How to Report an Auto Accident in Houston, Texas
by Julia Drake
In the state of Texas, there are certain requirements for reporting an auto accident depending on the severity of the crash and whether a police officer was there to investigate the accident. If you are involved in an auto accident in the city of Houston, you can contact the local Houston Police Department for assistance in reporting the accident. It is important that you take note of the crash details so that you can report them to the police and/or your insurance company.
Initial Responses
Step 1
Call 911 if you are dealing with a serious auto accident, such as if someone is injured. A local Houston police officer along with medical assistance will be dispatched to your location. You can report the auto accident to the police at the scene of the accident.
Step 2
Call the Houston police at (713) 884-3131 if it is a non-emergency situation that requires the assistance of a police officer. A police officer will come to the scene of the accident and you can report what happened to the officer.
Step 3
Collect as much information as you can at the scene of the accident. Exchange names, phone numbers, addresses, VINs (Vehicle Identification Numbers) and insurance information with the other driver. If there were witnesses, collect their names and contact information.
Step 4
Call your insurance company to report the accident to them. Provide the necessary information that you collected at the scene of the accident.
Driver's Crash Report
Step 1
Visit the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) website to fill out the Driver's Crash Report if a police officer was not involved in the investigation of the auto accident. A Driver's Crash Report should only be filled out if the accident resulted in death or injury to anyone involved, or if there was $1,000 or more worth of damage to car property.
Step 2
Click on the "Drivers and Vehicles" link under the heading "Topical Resources" on the TxDOT homepage.
Step 3
Click on the "Crash Reports and Records" link under the "Crash Records" subheading.
Step 4
Scan to the bottom of the page and click on the link "Crash Records Forms."
Step 5
Download the "CR-2 Driver's Crash Report (Blue Form)."
Step 6
Read the instructions of the Driver's Crash Report before you fill it out. This report must be filled out and sent in within 10 days of the auto accident. You will have to provide information on the vehicles, drivers, damages, injuries and date of the accident.
Step 7
Print, fill out and sign the form. Only the driver of the vehicle involved in the crash must complete and sign the form. Another person can fill out the form if he explains why the driver cannot complete the form.
Step 8
Mail the Driver's Crash Report to the Texas Department of Transportation Crash Records. The address is located at the top of the form.
Step 9
Call (512) 486-5780 if you have further questions about the form or about reporting an auto accident.
References
Tips
- Visit the "Crash Records Forms" page on the TxDOT website. If you want to request a copy of the Driver's Crash Report, fill out the "CR-91 Request for Peace Officer's Crash Report." You will have to pay a small fee for the record.
Things You'll Need
- Driver's crash report
Writer Bio
Julia Drake has been writing since 2007 when she had her first article published in “The Beltane Papers.” She received her Bachelor of Arts in women studies from the University of Washington. She recently completed her Master of Arts in women’s spirituality at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology.
