Hurt in a crash in Austin: your report, and the 45-day rule most people miss

Last checked November 8, 2026

Austin Police crash reports are sold through LexisNexis BuyCrash, and TxDOT sells copies for $6.12 Texas gives you about 2 years to file most injury lawsuits.3 But if the City of Austin was involved, the city says your claim letter must go out within 45 days of the incident.4 Do not count on the longer state deadline.

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Road map of Austin, Texas, showing its freeways and main streets
The main roads of Austin. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

The 45-day deadline for claims against the City of Austin

Most Texas government claims follow a six-month notice rule.5 Austin is much shorter. The city's claim page and its City Attorney's page both say 45 days.46 The charter says that if you miss it, the city is excused from any liability.7

A May 2026 city document says the charter requires your notice to be notarized by affidavit, even though the claim web page only says to send a letter.8 Get yours notarized to be safe. City staff have proposed moving the deadline to 180 days and dropping the affidavit, but the city's page still says 45.9 Treat 45 days as the real rule.

  1. Write down the date, time and place, what happened, your injury, your address and a daytime phone number.10
  2. Attach what you have: photos, receipts, police reports.10
  3. Send it to City of Austin Law Department - Claims, P.O. Box 1546, Austin 78767-1546, or to lawclaims@austintexas.gov.1112
  4. Questions? Call 512-974-2268.13

If Austin Police did not come to your crash

An April 2023 Austin Police presentation says officers do not respond when vehicles are drivable and no one is hurt.14 Those rules date to October 2021 and could have changed since.15 Officers do come if a driver refuses to exchange information or seems impaired, or if a City of Austin vehicle is involved.16 Old crashes, even leaving the scene, do not get a response.17

So a crash with sore necks and drivable cars may leave no police report at all. An officer who does respond writes a CR-3 when required.18 If no officer comes, no one does. Call 911 if anyone is hurt, take your own photos and get the other driver's insurance. Keep any driver report you filled out, because TxDOT does not keep those.19

Where to get your Austin crash report

Austin Police worked 10,312 crashes in 2025, and the Travis County Sheriff worked 3,138.2021 DPS troopers say their patrol focus is rural highways, so check who actually came.22

Who worked itHow to get itCost and wait
Austin PoliceOnline through LexisNexis BuyCrash.1Shown at checkout. TxDOT's copy is $6, or $8 certified.223
Travis County SheriffBy mail or in person, 5555 Airport Blvd., Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.24 Central Records: 512-854-9749.25$6, or $8 certified. Can take 2 to 10 days.2627
Any Texas police agencyTxDOT's online crash report system.2$6, plus any card fee.228

APD walk-in reporting moved from the old headquarters at 715 E. 8th St. to 812 Springdale Rd.29 Only people directly concerned in the crash can buy the full report.30 Police have to send a qualifying report to TxDOT within 10 days.31

Austin's dangerous roads

APD names I-35, US 183 and Ben White as high-speed roads where a significant share of crashes and deaths happen.3233 The city's High Injury Network is 8% of its streets but nearly 60% of serious injury or fatal crashes.34 From 2017 to 2021, more than one-third of the worst crashes were at signalized intersections.35

City preliminary data show 99 traffic deaths and 301 serious injuries in 2025, down from 117 and 540 in 2022.3637 TxDOT's own count for 2025 is 11,032 crashes, 98 killed and 309 seriously injured.38 The two totals differ a little because they are counted differently. Across Travis County, 19 people died on interstates, 35 on US and state highways and 53 on city streets, out of 143.39 Commercial vehicles were in 648 crashes in the county, and 11 people died.40

Claims against Travis County or CapMetro

We did not find a published shorter deadline for Travis County or CapMetro, so assume the usual six-month state notice applies, and do not wait.5 Travis County's claims line is (512) 854-9659.41 We could not find a published CapMetro claim form. Its GO Line is 512-474-1200.42 Children may have longer to sue.43

What to do this week in Austin

  1. Ask for your records. Dell Seton is a Level I trauma center, and St. David's South Austin is Level II.4445 Ascension Seton takes requests by mail or in person.46 St. David's has several request routes, including its patient portal.47
  2. Broke down on IH-35, MoPac or 183 during rush hour? Under the TIMS program, a tow to the nearest safe place cannot be charged to you.4849
  3. Bitten by an animal? All bites must be reported to Animal Protection.50 Call 311 or 512-974-2000. Austin warns rabies has a strong presence in Travis County.5152

Partly at fault, and which court

An insurer may say you share the blame. Your payment drops by your share, and it ends entirely if your share is over 50%.53 Travis County justice courts hear small claims up to $20,000, and its county courts at law hear most civil cases up to $250,000.5455

Questions

How long do I have to file a claim against the City of Austin?

