Hurt in a crash in Houston: where to get your report and why 90 days matters

Last checked November 8, 2026

Houston Police crash reports cost $6 by mail, and you can buy one online through BuyCrash.12 TxDOT's regular copy is also $6.3 Most injury lawsuits in Texas must be filed within 2 years.4 If the City of Houston hurt you, written notice is due within 90 days, far sooner than the 2-year limit.5

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

Why a truck crash in Houston is different

Harris County had 5,913 crashes involving commercial vehicles in 2025, and 43 people died in them.6 Much of that is freight. Port Houston's Bayport and Barbours Cut terminals passed 11,000 truck gate moves in a single day back in 2019.7 In January 2026 the port handled 370,034 TEUs, its biggest January on record.8

When a big rig hits you, the driver may be only one of several companies that matter. The trucking firm, the owner of the trailer and the company that loaded it can each carry their own insurance. Photograph the truck door, the trailer number and the plate before anyone moves. Ask the officer to write down the company's name. Do not give a recorded statement to a trucking insurer until you know how badly you are hurt.

Which agency has your Houston crash report

Houston Police worked 53,902 crashes in 2025. The Harris County Sheriff's Office worked 26,110.910 State troopers describe their job as rural highways, so inside the city your report is most likely with HPD.11 Check the card the officer gave you.

Who worked itHow to get itCost
Houston PoliceOnline at BuyCrash.2 Or by mail or in person at HPD Records, 1200 Travis St., 1st floor.12 Call 713-308-8500, option 3.13$6 by mail, or $8 if certified.114
Harris County Sheriff or another Texas agencyTxDOT's online crash report system.3$6 regular, $8 certified, plus any card fee.31516

You will need at least two details: the date, the location, or a driver's name.17 HPD's website says reports take 5 to 8 days.18 HPD's mail form says to wait at least 10 days, so give it the full 10 if you are mailing a request.19 Full copies are only sold in person or by mail with the H.B. 2633 form.20

If nobody with a badge came, HPD dispatch may tell you to move your car, trade information and make a report at a station.21 Keep any blue CR-2 form you filled out. TxDOT does not keep them.22

How long you have after a Houston crash

If the other side isDeadlineWhat to do
A driver or trucking company2 years to sue4Talk to a lawyer long before that date.
City of Houston90 days, in writing, verified5Sign before a notary.23 Mail to City Secretary, P.O. Box 1562, Houston 77251-1562.24 Send a copy to the City Attorney, P.O. Box 368, Houston 77001-0368.25
Harris County180 days, in writing26Commissioners Court, 1001 Preston, Room 610. Questions: Risk Management, (713) 274-5468.27
METRO bus or rail180 days28Use METRO's notice form. Email liability.claims@ridemetro.org.29
Any other Texas governmentUsually 6 months for notice30Do not wait to find out which agency owns the road.

The Houston charter says a missed notice excuses the city from any liability.31 The city also says state law means it does not pay for property damage from street conditions like potholes.32 An injury claim is a different question, so ask a lawyer before you give up. Children may get extra time on the lawsuit deadline.33

Where people get hurt in Houston

TxDOT counted 60,317 crashes in Houston in 2025, with 293 people killed and 1,465 seriously injured.34 Across Harris County, 134 people died on interstates and 198 on city streets, out of 503 deaths.35

  • The city's High Injury Network is 8.9% of streets but 58% of deaths and serious injuries.36
  • A 2020 city plan found 43% of deaths and serious injuries were at or related to an intersection or driveway.37
  • Pedestrians were 36% of traffic deaths in 2022, the last year in the city's report, when 323 people died.3839

What to do this week in Houston

  1. Ask for your hospital records. Ben Taub and Memorial Hermann-TMC are Level I trauma centers.4041 Harris Health says clear requests are sent within 15 business days.42 Memorial Hermann uses its Release of Information Department.43
  2. Find your car. Call the HPD tow line at 713-308-8580 or use Findmytowedcar.com.44 The regulated tow rate is $232 for the first 20 miles.45
  3. If your car broke down on the freeway, the no-cost Tow and Go tow only applies if someone stayed with it.46
  4. Bitten by a dog? Every bite must be reported. Call 311, or BARC at 713-229-7300.4748

What if they say the crash was partly your fault?

