There are a lot of things that you need to do after your car accident. In addition to getting immediate medical attention, you also need to call the police and file a report. A Texas peace officer crash report will be filled out by the responding officer, and it’s important to get a copy of the report as soon as you can, because it can help strengthen your case so that you can get the settlement you deserve.
Getting the accident report is only a small part of a complicated process, so it’s important to call a personal injury lawyer when you get into an accident. They could potentially prove that you were not at fault as well as help you procure the damages that are rightfully yours.
How to Obtain Your Texas Accident Report
In order to obtain your Texas accident report, you need to go to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) website and make a request through the Crash Report Online Purchase System. There, you can search for your crash report or download previous crash reports that you purchased.
You’ll receive a Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report (CR-3) if your crash resulted in $1,000 or more in damages or someone was injured or killed. If the accident resulted in less than $1,000 worth of damages and no one was injured or killed, then you could fill out a Driver’s Crash Report (CR-2).
Reading Your Texas Accident Report
The Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report is going to contain information like:
- The date, location, and time of the accident
- All drivers’ insurance information, including policy numbers
- Statements from both drivers and other witnesses
- The speed limit for the road where the accident occurred
- Information on each driver’s vehicle including make, model, VIN, body style, and license plate number
- Driver’s license information for both drivers
- Lighting, weather, and road conditions at the time of the accident
There will be a visual depiction of what happened, as well as codes and abbreviations. You can use this code sheet to see what the report may be referring to.
It could take a few days up to a few weeks to get a copy of your report. The worse the crash is, the longer the report will take the officer to complete. Anyone involved in the accident, including the drivers, any injured parties, parents or legal guardian or someone involved, the vehicle or property owner involved, or a representative from the insurance company that covered a vehicle in the crash is eligible to obtain it.
Why Your Texas Accident Report May Be Wrong
Unfortunately, your Texas accident report may not accurately reflect what really happened. For example, it may show that you were responsible for the accident when the other driver was at fault. The responding officer filling out the report may not get everything right since they usually aren’t trained in accident reconstruction. So, it’s entirely possible that they may come to the wrong conclusions about who was at fault. That’s why it’s important to consult a lawyer and gather as much evidence about the accident as you can.
If you can provide witness statements, photographs, video footage, or any other evidence to show that you were not at fault, then it is possible to have your report amended. The catch is that you have to do it as soon as possible and push to get it changed. If you have personal injury lawyers on your side, you will have a much better chance of proving your case and getting a proper settlement for your damages.
If you can provide witness statements, photographs, video footage, or any other evidence to show that you were not at fault, then it is possible to have your report amended. The catch is that you have to do it as soon as possible and push to get it changed. If you have personal injury lawyers on your side, you will have a much better chance of proving your case and getting a proper settlement for your damages.
Related: What Should I Bring to a Meeting With an Injury Lawyer?
How Crosley Law Helps With Accident Reports
Even if you have the right evidence to prove that you were not at fault, it’s very difficult to change your Texas accident report. If you are recovering from your injuries and trying to get your auto fixed, you may not have the time or energy to fight to fix your report.
That’s why it’s important to hire a personal injury lawyer in Texas like Crosley Law. We will contact the police department and prove what really happened so that you can pursue damages.
In one case, Crosley Law was able to prove that a semi-truck driver was at fault in an accident where a cyclist was hit and killed. Although the accident report put the initial blame on the cyclist, Crosley Law showed that the truck driver was in violation of multiple DOT safety regulations and when the accident occurred, he did not properly signal his turn. We hired an accident reconstruction expert to show that the cyclist was not at fault, and made sure that the cyclist’s family could get the damages they were owed.
Crosley Law Fights for Texas Crash Victims
If you’ve been in a crash and need help understanding or amending your Texas accident report, it’s time call Crosley Law. Our lawyers have extensive experience with accident reports, and if yours is in error, they will work hard to change the report and get you the compensation you deserve.
We work with people in San Antonio and Texas, helping them get the settlement or jury award they deserve. If you’d like to schedule a free consultation or learn more about our track record of success, contact our office today. You can call Crosley Law at 210-LAW-3000 | 210-529-3000 or fill out our brief contact form.
The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.
