# Can You File a Car Accident Claim Without a Police Report? | Attorney Brian White **Table of Contents***[*Expand*]* 1. The Contents of a Houston Police Report 2. How To Obtain a Police Report in Houston 3. Can I File a Claim Without a Police Report? 4. Either Way, Your Chances Are Better With a Houston Car Accident Attorney 5. Contact the Houston Car Accident Lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers For Help ![Can You File a Car Accident Claim Without a Police Report in Houston?](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Can-You-File-a-Car-Accident-Claim-Without-a-Police-Report-in-Houston-300x200.jpg) [Houston](https://www.houstontx.gov/) witnesses [nearly 200 traffic accidents per day](https://ftp.txdot.gov/pub/txdot-info/trf/crash_statistics/2019/14.pdf) and more than 250 deaths per year. The filing of a [car accident](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/houston-tx/car-accident-lawyer/) police report, known in Texas as a [crash report](https://www.txdot.gov/data-maps/crash-reports-records.html), is a routine part of the claim resolution process. Can you file a claim without a police report? Maybe. Usually, however, you need a police report to stand your best chance at personal injury compensation. ## The Contents of a Houston Police Report A police report typically includes a substantial amount of information related to the accident. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the following: - The names and contact details of the parties to the accident; - The names and contact details of any witnesses; - The name of the officer who filled out the report; - The date, time, and location of the crash; - Information on the vehicles involved (VIN, license plate number, and more); - Drivers’ license information for the drivers; - Whether seat belts were used; - Whether airbags deployed; - Whether the officer administered a sobriety test; - Whether a driver refused a sobriety test; - Insurance information about the drivers; - A description of injuries and [property damage](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/property-damage/); - The name of the hospital where injured parties were taken; - Whether the police issued any citations; - The officer’s opinion of the cause of the accident (including fault);  - Witness statements (perhaps); and - A diagram of the accident from the responding officer’s point of view. It is easy to see how you can use a police report to resolve a car accident claim. It is possible, however, to challenge the contents of a police report. For a legal consultation call [(713) 500-5000](tel:+17135005000) ## How To Obtain a Police Report in Houston To obtain a police report concerning a car accident in Houston, navigate to the [LexisNexis Risk Solutions web page](https://policereports.lexisnexis.com/ui/report/search?state=TX&jurisdiction=Houston%20Police%20Department). You can also get a police report by mailing or visiting the Records Division of the Houston Police Department. A police report should be available five to eight days after the accident. You will need to submit two of the following four items of information about the accident: - The location of the accident; - The date of the accident; -  The accident number (ask the responding officer); or - The names of the drivers or other parties involved. The cost is $6.00. Keep in mind that you must be a person associated with the accident to obtain a police report. You must affirm your status before you obtain the police report, and it is a crime to falsely affirm your relationship with the accident. ## Can I File a Claim Without a Police Report? An injury accident can generate a personal injury claim. In most car accident claims, it is the insurance company that pays compensation. Most insurance companies demand a police report to help them establish the facts of the accident. Nevertheless, some insurers will allow you to file an insurance claim without a police report. If you cannot supply a police report, you might have to proceed to trial because the insurance company could refuse to negotiate with you.  Ironically, you normally cannot use a police report as evidence in a court of law—they are considered inadmissible hearsay. You can only use a police report at a trial under special circumstances. Normally, you must call the police officer who wrote the police report to the witness stand to testify.  ### If There is No Police Report If no police report was ever completed because nobody called the police at the accident scene, you will likely have a difficult time proving your case. It is not impossible, but it could be an uphill battle. Finding a car accident lawyer willing to represent you might also be difficult.  [Click to contact](/contact-us/) us today ## Either Way, Your Chances Are Better With a Houston Car Accident Attorney If you have a substantial claim, your chances of receiving fair compensation are much better if you retain a Houston car accident attorney to represent you. Your chances improve further if you can produce a police report that confirms your version of events.  