The city says 45 days from the incident.4 City staff proposed 180 days, but the page still says 45.9

Does Austin Police come to minor crashes?

A 2023 APD presentation says officers do not respond when vehicles are drivable and no one is hurt.14

How do I get an APD crash report?

Buy it online through LexisNexis BuyCrash, or from TxDOT for $6.12

What does a Travis County Sheriff crash report cost?

$6, or $8 certified.26

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Accidents in Austin

    Texas

    Sources

    1. City of Austin, Purchase an APD online crash report, checked 2026-11-08. “Purchase online crash reports for the Austin Police Department jurisdiction with LexisNexis”
    2. TxDOT, Crash reports and records, checked 2026-11-08. “$6 for a regular copy.”
    3. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues”
    4. City of Austin, File a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “You must send this letter within 45 days of the incident.”
    5. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than six months after the day that the incident giving rise to the claim occurred”
    6. Austin City Attorney's Office, checked 2026-11-08. “you must send a letter within 45 days from the date of incident”
    7. City of Austin, Staff charter recommendations with charter text (May 2026), checked 2026-11-08. “shall exonerate, excuse and exempt the city from any liability whatsoever”
    8. City of Austin, Staff charter recommendations with charter text (May 2026), checked 2026-11-08. “The current version of the charter requires claimants to give written notice of a claim notarized by affidavit.”
    9. City of Austin, Staff charter recommendations with charter text (May 2026), checked 2026-11-08. “staff proposes aligning the claim notice deadline with the 180-day deadline required under the Texas Tort Claims Act”
    10. City of Austin, File a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “Date, time and location of the incident Description of what occurred Type of damage(s) or injury”
    11. City of Austin, File a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “City of Austin Law Department - Claims P.O. Box 1546 Austin, TX 78767-1546”
    12. City of Austin, File a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “Email lawclaims@austintexas.gov”
    13. City of Austin, File a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “Need Help? 512-974-2268”
    14. Austin Police, Traffic Enforcement presentation (April 2023), checked 2026-11-08. “Vehicles are drivable and there are no injuries”
    15. Austin Police, Traffic Enforcement presentation (April 2023), checked 2026-11-08. “Current criteria for response in place since October 2021”
    16. Austin Police, Traffic Enforcement presentation (April 2023), checked 2026-11-08. “City of Austin vehicle is involved”
    17. Austin Police, Traffic Enforcement presentation (April 2023), checked 2026-11-08. “Old, unreported crashes (including Leaving the Scene)”
    18. Austin Police, Traffic Enforcement presentation (April 2023), checked 2026-11-08. “Complete a TXDOT Crash Report (CR-3) when required”
    19. TxDOT, Crash reports and records, checked 2026-11-08. “Drivers involved in a crash not investigated by a police officer who were provided a CR-2 or similar local agency form should retain this information for their records.”
    20. TxDOT, 2025 Crashes and Injuries by Investigating Agency, checked 2026-11-08. “AUSTIN PD 94 98 256 287 2,631 3,609 2,229 3,785 4,792 17,586 310 1,223 10,312”
    21. TxDOT, 2025 Crashes and Injuries by Investigating Agency, checked 2026-11-08. “TRAVIS COUNTY SO 2 2 78 86 613 805 404 630 1,918 5,524 123 279 3,138”
    22. Texas DPS, Highway Patrol Overview, checked 2026-11-08. “responsible for general police traffic supervision, traffic, and criminal law enforcement on the rural highways of Texas”
    23. TxDOT, Crash reports and records, checked 2026-11-08. “$8 for a certified copy”
    24. Travis County Sheriff, Vehicle Accident Report, checked 2026-11-08. “5555 Airport Blvd. Austin, TX, 78751 Monday - Friday 8:00 am-4:00 pm”
    25. Travis County Sheriff, Vehicle Accident Report, checked 2026-11-08. “please call Central Records at 512-854-9749”
