After a car crash, one of the most requested documents is the official report used to confirm basics like date, location, vehicles, and the investigating agency. An Austin wreck report is useful if you need to make a claim related to property damage or injuries from the accident.
If a peace officer investigates the collision, Texas uses a standardized crash report. An Austin crash report is officially called the Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report, or Form CR-3. Here’s what you should know about requesting a copy after your accident.
When Are Austin, Texas, Crash Reports Required?
Texas law requires law enforcement officers to submit a police report to TxDOT within ten days of investigating a crash that results in any of the following:
- Injury to any person
- The death of any person
- Apparent damage to one person’s property of $1,000 or more
Drivers are required to report these crashes to local law enforcement right away.
How To Obtain a Copy of an Austin Accident Report
Crash reports are collected and retained by the Texas Department of Transportation. You can request a copy of a report through the Crash Report Online Purchase System by paying a small fee.
If you were injured in the crash and hire a personal injury lawyer, they can request the crash report on your behalf. You do not need a copy of your crash report to submit an insurance claim.
You will need to provide at least one of the following to find and purchase your Austin police accident report:
- Name of a party in the accident
- The driver’s license number of a party in the accident
- Vehicle identification number (VIN) of a vehicle involved
- TxDOT Crash ID for the incident – This is assigned when the report is submitted and should be available from the investigating officer if needed
- Agency Case ID for the incident – This is assigned by the local department to the crash report
The cost is $6 for a regular copy or $8 for a certified copy, plus card processing fees.
It takes up to ten days for a crash to be reported to the TxDOT CRIS system, and up to four business days to process.
Get an Austin Police Department Accident Report in Person or by Mail
You can get a copy of an Austin police crash report in person at the Main Police Headquarters, 715 E 8th Street, Austin, TX, 78701. They are open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.
Austin Police Department accident reports are also available online through LexisNexis® Police Reports.
Get a Crash Report Outside the City Limits by Mail or in Person
If the Austin Police Department did not respond to your accident, you will need to contact the local responding agency for a copy of the report by mail or in person.
You can get a copy of a Vehicle Accident Report in person at the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, 5555 Airport Blvd., Austin, TX, 78751. They are open Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. You can pay for Travis County accident reports with cash, money order, or cashier’s check.
To request a copy by mail, send a check or money order to Travis County Sheriff’s Office, Attn: Central Records, P.O. Box 1748, Austin, TX, 78767.
You can call Central Records at (512) 854-9749 to check the status of your report. It may take two to ten days to become available.
What To Do After Getting the Report
After you get your report, make sure all the information is correct. The report has several pages. Review important details such as:
- Basic crash details, including location, type of collision, property damage, and personal information for the drivers
- Apparent or suspected injuries, seating position, use of seatbelts, and injury severity
- Diagram of the crash and the officer’s narrative with a description of what they believe happened
- Alcohol and/or drug use
- Factors and conditions that contributed to the crash, such as speeding
- Carrier type for crashes involving commercial vehicles, including bus and truck accidents.
Report any errors, such as incorrect names or passengers who aren’t listed, so the report can be corrected.
An Austin Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
Obtaining an Austin, TX, car accident report is a straightforward process once you know which agency handled the crash and what information is required.
If questions arise about the contents of the report or how it may affect an insurance claim or legal matter, an Austin car accident lawyer can explain what the report means and help you determine your next steps.
If you’ve been injured, contact your nearest McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers location to schedule a free consultation today.
We serve in Austin, TX, and Salt Lake City, UT.
McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers – Austin, TX Office
502 W 14th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 474-0222
McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers – Salt Lake City, UT Office
650 S 500 W Suite 290, Salt Lake City, UT 84104
(385) 462-7630