Complete a [Case Evaluation Form](/contact-us/) Now ## Contact the Houston Car Accident Lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers For Help Our offices Houston — Greenway/Upper Kirby 3120 Southwest Freeway, Suite 350 Houston, TX 77098 Open 24 hours daily Call [(713) 364-1466](tel:+17133641466) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%203120%20Southwest%20Freeway%2C%20Suite%20350%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077098) Houston — East Freeway 11811 East Freeway, Suite 630-06 Houston, TX 77029 Open 24 hours daily Call [(713) 609-1893](tel:+17136091893) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%2011811%20East%20Freeway%2C%20Suite%20630-06%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077029) Houston — South Loop 2600 South Loop West, Suite 293 Houston, TX 77054 Open 24 hours daily Call [(713) 281-4904](tel:+17132814904) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%202600%20South%20Loop%20West%2C%20Suite%20293%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077054) Houston — Katy Freeway 11511 Katy Fwy, Suite 515 Houston, TX 77079 Open 24 hours daily Call [(713) 909-7537](tel:+17139097537) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%2011511%20Katy%20Fwy%2C%20Suite%20515%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077079) Houston — Clear Lake 1300 Bay Area Blvd, Suite B268 Houston, TX 77058 By appointment only Call [(936) 508-2854](tel:+19365082854) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%201300%20Bay%20Area%20Blvd%2C%20Suite%20B268%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077058) The Woodlands 1776 Woodstead Ct, Ste. 203 The Woodlands, TX 77380 By appointment only Call [(281) 843-9777](tel:+12818439777) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%201776%20Woodstead%20Ct%2C%20Ste.%20203%2C%20The%20Woodlands%2C%20TX%2077380) Champion Forest (Cypress) 4606 FM 1960 Rd W, Ste. 444 Houston, TX 77069 By appointment only Call [(281) 843-9777](tel:+12818439777) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%204606%20FM%201960%20Rd%20W%2C%20Ste.%20444%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077069) --- ### About the Author Brian White ![About the Author Brian White](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/brian-white-houston-personal-injury-lawyer-300x300.jpg) [Brian White](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/about/our-attorneys/brian-white/) earned his J.D. from South Texas College of Law in Houston and is licensed to practice in Texas. He is a [Board-Certified](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/resources/brian-white-is-board-certified-in-personal-injury-trial-law/) Personal Injury Trial Lawyer. Dedicated to giving back, he actively supports local charities and [community initiatives](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/about/community-involvement/). [Client testimonials](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/about/testimonials/) highlight Brian’s compassion, open communication, and dedication to achieving the best outcomes for those he represents. 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However, it is [![Vehicle and Driver Requirements For Uber and Lyft in Texas](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Vehicle-and-Driver-Requirements-For-Uber-and-Lyft-in-Texas-300x200.jpg)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/vehicle-and-driver-requirements-for-uber-and-lyft-in-texas/) [Vehicle and Driver Requirements for Uber and Lyft in Texas](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/vehicle-and-driver-requirements-for-uber-and-lyft-in-texas/) {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What are Vehicle and [![Right of Way Laws in Texas](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Right-of-Way-Laws-in-Texas-300x175.jpg)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/right-of-way-laws-in-texas/) [Right-of-Way Laws in Texas](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/right-of-way-laws-in-texas/) It’s high noon in Texas, and you’re driving down a dusty dirt road. You pull up to a four-way stop at the same [![City Seeks Input About Dangerous Intersections in Houston](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/City-Seeks-Input-About-Dangerous-Intersections-in-Houston-300x200.jpg)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/city-seeks-input-about-dangerous-intersections-in-houston/) [City Seeks Input About Dangerous Intersections in Houston](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/city-seeks-input-about-dangerous-intersections-in-houston/) The City of Houston wants to lower the number of deaths on city streets, according to reporting by Fox26 Houston. In a --- Source: https://attorneybrianwhite.com/faqs/can-you-file-a-car-accident-claim-without-a-police-report/