Texas does not cut you off for sharing some blame. It cuts you off if you are more than 50% responsible, and otherwise lowers your payment by your share.49 Trucking insurers know this, so expect them to push your percentage up.

Which court hears a Houston injury case?

Harris County justice courts can hear civil claims up to $20,000.50 Bigger cases usually go to county or district court.

Questions

How much is an HPD accident report?

$6 by mail, or $8 for a certified copy from HPD.114

How long does it take to get a crash report in Houston?

HPD's website says 5 to 8 days. Its mail form says to wait at least 10.1819

How long do I have to sue the City of Houston after a crash?

Written, verified notice is due within 90 days.5 Notice comes first, and the lawsuit deadline is separate.

Where do I file a claim against METRO?

Use METRO's notice of claim form within 180 days and send it to liability.claims@ridemetro.org.2829

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Accidents in Houston

    Texas

    Sources

    1. Houston Police, Public Information Requests, checked 2026-11-08. “Send a check / money order for $6.00 (made payable to the City of Houston)”
    2. Houston Police, Public Information Requests, checked 2026-11-08. “Crash Reports can be purchased online from the Texas Department of Transportation at https://buycrash.lexisnexisrisk.com”
    3. TxDOT, Crash reports and records, checked 2026-11-08. “$6 for a regular copy.”
    4. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues”
    5. City of Houston Legal Department, Filing a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “duly verified, within 90 days after the same has been sustained”
    6. TxDOT, 2025 Commercial Motor Vehicle Involved Crashes by County, checked 2026-11-08. “Harris 41 43 108 125 541 820 880 1,326 4,272 15,347 71 875 5,913”
    7. Port Houston, Record Gate Moves, checked 2026-11-08. “combined handled more than 11,000 gate moves in one day for the first time ever Aug. 28”
    8. Port Houston, Record January for Containers, checked 2026-11-08. “Port Houston handled 370,034 TEUs in January, the biggest January container volume on record”
    9. TxDOT, 2025 Crashes and Injuries by Investigating Agency, checked 2026-11-08. “HOUSTON PD 264 284 1,086 1,279 4,276 5,953 12,300 18,429 33,421 97,773 2,555 18,384 53,902”
    10. TxDOT, 2025 Crashes and Injuries by Investigating Agency, checked 2026-11-08. “HARRIS COUNTY 146 150 601 695 2,456 3,464 2,650 4,007 19,520 53,604 737 4,580 26,110 SO”
    11. 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”
    12. Houston Police, Public Information Requests, checked 2026-11-08. “In person at the Edward A. Thomas Building at 1200 Travis St. Houston, Texas 77002 on the 1st floor.”
    13. Houston Police, Public Information Requests, checked 2026-11-08. “Accident reports are handled by the Records Division, 713.308.8500 - Option 3.”
    14. Houston Police, Crash Report Request Form, checked 2026-11-08. “($6.00 for Non-Certified Crash Report) or ($8.00 for Certified Crash Report)”
    15. TxDOT, Crash reports and records, checked 2026-11-08. “$8 for a certified copy”
    16. TxDOT, Crash reports and records, checked 2026-11-08. “Additional processing fees may be applied for credit card transactions.”
    17. Houston Police, Public Information Requests, checked 2026-11-08. “You must provide at least two of the following in order to obtain an accident report”
    18. Houston Police, Public Information Requests, checked 2026-11-08. “Accident reports require 5 to 8 days processing time before they are available to the public.”
    19. Houston Police, Crash Report Request Form, checked 2026-11-08. “should not be submitted until at least 10 days after the crash date to allow time for receipt of the report”
    20. Houston Police, Public Information Requests, checked 2026-11-08. “Full copies can only be purchased in person or via mail with the accompanying H.B. 2633 form”
    21. Houston Police General Order 600-09, checked 2026-11-08. “to exchange information, and to make a report at a police station”
    22. 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.”
    23. City of Houston Legal Department, Filing a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “in writing and sign the letter before a Notary Public”
