because of the resulting property damage and injuries.
However, what happens when you don’t report a crash to the police? Is it possible to file a personal injury claim in Houston, TX, without a police report? This blog answers that question and explains why you should always report a Houston car accident to the police.
If you were involved in a car accident in Houston, contact our Houston car accident lawyer near you for a free consultation.
Understand Your Legal Requirements After a Houston Car Accident
You are required to stop your vehicle and remain at the accident scene until you render aid and exchange information with the other driver. Rendering aid can mean calling 911 for emergency medical services if someone is injured.
Drivers are required to provide each other with information on their driver’s licenses and registration. They must also give the other driver their insurance information. However, if a police officer investigates the crash, the officer generally gathers this information from the drivers to include on the accident report.
Most car accidents must be reported to the police according to Texas traffic laws. According to the law, drivers must report car accidents if any of the following apply:
- Someone sustained injuries because of the accident
- The car accident resulted in a fatality
- The collision caused damage that makes the vehicle unsafe to drive
The law requires drivers to report the car accident by the quickest means of communication. Generally, calling 911 is the fastest way to report a car crash in Houston. An emergency operator asks for your location to dispatch the correct law enforcement agency to the accident scene.
In addition to notifying the police, you should also notify your insurance company. Texas requires drivers to have minimum amounts of liability insurance. If you were at fault for the accident, your insurance company could be liable for damages.
Can I File a Personal Injury Claim Without a Police Report After a Houston Car Accident?
Technically, you can file a personal injury claim for a car accident without a police report. There is no law stating that you must have a police report to file a personal injury claim. However, it could make it more challenging to prove your case.
For example, suppose the other driver lies and says they were not involved in an accident. Further, suppose their car has been repaired or destroyed. Without physical evidence proving the crash occurred, you might be unable to prove the other driver caused an accident.
Therefore, reporting a traffic accident is always in your best interest. A police report contains information that is useful when filing an insurance claim or investigating the crash. Information contained in a police report for a car crash includes:
- The time, date, and location of the accident
- A description of the vehicles involved in the accident
- The names and contact information for each driver
- The insurance information for each vehicle
- The names of eyewitnesses
- A basic description of what happened
- Whether the police concluded a driver contributed to the cause of the crash
- The road and weather conditions at the time of the accident
- Other relevant information the police collected
Review the police report for mistakes or errors and notify your attorney immediately. You should also notify your attorney if you dispute any of the officer’s conclusions or statements in the report.
Do I Need an Attorney To File a Personal Injury Claim After a Houston Car Accident?
You are not required to hire an attorney for a car accident claim. However, you may want to consider hiring a lawyer, especially if you did not file a police report for a car accident.
The insurance company has a team of professionals to protect its interests. You need someone working on your behalf to protect you. Our Houston personal injury lawyers can:
- Advise you of your legal rights and options for recovering compensation for economic and non-economic damages
- Investigate the car crash to gather evidence proving your claim
- Defend you against allegations of contributory fault and blame
- Determine how much your case is worth after documenting your damages
- Work with expert witnesses, as necessary
- File claims and handle all paperwork for the claims
- Negotiate a settlement with the insurance company
- File a lawsuit and take your case to court if necessary
An attorney has the resources and experience to handle a car accident claim. They understand the law and know how much your case is worth. Ultimately, car accident lawyers help you navigate the legal process so you can get the money you need and deserve.
Contact The Houston Personal Injury Attorneys at Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers for Help Today
For more information, please contact our Undefeated personal injury attorneys in Texas at Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today.
We proudly serve Harris County, Midland County, and throughout the state of Texas:
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Houston
2700 Post Oak Blvd #1000, Houston, TX 77056
(888) 603-3636
Open 24 hours
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Midland
306 W Wall St Suite 701, Midland, TX 79701
(432) 220-0000
Open 24 hours