Reading Your Texas Car Accident Report
How to Understand and Use Your Crash Report to Strengthen Your Claim
After a car accident, your accident report is one of the most critical pieces of evidence you’ll need to navigate the claims process and pursue compensation. This document provides a detailed summary of the crash, including key facts about what happened, who was involved, and who may be at fault. Although this sounds straightforward, reading and understanding a car accident report can be confusing, especially if you just experienced your first car accident.
At the Cain Firm, our Fort Worth attorneys are here to help. Below you’ll find a blank version of the Texas Car Accident report with captions and comments explaining the contents that belong on each page.
Page 1
Page 1 of your car accident report contains essential details about the crash, including the time, date, location (county, city, street, and whether it occurred at an intersection or construction zone), and whether the accident involved a fatality, commercial vehicle, school bus, or hit-and-run driver.
On the same page you will also find the following information:
- Driver information: Name, contact details, license information, age, ethnicity, and gender.
- Vehicle information: Make, model, license plate, VIN, and insurance details.
- Drug/alcohol information: Sobriety tests administered, test results, and other information regarding alcohol or drug use.
Details about passengers and bystanders, such as seating position, seatbelt use, airbag deployment, and injuries or fatalities, are also recorded.
Page 2
Page 2 of a car accident report contains critical follow-up details about the crash. If charges were filed against any driver, passenger, or pedestrian, their information and citation numbers are recorded here. This page also includes the time law enforcement was notified, their arrival time, and the responding officer’s name and badge number. Additionally, it notes where injured victims were taken, including the ambulance unit and hospital details.
For accidents involving commercial vehicles like trucks or buses, Page 2 has a section for specific details such as the carrier name, cargo type, vehicle weight, and additional driver credentials like license class and permits.
This page also features the crash narrative and diagram, which provide the investigating officer’s interpretation of how the accident occurred. The narrative describes the sequence of events, while the diagram offers a visual representation of the accident scene. If multiple people are involved, additional pages may be included to document their details.
How do I get a copy of my Texas car accident report?
To get a copy of your car accident police report in Texas, you’ll need to request it from the law enforcement agency that responded to your crash. This could be the Texas Highway Patrol, the local police department, or the county sheriff’s department, depending on where the accident took place.
Reports are typically available by visiting the agency in person, but many departments also offer online request options for convenience. In addition, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) provides a centralized system called the Crash Report Online Purchase System. This platform allows you to search for and purchase a copy of your report using details like the crash date, location, and involved parties.
Be prepared to provide identifying information, such as your name, the accident date, and the crash report number (if available), and note that there may be a small fee to obtain your report.
Don’t let a confusing car accident report cost you the compensation you deserve
A Texas car accident report is an essential document for car accident victims to have access to and understand. While the details can seem overwhelming, our law firm is here to break it down. At the Cain Firm, we treat our clients like family and are here to guide you every step of the way.
Whether you need help accessing your accident report or understanding it, our experienced team is ready to help however we can. With decades of experience handling car accident lawsuits in Texas, we’ve seen our fair share of accident reports and are more than willing to help with yours.
Contact us today for a free consultation. Let us show you how much we care about our clients by getting the best results possible.
Car Accidents Blog Posts:
Car Accident in Dallas? What to Say (and Not Say) to Insurance Adjusters After a Crash
If you’ve been in a Dallas car accident, knowing what to say to insurance adjusters can make or break your
What to Do After a Texas Car Accident
A car accident can leave you feeling shaken, overwhelmed, and unsure of what to do next. In just a few
The 100 Deadliest Days of Summer Are Upon Us
Why Texas Sees a Surge in Fatal Crashes from Memorial Day Through Labor Day As summer rolls in and school