When you are involved in a car crash and report it to the police, they are supposed to write up a report. It details who was involved, where it happened, when it happened, and other facts you should know. Here’s how to get a copy of your report:
If your crash was handled by the Austin Police Department, you can get a copy of your police report online through a third-party website called BuyCrash, operated by LexisNexis. If another police department handled your accident, you can get a copy from them. Additionally, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) ultimately hosts reports from all over Texas after officers submit them. Those are also available online. However, you can always get help from your lawyer; we can get a copy of your crash report for you in most cases.
For a free case review, call the Austin car accident lawyers at Cap City Injury Attorneys today by dialing (512) 612-3110.
Getting a Police Report from the Austin Police Department
The Austin Police Department makes its reports available online through a third-party service called BuyCrash, a.k.a. LexisNexis Police Reports. The Department’s website explicitly directs you to BuyCrash, so there is no need to doubt whether this third-party website is safe to use. Police departments from all over the country also host reports here.
How Much Does a Crash Report Cost?
BuyCrash usually charges under $20 for reports, and you can usually get the copy digitally sent to your email. That means you can send or print copies, as needed, without needing to pay for each copy.
Can You Get a Report In Person?
Most police departments also offer police reports in person. The Austin PD does not have specific instructions on their website on getting a report in person. Instead, they only have instructions for getting a “public portion” of the report in person or through their website’s records request form.
These cost 10 cents per page, but they may not include private information and may be missing details you can get from the full report.
How Do I Get Police Crash Reports from Other Departments?
If your crash was handled by a different police department, they would have your report instead. While the Austin PD handles most crashes in Austin, TX, there are also other police departments – like the University of Texas at Austin Police Department and the Travis County Sheriff’s Office – that might have responded to your crash.
The UTPD’s website directs users to a records request form, which, again, might be a public version of the report with missing information.
The Travis County Sheriff’s Office has instructions on their website for sending a request in person, by mail, or online through TxDOT. They also warn that it can take 10 days before the report is ready, and that you can call the Central Records office for help.
Other police departments, such as those for nearby towns, may have their own websites and third-party processors for police reports, so check with our Austin car accident lawyers about how to get a report from those departments.
Can You Get Crash Reports from TxDOT?
TxDOT ultimately collects reports from all police departments across the state. They use these for accident data and to create a central repository for accident reports, which they keep for 10 years.
These reports can be obtained through their online portal, and they typically cost $6 for a normal copy and $8 for a certified copy.
Do I Need to Get a Copy of My Police Report Myself?
In the aftermath of a car accident, you have a lot on your plate. You may have medical appointments, car appointments, and the rest of your life to take care of. All of this may be made worse by serious injuries or disabilities. Getting a copy of your police report is just one more thing, and you usually do not have to handle it on your own.
Our attorneys can request a copy of your police report for you. We can also seek out copies of medical records and help obtain other records, reports, and evidence for your case.
It can be difficult knowing which police department responded to your case and which websites are official and which are going to charge you for an incomplete report. Let our attorneys handle the police report for you as part of building your case.
What’s In a Police Report for a Car Accident in Austin?
Car accident reports typically contain a few sections:
Officer’s Observations
The officer will note what they saw when they arrived at the scene of the crash and some other evidence they were able to witness and obtain on their own. This also usually includes things like…
- The participants’ names and contact info
- Vehicle descriptions
- Any injuries the officer observed
- What the weather and lighting were like
They will also typically note if they issued any citations.
Secondhand Information
Other parts of the officer’s “narrative” section might contain information they got secondhand. Usually, the officer comes after the crash happens, so they will not have actually witnessed the accident. That means the report of what happened is pieced together from what the drivers and witnesses told them at the scene.
Diagram
Crash reports contain a diagram of the crash detailing how the cars were positioned, what lights and traffic signs were present, and how the cars collided.
Photos
If the officer took any photos, they should be included in the report as well.
How Can I Use a Police Report for My Car Accident Case
Typically, police reports are hearsay, meaning they cannot be used as evidence that the story in the police report is true. Additionally, much of the evidence is secondhand, so it’s hearsay within hearsay.
There may be exceptions for public records and records of regularly conducted activities that do allow these reports in as evidence, but they are not always helpful as evidence. Since the officer’s info is all secondhand, it is often stronger to introduce the facts through witnesses who actually saw the crash.
However, the report can be a great tool in building your case, especially if you were knocked out or taken straight to the hospital and could not stay at the scene to even find out the name of the driver who hit you. They can also be used at trial to refresh witnesses’ memories and to confront witnesses with inconsistent statements.
Call Our Car Accident Lawyers in Austin Today
Call Cap City Injury Attorneys at (512) 612-3110 to review your case directly with our Austin personal injury lawyers.