What to do after a car accident in Fort Worth, Texas
The local steps are quoted from Fort Worth agency pages and the Texas rules from state law, each with a link. Checked September 17, 2026.
At fault state
The short answer
The Fort Worth Police Department works crashes inside the Fort Worth city limits. Call 911 if anyone is hurt. If it is not an emergency, the department's Police Communications non-emergency line is 817-392-4222.
Fort Worth sends an officer to every crash that is reported, no matter how small. The officer only opens a crash investigation when one of nine things is true: someone is hurt or killed, a city vehicle or city property is involved, it is a hit and run or a driver left, a driver cannot show a valid license or proof of insurance, a driver is suspected of driving while intoxicated or on drugs, the crash came out of a police pursuit or a crime, a commercial vehicle is involved, the drivers are having a disturbance, or the damage to either car looks like $1,000 or more. If none of that is true, the officer takes control of the scene, hands out the Citizen Accident/Crash Exchange Form, supervises the trade of insurance information, writes any Safety Responsibility Act citations, and clears the road.
Fort Worth does not sell its crash reports through a city portal. Since December 15, 2024 the police department sends everyone to the Texas Department of Transportation Crash Report Online Purchase System, the CRIS purchase site at cris.dot.state.tx.us.
Who comes to a crash in Fort Worth
The agency that responds
The Fort Worth Police Department works crashes inside the Fort Worth city limits. Call 911 if anyone is hurt. If it is not an emergency, the department's Police Communications non-emergency line is 817-392-4222.
“If not, a citizen wishing to report a hazardous driver should call the Traffic Hotline at 817-392-4850 or the Police Communications non-emergency line at 817-392-4222.”
When officers actually come out
Fort Worth sends an officer to every crash that is reported, no matter how small. The officer only opens a crash investigation when one of nine things is true: someone is hurt or killed, a city vehicle or city property is involved, it is a hit and run or a driver left, a driver cannot show a valid license or proof of insurance, a driver is suspected of driving while intoxicated or on drugs, the crash came out of a police pursuit or a crime, a commercial vehicle is involved, the drivers are having a disturbance, or the damage to either car looks like $1,000 or more. If none of that is true, the officer takes control of the scene, hands out the Citizen Accident/Crash Exchange Form, supervises the trade of insurance information, writes any Safety Responsibility Act citations, and clears the road.
“All accidents reported to this department shall be responded to, regardless of severity.”
If no officer comes
When Fort Worth police decide your crash does not need an investigation, no crash report is written. The officer gives each driver a Citizen Accident/Crash Exchange Form and watches you trade insurance information. The only crash you can file yourself through the Fort Worth police online reporting system is a hit and run, and a hit and run has to be reported within 24 hours of when you discover it.
“Distribute the Citizen Accident/Crash Exchange Form, if applicable, to each driver,”
On the interstates and state highways
If a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper worked your crash on an interstate or a state highway instead of Fort Worth police, do not go to the city records counter. DPS sends you to the same Texas Department of Transportation Crash Report Online Purchase System for the 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 Fort Worth crash report
Where to get it
Fort Worth does not sell its crash reports through a city portal. Since December 15, 2024 the police department sends everyone to the Texas Department of Transportation Crash Report Online Purchase System, the CRIS purchase site at cris.dot.state.tx.us.
“Effective December 15, 2024, requestors should use the website below to request an accident report(s):”
How long it takes
Your Fort Worth crash report can take up to 14 days from the date of the crash to show up in the state search. If it is still not there after 14 days, call the Fort Worth police Records unit at 817-392-4160.
“It can take up to 14 days from the date of the crash for your crash to appear in the search results.”
What it costs
A Fort Worth crash report costs $6.00, whether you buy it from the state online or pick it up at the police records counter. A certified copy costs $2.00 more.
“Accident reports are available to purchase online at https://cris.dot.state.tx.us/public/Purchase/app/home for $6.00.”
If your car was towed
Where it goes and how to get it back
A car towed after a Fort Worth crash goes to one of the city's rotational tow and impound providers, dispatched under a city contract by AutoReturn. Look your car up at the AutoReturn Fort Worth find a vehicle page or call 817-349-4022. City approved charges are $180.00 for a standard tow, a $32.00 administrative fee, a $22.85 preservation and impoundment fee, and $22.85 a day for storage.
“Storage fee: $22.85 per day. Over 25 feet: $39.99 per day”
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 Fort Worth
- 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.
- Fort Worth Police Department, FAQs
- Fort Worth Police Department, General Orders 311.01 Accident Investigation
- Fort Worth Police Department, Get a Copy of My Accident Report?
- Fort Worth Police Department, Auto Pound
- Tarrant County, Justice of the Peace Courts
- 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.