# FAQs About Car Accident Reports in Texas | Attorney Brian White **Table of Contents***[*Expand*]* 1. Do You Always Have to File an Accident Report? 2. When Should You Call the Police? 3. Do You Still Need to Share Information with the Other Driver If a Police Report Has Been Written? 4. Is Informing Your Insurance Company the Same as Filing an Accident Report? 5. Why Are Accident Reports Necessary? 6. Can You Get a Copy of Your Accident Report? 7. What Should You Do If the Other Driver Asks You Not to File an Accident Report? 8. Contact the Houston Car Accident Lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers For Help ![FAQs Car Accident Reports in Texas](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/FAQs-Car-Accident-Reports-in-Texas-300x200.jpg) If you drive a car, you are likely to be involved in a car accident at some point in your life. With any luck, it will be a minor accident.  But whether it is minor or major, you have responsibilities after getting into a [car accident](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/houston-tx/car-accident-lawyer/). Depending on the circumstances of your accident, one of those responsibilities may be filing an accident report with the Texas Department of Transportation (DOT). ## Do You Always Have to File an Accident Report? Accident reports are often required — but not *always* required. If police arrived at the scene of the accident and a police officer wrote a police report, you are off the hook for filing an accident report. However, if no police report exists, there are still situations where you are not required to file an accident report with the DOT. [According to the DOT](https://www.dmv.com/tx/texas/auto-accidents?tg1=DVA&utm_content=dmv.com&utm_medium=dmv_&tg7=dmv_&utm_source=dmv.com&tg9=dmv.com&utm_term=organic_dmv&utm_campaign=organic_dmv), you don’t need to file an accident report if all of the following are true: - Nobody was injured in the accident - Nobody was killed in the accident - All property for each individual involved in the accident was under $1,000 If any of the above is *not* true, you are required to file an accident report within ten days of the accident. For a legal consultation call [(713) 500-5000](tel:+17135005000) ## When Should You Call the Police? The best policy is to always call the police, regardless of the severity of the accident. Emergency services may decide that your accident doesn’t require police presence, but it is better to let them make the decision. If anyone has been injured or if the other party has fled the scene, you should always contact the police. ## Do You Still Need to Share Information with the Other Driver If a Police Report Has Been Written? Just because a police officer has written a police report for your accident doesn’t excuse you from sharing contact information with the other parties in an accident. Any accident reports, including ones written by police, may provide additional contact information if necessary. Regardless, exchanging information at the scene of an accident is required. [Click to contact](/contact-us/) us today ## Is Informing Your Insurance Company the Same as Filing an Accident Report? Some people think that filing an insurance claim is the same as filing an accident report. This isn’t the case, and you can get in a lot of trouble if you file an insurance claim but never file an accident report. Complete a [Case Evaluation Form](/contact-us/) Now ## Why Are Accident Reports Necessary? Accident reports have a few uses. The state uses accident reports to track how many accidents happen throughout the state and how severe they are. This data allows the state to make decisions that improve overall driving safety. Additionally, lawyers and insurance companies use accident reports to determine how much money is owed to drivers who have been involved in an accident. These reports can be used to determine fault and identify the significant damage in an accident. ## Can You Get a Copy of Your Accident Report? You can [purchase a copy of your accident report](https://cris.dot.state.tx.us/public/Purchase/app/home) from the Texas DOT. Your lawyer can then use this copy to negotiate a better settlement with your insurance company or file a lawsuit. ## What Should You Do If the Other Driver Asks You Not to File an Accident Report? If the other driver asks you not to file an accident report, it is likely because they are at fault in the accident and want to avoid the consequences of the accident. That is a red flag that you should call the police immediately. ## 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) --- ### 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. [Avvo](https://www.avvo.com/attorneys/77098-tx-brian-white-74113.html) / [Justia](https://lawyers.justia.com/lawyer/brian-elliott-white-201630) / [Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/attorney-brian-white-378410166) / [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FBrianWhiteLawFirm%2F/) / [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDdkDcGkbY2GFTzpeTWypFQ) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/attorneybrianwhite/?hl=en) / [Yelp](https://www.yelp.com/biz/brian-white-and-associates-houston) / Call or Text [(713) 500-5000](tel:+17135005000) or Complete a [Case Evaluation Form](/contact-us/) Car Accidents Blog Posts: [![Car Insurance Companies Filing for Bankruptcy - How Do I Recover?](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/iStock-915254108-300x199.jpg)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/insurance-companies-filing-for-bankruptcy/) [Insurance Companies Filing for Bankruptcy](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/insurance-companies-filing-for-bankruptcy/) If another driver is responsible for causing your car accident, you can recover compensation for damages and injuries [![Nine Factors that Determine How Much to Expect from a Car Accident Settlement in Houston Texas](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Nine-Factors-that-Determine-How-Much-to-Expect-from-a-Car-Accident-Settlement-in-Houston-Texas-300x200.jpg)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/nine-factors-that-determine-how-much-to-expect-from-a-car-accident-settlement/) [Nine Factors That Determine How Much to Expect From a Car Accident Settlement](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/nine-factors-that-determine-how-much-to-expect-from-a-car-accident-settlement/) An automobile accident is a significant life event, especially if you sustain injuries. An accident, and the [![What Happens If My Insurance Claim Wasn’t Enough to Cover the Costs of My Injuries?](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/iStock-1029711532-300x200.jpg)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/handling-a-car-accident-claim-with-state-farm/) [Handling a Car Accident Claim With State Farm](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/handling-a-car-accident-claim-with-state-farm/) State Farm is the largest auto insurer in the U.S. Across America, State Farm writes about 17% of all auto insurance [![Everything You Need to Know About the Hands-Free Law in Texas](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/iStock-1081552088-300x200.jpg)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-hands-free-law-in-texas/) [Everything You Need to Know About the Hands-Free Law in Texas](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-hands-free-law-in-texas/) If you live in Houston, you know how chaotic the bustling city can get. With so many distractions affecting motorists --- Source: https://attorneybrianwhite.com/faqs/faqs-about-car-accident-reports-in-texas/