If you have been involved in a car accident there are many reasons why you may want to get a copy of the accident report filed by the police. Typically, the police officer on scene will take down important information such as drivers, insurance, witnesses and other pertinent information. So how do you obtain this accident report?
Three ways to obtain your accident report
If the Houston Police Department responded to your car accident, you may have to wait from 5-8 days to for the report to be made available. After that time, you can request the report in three ways: in person, by mail or request it online. When making the request you must know at least two of the details of the accident:
- The date of the accident
- Where the accident happened
- The names of the drivers or other people involved
- Incident number from the information document the police officer may have handed you
Ordering the report online
Visit the Texas Department of Transportation site that deals with online crash report requests.
Ordering the report by mail
Ordering the report in person
Go to the Edward A. Thomas building at 1200 Travis Street, Houston TX 77002 on the first floor.
Full copies can only be purchased in person or via mail with the accompanying H. B. 2633 form English | Spanish. The H. B. 2633 requirements must be met for online purchase under penalty of perjury, via questionnaire.
If the accident occurred outside of the Houston city limits, you will need to contact the law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over the location of the accident to obtain a copy of the crash report.
Why an accident report is important
A car crash report, also known as a police report, is a formal document that describes the details of a car accident. This report is usually created by a law enforcement officer who has responded to the scene of the accident.
The car crash report typically includes information about the location, time, and date of the accident, as well as the names and contact information of the drivers and any passengers involved in the crash. It may also include a diagram of the accident scene, a description of any injuries sustained by the drivers and passengers, and a description of the damage to the vehicles involved.
In addition, the car crash report may include the officer’s assessment of the cause of the accident, including any contributing factors such as road conditions or driver behavior. The report may also include citations or charges against any drivers involved in the accident. The car crash report is often used by insurance companies and lawyers to determine liability and damages in a car accident case.