Brian White | May 31, 2022 | Car Accidents
Car accidents are an unfortunate yet common problem on Houston roads and highways. After an accident, drivers are under certain obligations and may face criminal charges for not abiding by them. Filing a crash report with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in a timely manner is one of these obligations.
A crash report is an essential record you will need if you have been injured or have had your property damaged in a car accident in Houston. It is also valuable evidence that will help you establish a claim or lawsuit for damages and prove your side of the story.
Under What Circumstances Do I Have to File a Crash Report in Texas?
Not every vehicle accident in Texas must be reported to the police. The law requires drivers to report a crash to authorities only if there is injury, death, or if the accident causes property damage over $1,000. If the police arrive on the scene and investigate, the drivers are relieved of this obligation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Crash Report in Texas?
Texas law gives you ten days to report the accident. If a law enforcement officer does not come to the crash scene, you can fill out a crash report form, which is available on the TxDOT website.
Keep in mind that ten days is a long stretch of time when it comes to filing claims for injuries or property damage. The longer you wait to file a report, the weaker your claim might be. A crash report filed at the time of the accident is likely to be perceived as more reliable than one completed ten days later.
Failure to report an accident is a misdemeanor and can result in a suspension of your license. Additionally, it is important to be truthful and accurate when filling out your crash report, as making false assertions will lead to a misdemeanor charge and possible jail time and fines.
What Do I Need to Fill Out a Crash Report?
The crash report is an official description of the accident that contains information that will be relevant to legal and insurance proceedings. Therefore, it must contain a few basic facts. These include:
- Full location description, including town, state, street, and intersections
- Date and time of the accident
- Full description of the vehicles involved in the accident
- The driver’s narrative of events
- Description of injuries
- Description of property damage
All drivers involved in the accident have to submit a crash report. In many cases, these reports will differ slightly or significantly, so it is important to always file a crash report and have your side of the story on the record, even when there appear to be no injuries, or there is only minor property damage.
What Happens After I File a Crash Report?
Once the report is on file, police and insurance companies will investigate the incident and determine fault. This stage is crucial in determining a claimant’s compensation.
As soon as you are involved in an injury accident or one that causes property damage, it is in your best interests to contact the authorities and an experienced car accident attorney.
An experienced attorney can help you identify your legal options for recovering compensation after your crash. They can help you file your crash report and retrieve all evidence necessary for your claim. Contact an experienced Houston car accident lawyer near you today to schedule a consultation to discuss your claim.
Contact the Houston Car Accident Lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers For Help
For more information, contact the Houston car accident law firm of Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers by calling (713) 500-5000.
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Houston, TX 77098
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