What to do after a car accident in Dallas, Texas
The local steps are quoted from Dallas agency pages and the Texas rules from state law, each with a link. Checked September 17, 2026.
At fault state
The short answer
The Dallas Police Department works crashes inside the Dallas city limits. Call 911 if anyone is hurt. For a crash that does not need an emergency response, the department lists 214-744-4444 as the number to call to make a report.
Dallas does not send an officer to every crash. An officer writes an accident report when someone is hurt or claims injury, when property other than the cars involved is damaged, when an unattended vehicle is hit, when a crime such as leaving the scene or drunk driving is involved, or when city or other government equipment is damaged. A car that is disabled and cannot be driven also brings a unit out. If the cars can be driven and none of that applies, the call is cleared as a non police incident and no officer investigates.
Dallas does not sell crash reports on its own website. The Dallas Police Records Center sends the public to the TxDOT Crash Report Online Purchase System, known as CRIS, to buy the Texas Peace Officer's Crash Report. The police department's own online crash report form is only for government and courier requestors.
Who comes to a crash in Dallas
The agency that responds
The Dallas Police Department works crashes inside the Dallas city limits. Call 911 if anyone is hurt. For a crash that does not need an emergency response, the department lists 214-744-4444 as the number to call to make a report.
“Non-emergency calls - to make report 214-744-4444”
When officers actually come out
Dallas does not send an officer to every crash. An officer writes an accident report when someone is hurt or claims injury, when property other than the cars involved is damaged, when an unattended vehicle is hit, when a crime such as leaving the scene or drunk driving is involved, or when city or other government equipment is damaged. A car that is disabled and cannot be driven also brings a unit out. If the cars can be driven and none of that applies, the call is cleared as a non police incident and no officer investigates.
“If the call does not meet the criteria established in Section 302.03A or B, advise the person that the Police Department does not investigate minor accidents.”
If no officer comes
When no officer comes, you write the report yourself. Pick up two blank forms at any Dallas police substation, the State of Texas blue form and a City of Dallas Individual Accident Report. Return the Individual Accident Report to any substation, where it is given a Dallas police service number and kept on file as the accident report for your insurance company.
“You will need to pick up two items: a State of Texas Blue Form and a City of Dallas Individual Accident Report.”
On the interstates and state highways
If a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper worked your crash on a state highway instead of Dallas police, do not go to the city Records Unit. DPS sends you to the TxDOT Crash Report Online Purchase System for the same CR-3 crash report.
“You may obtain a Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report (CR-3) (regular or certified) from the Texas Department of Transportation’s Crash Report Online Purchase System”
What Texas law requires you to report
If the crash hurt or killed someone, or damaged a vehicle badly enough that it cannot be driven safely, the driver must immediately notify local police, the sheriff, or the nearest Department of Public Safety office.
“The operator of a vehicle involved in a collision resulting in injury to or death of a person or damage to a vehicle to the extent that it cannot be normally and safely driven shall immediately by the quickest means of communication give notice of the collision to the: (1) local police department if the collision occurred in a municipality; (2) local police department or the sheriff's office if the collision occurred not more than 100 feet outside the limits of a municipality; or (3) sheriff's office or the nearest office of the department if the collision is not required to be reported under Subdivision (1) or (2).”
Getting your Dallas crash report
Where to get it
Dallas does not sell crash reports on its own website. The Dallas Police Records Center sends the public to the TxDOT Crash Report Online Purchase System, known as CRIS, to buy the Texas Peace Officer's Crash Report. The police department's own online crash report form is only for government and courier requestors.
“Certified Vehicle Crash Reports from TXDOT Redirects to C.R.I.S”
How long it takes
A Dallas crash report is usually ready 5 to 7 working days after the crash.
“Reports are usually available 5 to 7 working days after the accident.”
What it costs
A Dallas crash report costs $6.00 from the police Records Unit, whether you pick it up in person or ask for it by mail. Having it certified adds $2.00. Buying the same report from TxDOT online costs $6 for a regular copy or $8 for a certified copy, plus a surcharge.
“An Accident report costs $6.00 whether you come in person to our location or request it by mail.”
If your car was towed
Where it goes and how to get it back
A car towed after a Dallas crash goes to one of three city lots: the Dallas Police Auto Pound at 1955 Vilbig Rd., Peak Auto Storage North Dallas at 11211 Goodnight Ln., or Peak Auto Storage South Dallas at 4206 E. Ledbetter Rd. To find your car, its status and what you owe, call 972-430-6200 or use the tow lookup the department links. The Auto Pound itself answers at 214-670-5116.
“If your vehicle was towed, you may obtain its location, status, and associated fees by calling the number listed, visiting the link or via the QR code.”
Storage is charged by the day in most cities, so the bill grows while a claim is still open. Tell your insurer where the car is as soon as you know.
Texas deadlines that apply in Dallas
- 2 years
- to sue for injuriesTex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 16.003(a)
- 2 years
- to sue for car or property damageTex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 16.003(a)
- 2 years
- for a family to sue after a deathTex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 16.003(b)
- 6 months
- to notify the government if a public vehicle or road was involvedTex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101(a)
All Texas rules: fault, insurance minimums and the full deadline list
The Texas rules behind your claim
Who pays for the damage
Texas is an at-fault state. The driver who causes a crash is responsible for the other person's injuries and damage.
“Liability insurance pays to repair or replace the other driver's car, or other damaged property, and pays other people's medical expenses when you're at fault in an accident.”
If you were partly at fault
Texas uses modified comparative fault, called proportionate responsibility. You cannot recover any money if your own share of fault is greater than 50 percent.
“a claimant may not recover damages if his percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent”
What insurance every driver must carry
Texas drivers must carry at least $30,000 in bodily injury coverage per person, $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 in property damage coverage.
“Texas law requires you to have at least $30,000 of coverage for injuries per person, up to a total of $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 of coverage for property damage. This is called 30/60/25 coverage.”
Sources on this page
Each one was opened and checked on September 17, 2026.
- Dallas Police Department, Helpful Numbers
- Dallas Police Department, General Order 302.03 Investigation of Minor Accidents
- Dallas Police Department, Traffic Division FAQ
- Dallas Police Records Center
- Dallas Police Department, Records Section FAQ
- Dallas Police Department, Types of Records
- Dallas Police Department, Public Information
- Dallas Police Department, Auto Pound Towed Vehicle Information
- Dallas County Justice of the Peace Court, Small Claims
- Texas Department of Public Safety, Public Information Requests
The state law behind these steps
Each one was opened and checked on September 17, 2026.
Know My Claim is not a law firm or a government agency, and this page is not legal advice. Laws change, so check the linked source before you rely on a deadline.