    24. City of Houston Legal Department, Filing a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “City Secretary's Office City of Houston Post Office Box 1562 Houston, Texas 77251-1562”
    25. City of Houston Legal Department, Filing a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “City Attorney's Office Attn: Claims/Subrogation Section Post Office Box 368 Houston, Texas 77001-0368”
    26. Harris County, Claim Filing Procedures, checked 2026-11-08. “Written notice of your claim must be mailed or delivered in person within 180 days of the occurrence to: Harris County Commissioners Court 1001 Preston, Room 610 Houston, Texas 77002”
    27. Harris County, Claim Filing Procedures, checked 2026-11-08. “please call Harris County Risk Management at (713) 274-5468”
    28. METRO, Notice of Claim Form, checked 2026-11-08. “within 180 days of the incident by anyone desiring to make a claim against METRO”
    29. METRO, Notice of Claim Form, checked 2026-11-08. “Email: liability.claims@ridemetro.org”
    30. 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”
    31. City of Houston Legal Department, Filing a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “shall exonerate, excuse and exempt the city from any liability whatsoever”
    32. City of Houston Legal Department, Filing a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “Under State law, the City is not liable for property damage caused by the condition of its streets.”
    33. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.001, checked 2026-11-08. “the time of the disability is not included in a limitations period”
    34. TxDOT, 2025 Crashes and Injuries Cities and Towns, checked 2026-11-08. “HOUSTON 273 293 1,249 1,465 5,173 7,285 12,649 19,059 38,296 112,109 2,677 19,011 60,317”
    35. TxDOT, 2025 Fatal Crashes and Fatalities by County and Road Type, checked 2026-11-08. “Harris 125 134 56 58 24 25 67 69 186 198 19 19 0 0 0 0 477 503”
    36. City of Houston, High Injury Network layer information, checked 2026-11-08. “represents 8.9% of Houston streets which account for 58% of traffic deaths and serious injuries”
    37. City of Houston, Vision Zero Action Plan, checked 2026-11-08. “43% of traffic deaths and serious injuries are at or related to an intersection or driveway”
    38. City of Houston, Vision Zero Annual Report 2022, checked 2026-11-08. “Pedestrians represented 36% of Traffic Deaths and 16% of Serious Injuries.”
    39. City of Houston, Vision Zero Annual Report 2022, checked 2026-11-08. “Houston lost 323 people in fatal crashes, and 1,592 people were seriously injured on our streets”
    40. Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “HARRIS HEALTH BEN TAUB HOSPITAL 4/1/2028 Q HOUSTON 77030”
    41. Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “MEMORIAL HERMANN - TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER 5/1/2028 Q HOUSTON 77030”
    42. Harris Health, Medical Records, checked 2026-11-08. “helps us send your records within 15 business days”
    43. Memorial Hermann, Request Medical Records, checked 2026-11-08. “The Memorial Hermann Release of Information Department processes requests for protected health information.”
    44. Houston Police, Towed Vehicles FAQ, checked 2026-11-08. “You can call the tow line at 713-308-8580 or go to Findmytowedcar.com.”
    45. Houston Police, Motorist Bill of Rights, checked 2026-11-08. “non-consent regulated tow rate, effective Jan. 1, 2026, is $232.00”
    46. Houston Police, Towed Vehicles FAQ, checked 2026-11-08. “The no cost tow under the TOW AND GO program is only for vehicles that are disabled and has someone with the vehicle when the wrecker or police arrive.”
    47. BARC, Report an Animal Bite, checked 2026-11-08. “To report an animal bite of any kind, please call 311.”
    48. Houston Fire Department FAQs, checked 2026-11-08. “Call BARC at 713.229.7300 or dial 311 to report the bite.”
    49. 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”
    50. Harris County Justice Courts, About, checked 2026-11-08. “Justice Courts have jurisdiction of civil matters in which the amount in controversy is no more than $20,000”

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