If you've been injured in a car accident, a police officer will fill out a Texas Police Officer's Crash Report. The car accident attorneys at Tracey Fox & Walters know this report well and can help you understand your accident report.
This accident report is a written document about the incident and includes many important details that your lawyer must review. It will describe where the accident happened and when, as well as the weather and road conditions. It will have information about the injuries you suffered. There will also be information about the other driver, including whether he or she was driving recklessly or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. You can buy a copy of the report from the Texas Department of Transportation.
Here are some tips for reading your Texas crash report. Our law firm's experienced car accident attorney can advise you on your legal options. Contact us to schedule a free case evaluation.
Identification & Location
This section lists where the crash occurred, including city or town, road or street, and intersecting streets. It also lists the date and time of the crash. The officer can also list the exact GPS coordinates of the crash.
Vehicle, Driver & Persons
This is where the officer notes details about the drivers and vehicles involved in the crash. It will include each driver's contact information, license information, age, ethnicity, and gender. The officer will also note if a driver was tested for drugs or alcohol and note the results. The vehicle information includes each vehicle's make, model, and body type, license plate number, vehicle identification number (VIN), and insurance information. If there were passengers, their information would appear in this section.
If the investigating police officer noted that the driver who caused your crash was under the influence of alcohol, you could have a powerful legal case against the driver.
Disposition of Injured/Killed
If anyone was injured, this section will list the hospital that the person was taken to and information about the ambulance unit. If an accident victim dies, the date and time of death will be recorded here.
Charges
If a driver was arrested at the scene, this section will list that driver's name, the charges filed, and the citation number. This information can be critical if you were injured in the accident due to the other driver's negligent actions.
CMV
If a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) was involved in your crash, information about the car will be recorded in this section. This includes the company that owns the vehicle and details about any hazardous material being carried. This information can be essential if you or a loved one was injured in a truck accident.
Narrative and Diagram
This section includes the investigating officer's determination of how your crash happened. It consists of a narrative of the events leading up to the collision and a diagram. This account could document any weather, lighting, road conditions, or negligence that played a role in your crash. Make sure you agree with everything written about your accident. Otherwise, insurance companies might try to deny your claim later because of something written here.
Click here to download a printable version.
