When you’re involved in a car accident in Texas, one of the very first things you need to do is get your hands on that official police or crash report. And for good reason: it’s a crucial piece of evidence that will help you sort out your insurance claims, protect your rights, and make sure you get the compensation you’re entitled to. Most importantly, there are the officers’ factual observations at the scene and statements from witnesses. Understanding the timeline of this process, including how long it takes to get a crash report in Texas, is essential for your recovery.
Behind The Scenes: How Crash Reports are Handled in Texas
When it comes to crash reports in Texas, there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes than you might think. According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Texas Transportation Code, law enforcement officers are required to file written crash reports for any accident that results in injuries, deaths, or property damage exceeding $1,000.
Once they’ve done that, the reports get fed into the central Crash Records Information System, which TxDOT manages. And don’t forget that local police departments also have their own timelines for entering incident reports into their systems, so you might be able to obtain those a bit sooner.
For example, the Houston Police Department says that accident reports are usually ready 5 or 7 working days after the accident.
Knowing the answer to the question, **how long does it take to get a crash report in Texas**, can significantly impact how you manage your case.
The Typical Timeline: When You Can Expect to Get Your Report
What happens first?
The officer on the scene must complete their investigation, write the report, and have it approved by their department. From there, the report undergoes internal processing, and that can take anywhere from a few business days to up to 10 days in some locations.
In the Houston Police Department, for instance, it can take up to 10 working days for the officer to enter the report into the system, at which point it becomes available for purchase.
What about once it’s in the state system?
Even after the report is entered into your local agency’s system, it’s still got to be uploaded to TxDOT’s CRIS system. And that can add a bit more time onto the waiting list. We’ve seen some places take up to 14 days or so for the report to go live online.
Online vs. Mail Requests
When searching for information on a crash in CRIS, you can expect to receive the information within 5 to 10 business days for a standard crash. However, if you request it by mail, you can expect to wait 20 business days or more.
In practice, most of the crash reports you’ll need in Texas are available within a week or two of the accident. You’ll see many sources stating that 5 to 10 business days is the normal timeframe.
Factors That Can Delay Report Availability
While most reports are available pretty quickly, a few things can slow down the process:
- Complicated cases, such as multi-car pile-ups, commercial vehicles, fatalities, rollovers, or hit-and-run accidents, often require longer investigation times and can lead to increased processing times.
- Agency backlogs and staffing: Departments with a high volume of cases to handle may experience delays in producing reports.
- Incorrect or missing information: If the name is spelled incorrectly, the crash date is incorrect, or there’s no case number to reference, the report may be more difficult to locate, which will contribute to the delay.
- Mail or third-party requests: Submitting by mail, rather than online, adds extra delay due to processing and postage.
- Older reports: Reports that are a few years old, involved in a fatality, or require redaction may take a bit longer to be uploaded to searchable systems.
How to Request and Access Your Crash or Police Report
- Get the basics
You’ll need to know a few key pieces of information to request the report: the car accident date, where it happened (city or county), the name of at least one person involved, and any law enforcement case number they gave you at the scene. - Pick a method
There are a few ways to go about it:
- Online via TxDOT/CRIS: This is the fastest way to access it once it has been uploaded. There’s a fee involved.
- Direct to local police or sheriff’s department: Some departments allow you to submit a request in person or by mail. For example, the Travis County Sheriff’s Office states that reports can take 2-10 days to be made available for purchase.
- Mailed Request: If the department only accepts mailed forms or you’re looking for an older report, you may experience a wait time of 30 days or more.
- Pay the fee and decide on certified vs. uncertified
The fee will vary depending on the agency and the specific needs—for example, certified copies cost more. If you require certified copies for a legal purpose, you may be required to pay a small additional fee. - Get and check your report
Once you receive the report, ensure that all the details are accurate (names, dates, and cars involved). If you spot any errors, you can request that they be corrected or add an additional statement.
What If the Report Isn’t Available After Two Weeks
If you’ve been waiting more than two weeks for the report and still can’t get it, here’s what you can do:
- Call the records division and ask them where it’s at. Verify if the officer has submitted the report and if it has been uploaded yet.
- Ensure you’re using the correct search criteria—date, name, county, or case number.
- If you need the report for an insurance claim or have a deadline approaching, let your insurance company or lawyer know about the delay and document your efforts to obtain the report.
- In cases where the report is being withheld or seriously delayed (for example, because of an ongoing investigation), consider talking to a lawyer about getting a subpoena or affidavit.
Practical Advice for Crash Victims
- When you’re at the scene, obtain the officer’s name and case number from the ‘blue form’ or their card to facilitate the request process later.
- Request the report as soon as possible once you believe it has been filed. Delaying it can cause headaches for insurance, medical follow-up, or legal matters.
- Keep copies of your request submission, payment receipt, and any follow-up emails.
- If you plan to use the report in court, obtain a certified copy at the outset to avoid paying for it twice.
- Use the report to provide your insurance adjuster with accurate information, and share it with your lawyer (if you have one).
- Keep a complete record of all accident documents (photos, medical records, witness statements, and the crash report), as the insurance company often uses them as key evidence.
Summary:
 In Texas, the time it takes to obtain a crash or police report after a motor vehicle collision is 5 to 10 business days; however, you can often find it in the CRIS system within 1-2 weeks. Some places are faster, knocking it out in just five business days, while if you need to mail a request or your case is a bit of a complicated mess, then you might be waiting 3-4 weeks or more.
Many things can cause delays – serious injuries, people getting hurt to the point of dying, multiple cars in the accident, or just plain old bureaucratic delays with the reports, mail-in requests, or even when the jurisdiction is just plain backed up. To receive this report as soon as possible, it is advisable to take proactive steps, utilize the correct reporting channels, and monitor the status of your request.
Contact our Houston Car Accident Attorney for a Free Consultation.
If you have been injured in an accident in Texas, we offer free case evaluations to victims. Contact our Houston injury attorney by calling (281) 587-1111.
Baumgartner Law Firm
6711 Cypress Creek Pkwy, Houston, TX, 77069
Related Resources:
How to Get a Houston Accident Report
What are Factors and Conditions in Texas Crash Reports?
