Obtaining A Houston Police Department Accident Report (2025)
Contributor
Reviewed By Adam Ramirez, J.D.
Editor
- What Information You’ll Need to Request the HPD Accident Report
- How to Request the Report
- How Long It Takes Before the Report Is Available
- Cost & Fees for Obtaining the Accident Report
- What to Do If Your Report Contains Errors or Missing Details
- Using the HPD Accident Report
- Pursuing a Claim With Trusted Car Accident Lawyers
Summary
- To file a car accident claim, you’ll need a police report
- You can obtain the report online, by mail or in person
- A lawyer can use this report to support your claim
The process of how to get a police report for a car accident can feel daunting in Texas, especially if you’re still dealing with injuries and trying to get your car repaired. It can help to have a clear idea of how to get a Houston Police Department accident report in a few basic steps.
Here’s what to know about these reports and how they help injured people obtain Houston car accident settlements.
What Information You’ll Need to Request the HPD Accident Report
To get your Houston Police Department accident report, you’ll need to provide information on the date of the crash, where it occurred and the names of the parties involved. You’ll have to provide your name and contact information, too. If you have the case number or crash report number, that can help.
How to Request the Report
You can purchase the report online via the Texas Department of Transportation, or you can send a check or money order with your request to the HPD Records Division at 1200 Travis Street, Houston, TX 77002. Additionally, you can go in person to the Edward A. Thomas Building to request the report there.
How Long It Takes Before the Report Is Available
Accident reports take between five and eight days to become available. These reports are handled by the Records Division, so you may be able to contact them to check that the report is available.
Cost & Fees for Obtaining the Accident Report
It usually costs $6 for a regular copy of the accident report. If you need a certified copy, it should cost $8. In some instances, there could be credit card processing fees.
What to Do If Your Report Contains Errors or Missing Details
If the police report for the car accident contains errors or is missing important data, you can contact the police department that filed the report. Speak with the officer who wrote the document, if possible, and offer clear evidence of the error so that the report can be amended.
If you’re dealing with complex errors, you should contact a car accident lawyer to help you.
Using the HPD Accident Report
You can use the HPD accident report in insurance claims to prove who’s responsible for the crash and what type of losses it caused. The report could be one of the most important pieces of evidence you have.
Pursuing a Claim With Trusted Car Accident Lawyers
A lawyer can use your accident report to support your claim. At ConsumerShield, our team can connect you with leading car accident attorneys in Houston. Contact us to get started.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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You should get at least three copies. You can keep one for your records, give another to your lawyer and provide yet another to the other party.
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Generally, it will have all of the contact information of the parties involved, the name of the police officer who responded to the scene and the time and location of the crash. It should also include data on witnesses and what happened according to the officer.