    26. Travis County Sheriff, Vehicle Accident Report, checked 2026-11-08. “Certified Report $8.00 Non-Certified Report $6.00”
    27. Travis County Sheriff, Vehicle Accident Report, checked 2026-11-08. “Reports can take 2 - 10 days to become available.”
    28. TxDOT, Crash reports and records, checked 2026-11-08. “Additional processing fees may be applied for credit card transactions.”
    29. Austin Police, checked 2026-11-08. “Walk-in reporting at the old APD Headquarters (715 E. 8th St.) has moved to 812 Springdale Rd.”
    30. TxDOT, Crash reports and records, checked 2026-11-08. “Any person involved in the accident”
    31. TxDOT, Crash reports and records, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than the tenth day after the date of the crash”
    32. Austin Police, Traffic Enforcement presentation (April 2023), checked 2026-11-08. “significant portion of crashes, serious injury crashes, and fatalities occur”
    33. Austin Police, Traffic Enforcement presentation (April 2023), checked 2026-11-08. “I-35, US Hwy 183, Ben White”
    34. City of Austin, Vision Zero, checked 2026-11-08. “It includes just 8% of the city's street network but contains nearly 60% of all serious injury or fatal crashes”
    35. City of Austin, Mobility Outcome Report, August 2022, checked 2026-11-08. “more than one-third of crashes that resulted in serious injury or death in Austin occurred at signalized intersections”
    36. City of Austin, Severe crashes show downward trend in 2025, checked 2026-11-08. “Austin recorded 99 traffic fatalities and 301 serious injuries in 2025”
    37. City of Austin, Severe crashes show downward trend in 2025, checked 2026-11-08. “when Austin recorded 117 deaths and 540 serious injuries”
    38. TxDOT, 2025 Crashes and Injuries Cities and Towns, checked 2026-11-08. “AUSTIN 94 98 276 309 2,738 3,762 2,276 3,870 5,325 19,185 323 1,303 11,032”
    39. TxDOT, 2025 Fatal Crashes and Fatalities by County and Road Type, checked 2026-11-08. “Travis 15 19 34 35 24 26 8 8 53 53 2 2 0 0 0 0 136 143”
    40. TxDOT, 2025 Commercial Motor Vehicle Involved Crashes by County, checked 2026-11-08. “Travis 7 11 22 30 133 232 90 166 393 1,490 3 48 648”
    41. Travis County, Risk Management, checked 2026-11-08. “(512) 854-9659”
    42. CapMetro, Help and Contact, checked 2026-11-08. “Call our GO Line at 512-474-1200”
    43. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.001, checked 2026-11-08. “the time of the disability is not included in a limitations period”
    44. Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “DELL SETON MEDICAL CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS 10/1/2028 O AUSTIN 78701”
    45. Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “ST DAVIDS SOUTH AUSTIN MEDICAL CENTER 10/1/2028 O AUSTIN 78704”
    46. Ascension Seton, Authorization for Release of Information, checked 2026-11-08. “Mail in or present your request in person at the applicable site location(s).”
    47. St. David's South Austin, Medical Records, checked 2026-11-08. “We offer several ways to request your medical records”
    48. Austin Police, Traffic Incident Management Towing Program, checked 2026-11-08. “A towing company may not charge the vehicle owner/operator a fee for removing a vehicle from the right-of-way to the nearest place of safety.”
    49. Austin Police, Wrecker Enforcement, checked 2026-11-08. “The major roadways include, IH-35, MoPac Expressway, and Hwy 183 as part of our Rush Hour Zone program.”
    50. Austin Animal Services, Animal Bites, checked 2026-11-08. “All animal bites must be reported to Animal Protection.”
    51. Austin Animal Services, Animal Bites, checked 2026-11-08. “File a report with Animal Protection by calling 3-1-1 (512-974-2000)”
    52. Austin Animal Services, Animal Bites, checked 2026-11-08. “Rabies has a strong presence in Travis County”
    53. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.001, checked 2026-11-08. “a claimant may not recover damages if his percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent”
    54. Travis County JP5, Filing a Lawsuit in Justice Court, checked 2026-11-08. “The claim can be for no more than $20,000”
    55. Travis County Clerk, Civil, checked 2026-11-08. “between $500.00 and $250,000.00”

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