How to Get a Houston Car Accident Police Report
After a crash in Houston, the police report can help you organize important facts for an insurance claim or an attorney consultation. This guide explains where to look, what information to gather, and what to do if you need help obtaining the report.
Where to request a Houston accident report
If the Houston Police Department investigated the collision, HPD directs accident-report questions to its Records Division. The City of Houston states that requesters should provide at least two identifying details, such as the date and location of the accident, the name of a person involved, or the HPD incident number. HPD lists the Records Division at 713-308-8500, option 3.
Houston Police Department reports may also be available through the LexisNexis BuyCrash portal. Select Texas and Houston Police Department, then follow the portal’s search instructions. Availability and fees may vary.
Texas crash reports through TxDOT
A Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report is commonly called a CR-3. TxDOT provides an official Crash Report Online Purchase System for eligible requesters. Search using the available identifying information and follow TxDOT’s instructions to confirm eligibility and pay any applicable fee.
A report may not appear immediately after a collision. Processing times vary by investigating agency and the facts of the crash. If you cannot locate it, confirm that you selected the agency that actually investigated the accident—for example, HPD, a Harris County law-enforcement agency, or another local department.
Information to gather before searching
Have as much of the following information as possible:
• Date and approximate time of the crash
• Street, intersection, freeway, or nearby landmark
• Full name of at least one driver or person involved
• Report, incident, or case number, if an officer gave you one
• Vehicle information, if requested by the reporting system
• Name of the investigating agency
What is usually included in a crash report?
A crash report may identify the drivers and vehicles, insurance information, location and road conditions, an officer’s diagram or narrative, reported injuries, citations, and statements recorded during the investigation. A report is important documentation, but it does not by itself decide legal fault or guarantee the outcome of an insurance claim.
What if information in the report appears incorrect?
Do not alter the document. Make a written list of the specific information you believe is incorrect and preserve supporting material such as photographs, video, witness information, medical records, repair estimates, and correspondence. Contact the investigating agency to ask about its correction or supplemental-report procedure. The agency decides whether and how its report may be amended.
Need help obtaining or reviewing the report?
You can use FindAccidentLawyer.org to request contact from a participating Houston-area accident attorney. The attorney can help request or obtain the police report, review it with the other available evidence, and explain possible next steps. Attorney contact through the platform is guaranteed after a valid request, but legal representation and any particular outcome are not guaranteed.
Request attorney contact: https://www.findaccidentlawyer.org/free-case-intake
Official resources
Houston Police Department Records Division: https://www.houstontx.gov/police/public_information.htm
TxDOT crash reports and records: https://www.txdot.gov/data-maps/crash-reports-records.html
LexisNexis BuyCrash report search: https://buycrash.lexisnexisrisk.com/
Important disclaimer
FindAccidentLawyer.org is an independent advertising and lead-generation platform, not a law firm. We do not provide legal advice, evaluate cases, or recommend a specific attorney. Submitting a request does not create an attorney-client relationship. Representation is not guaranteed.
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