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How Do I Request an Accident Report From the Police?

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Written by: The Benton Law Firm Last Updated : August 17, 2023

If you were involved in a vehicle accident in Texas, requesting a copy of the Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report, or CR-3, is a good idea. This report includes important information that can help you decide whether and how to pursue a personal injury case against another party involved in the accident. If you decide to pursue a case, this report is crucial evidence to demonstrate who is at fault for the accident.

Requesting a copy of the Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report is relatively easy for those people or entities directly involved in the accident or having a proper interest in the accident. Even so, a car accident attorney can help you request a copy or do so on your behalf.

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After an accident, you may be dealing with the physical, financial, and emotional pain and stress of the accident. Therefore, having an attorney handle this for you during a difficult time can be extremely helpful. If you would like help with this difficult process, contact an experienced Dallas car accident attorney from The Benton Law Firm for a free initial consultation about your case.

What Is a Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report?

According to Texas law, law enforcement must submit a written report called the Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for any accident on a public roadway in which an individual was injured or killed or property loss exceeded $1,000. This report must be submitted by the tenth day after the accident date, and TxDOT must retain these reports for ten years plus the current year.

Who Can Request a Copy of the Report?

Texas law stipulates that the following individuals or parties can request a copy of the Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report:

  • Any individual involved in the accident
  • An authorized representative of anyone involved in the accident
  • A driver involved in the accident
  • A parent, legal guardian, or employer of a driver involved in the accident
  • The owner of a vehicle or property damaged in the accident
  • Anyone with financial responsibility for a vehicle involved in the accident (as described in Texas law), including a policyholder of a vehicle
  • An insurance company that issued a policy covering a vehicle involved in the accident
  • Anyone contracted to provide claims or underwriting to the owner of a vehicle, the policyholder of a vehicle, or an insurance company that issued a policy covering a vehicle involved in the accident
  • A radio or TV station that holds a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license
  • A qualified newspaper that disseminates news to the general public
  • Anyone who has grounds to sue for wrongful death or an individual involved in the accident
  • Any federal, state, or local government agency

If you do not meet the criteria for obtaining a report, you can still submit a CR-91 form and provide a detailed explanation for why you need a copy. Otherwise, anyone not meeting the criteria can receive a redacted copy of the Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report.

Where Do I Request a Copy of the Report?

All Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Reports are recorded in the TxDOT Crash Report Online Purchase System. The reports are available online. They are not visible to the general public, so you will need to provide information on your individual crash, such as the name of a person involved in the crash, the driver’s license number of a person involved in the crash, the vehicle identification number (VIN) of a vehicle involved in the crash, or the TxDOT crash identification number for the crash.

If you do not have this information, or the online purchase system is unable to locate your crash report, you can order a crash report by completing a CR-91 form and mailing it with payment to the address on the form.

Whether online or by mail, a regular copy of a crash report currently costs $6. A certified copy, which is needed for any legal proceedings, costs $8.

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How can The Benton Law Firm Help with Your Crash Report?

If you need help accessing a copy of your crash report, The Benton Law Firm can help. We understand that you have enough on your mind after an accident, so our attorneys can handle this burden on your behalf. We aim to get the compensation you need to recover from the accident and heal your injuries.

If you have already received a copy of your crash report, a member of our legal team of knowledgeable personal injury lawyers can help you interpret the report and what it might mean for your personal injury case. We’ve helped hundreds of satisfied clients through this difficult and confusing process. We will stand by you every step of the way.

Read more about how to pursue a personal injury claim.

How can The Benton Law Firm Help with Your Personal Injury Claim?

Requesting an accident report is often just the first step of the process. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you investigate and gather information that may be missing from the accident report. Moreover, your lawyer will advise you about speaking to medical professionals, keeping track of your medical expenses, and documenting your injuries.

They will also help you deal with insurance companies and gather other necessary documents to build a successful case. Finally, they will represent you during mediation in the event that your case can be settled out of court.

Do not post the details of your accident on social media in an attempt to get advice and help from friends and family! Contact a professional, expert personal injury lawyer from The Benton Law Firm for help with your case.

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Contact The Benton Law Firm to Get Started

When you’re ready to pursue the compensation you deserve for the injuries and losses you suffered because of someone else’s negligence, contact the Dallas car accident attorneys of The Benton Law Firm today at (214) 777-7777 or fill in the online contact form to schedule your free initial consultation.

Ready to get the help you deserve? Call (214) 777-7777 or

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