How to Get Your Texas Crash Report After a Bedford Wreck

Quick answer: If a police officer investigated your Bedford car accident, the officer’s report (the Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report, form CR-3) is filed with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) within 10 days. You can then buy a copy through TxDOT’s Crash Report Online Purchase System, part of its CRIS system, and get it by email. A regular copy is $6 and a certified copy is $8. Crash reports are confidential, so only people directly concerned in the crash, such as the drivers, owners and their insurers, get the full report.

Every step below comes from TxDOT’s crash records page, the Texas Transportation Code and the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI). Your insurance company will usually want the report, and an attorney may too, so it is worth getting a copy early.

Who files the crash report in Texas?

Texas Transportation Code Section 550.062 requires a law enforcement officer who investigates a crash to make a written report when the crash injured or killed someone, or caused apparent damage of $1,000 or more to one person’s property. The report must be filed with TxDOT no later than the 10th day after the crash. TxDOT is the custodian of crash records for the state.

When will your report be ready?

Plan on about 10 days. TDI notes that it usually takes a few days for the officer to file the report, and the officer’s deadline is the 10th day after the crash. At the scene, get the officer’s name and badge number so you can follow up if the report is slow to appear.

How do you buy your crash report online?

TxDOT sells copies of the CR-3 through its Crash Report Online Purchase System (CRIS). You search for your report, pay online, and the report is emailed to you after purchase. TxDOT notes there is a minimal surcharge for using the system.

Before you start, have the crash date, the location, the names of the drivers involved, and any case number the officer gave you.

Who is allowed to get a copy?

Section 550.065 keeps crash reports confidential, and TxDOT releases them on request to people directly concerned in the crash. TxDOT’s list includes:

• Anyone involved in the accident, and their authorized representative
• A driver involved in the accident, and the driver’s employer, parent or legal guardian
• The owner of a vehicle or property damaged in the accident
• A policyholder or other person who established financial responsibility for a vehicle involved
• An insurance company that issued a policy covering a vehicle or a person involved
• Anyone who may sue because of a death resulting from the accident

People and organizations who do not meet the criteria receive a redacted copy.

What does a Texas crash report cost?

Item	Fee (TxDOT)	When you need it
Regular copy of the CR-3	$6	Your insurance claim and your own records
Certified copy of the CR-3	$8	When you need an official document, such as for a legal proceeding
Subpoena (state or federal court)	$8	Requested through TxDOT’s online system
Affidavit	$8	Requested through TxDOT’s online system

TxDOT notes that additional processing fees may apply for credit card transactions.

What if no officer came to the scene?

TxDOT no longer keeps driver-filed reports. Since September 1, 2017, the Driver’s Crash Report (form CR-2) is not retained by TxDOT, and any CR-2 or similar local form sent to TxDOT is destroyed. TxDOT says drivers in a crash that was not investigated by a police officer should keep that information for their own records. Your own photos, notes and witness names matter even more in that case. See what to do after a car accident in Bedford for what to record at the scene.

How long does TxDOT keep crash reports?

TxDOT’s retention schedule for crash reports is 10 years plus the current year. Dash cam video, field notes and scene photos are not part of TxDOT’s files; request those from the agency that investigated the crash.

What should you do with the report?

TDI suggests sending a copy of the police report to your insurance company, and telling the company if you were injured, with copies of medical reports and doctors’ bills. Keep a copy of the crash report with your medical records. If you have personal injury protection (PIP), your insurer may ask for it along with proof of your medical expenses. For legal questions about what the report says, talk to an attorney; we do not give legal advice, but we can give you a referral.

Why choose Back & Neck Care Center of Bedford after a crash?

The crash report documents the accident; your exam documents your injuries. At Back & Neck Care Center of Bedford, your first visit includes a consultation, a history and examination, and x-rays in the office if your condition calls for them. Dr. Richard Chatfield, D.C. is certified by the Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians, and the clinic has 30 years of treating injury cases. We accept most insurance, do all the paperwork, and provide M.D. and attorney referrals. See car accident care, and if your neck started hurting a few days after the crash, read about whiplash symptoms that show up days later.

We are at 2803 Central Dr in Bedford, by appointment. Call (817) 283-6100 or request an appointment.

This article is general information, not legal advice. For legal questions, talk to an attorney.