Car accident in Austin: get your report, then find a car accident lawyer if you need one

Last checked November 8, 2026

Austin Police may skip a wreck when cars can drive and no one is hurt, so there may be no CR-3.1 If someone is hurt, Texas law says report it right away.2 Most injury suits are due in 2 years.3 If a city vehicle hit you, the city says 45 days.4

See if you are owed money

$0 upfront. No fee unless you win.
Road map of Austin showing MoPac, I-35 and Hwy 183, the roads covered by the Austin Police rush hour towing program
Austin Police may not come if both cars can still be driven. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Will Austin Police come to my car wreck?

Maybe not. According to an April 2023 police presentation, officers stay away when the vehicles still run and nobody is injured.1 They do come if a driver will not trade information, seems impaired, or a City of Austin vehicle was part of the crash.5 The presentation dates those rules to October 2021, and we could not confirm whether they have changed.6

That is why neck pain matters at the scene. If you feel hurt, say so on the 911 call. An injury is what can turn a fender bender into a crash with an officer and a written report. Texas also requires a driver in an injury crash, or one that leaves a car unsafe to drive, to give notice right away.2

What if no officer came to my crash in Austin?

  1. Before you move the cars, if it is safe, take photos of both vehicles, the plates and the street.
  2. Get the other driver's name, phone number and insurance card.
  3. Ask witnesses for a number. Without a CR-3, they may be your only neutral account.
  4. Keep any driver form you filled out. TxDOT says it no longer keeps those, so your copy may be the only one.7
  5. Tell your own insurer the same day.

How do I get a car accident report in Austin?

Who respondedWhere to buy itWhat to expect
Austin PoliceLexisNexis BuyCrash online8Price shown when you buy
Travis County Sheriff5555 Airport Blvd., weekdays 8 to 49$6, or $8 certified, ready in 2 to 10 days1011
Any Texas agencyTxDOT online12$6 for a regular copy, and card fees may be added1213

Only people directly concerned with the crash, such as those involved, vehicle owners and insurers, can get the full report.14 If you need to make a police report in person, note that walk-in reporting moved to 812 Springdale Rd.15

What will the other driver's insurance cover in Texas?

Texas drivers must carry at least $30,000 per person, $60,000 per crash for injuries and $25,000 for property.16 A short ambulance ride and a few days at Dell Seton or St. David's South Austin can run through that quickly.1718 So check your own policy too.

Uninsured motorist coverage comes with Texas auto policies unless a named insured turned it down in writing.19 Ask your agent for a copy of any rejection form. Do not assume you turned it down just because your premium was low.

Where do the worst car wrecks happen in Austin?

The city's High Injury Network covers 8% of its streets but holds nearly 60% of serious injury or fatal crashes.20 More than one-third of those crashes from 2017 to 2021 took place at signalized intersections, so a light does not make a corner safe.21 The city also says about 65% to 75% of its traffic deaths happen on roads owned by the state.22

Motorist serious injuries dropped from 264 in 2024 to 178 in 2025, in the city's early numbers.23 That is good news, yet it still means hundreds of families dealing with a hospital stay.

Do I have to pay for a tow after a wreck on MoPac?

Austin Police say tow companies in the Traffic Incident Management program may not charge you for moving a disabled car from the road to the nearest safe place.24 The Rush Hour Zone covers IH-35, MoPac and Hwy 183.25 Read any paper before you sign it, and take a picture of the tow truck's name.

Can I still collect in Texas if the wreck was partly my fault?

Yes, unless your share of the blame is more than 50 percent.26 Your payment shrinks by your share.27 A jury can also hear that you had no seat belt on, but only if the defense shows it caused or worsened your injuries.28

Small claims stay close to home. Travis County justice courts take cases up to $20,000.29 Larger injuries often go elsewhere, so talk to a car accident lawyer in Austin before you settle anything.

What if a City of Austin car or a bad road caused my crash?

The six-month state notice for government claims does not protect you here.30 The city's own claim page says the letter must go out within 45 days of the incident.4 Staff proposed a change to 180 days, but do not plan around it.31 Send your claim to the Law Department, by mail or at [email protected], and call 512-974-2268 with questions.323334

Questions

How long do I have to sue after a car accident in Austin?

Generally two years from when your claim arises.3 Children may have longer.35

Do I need a police report for an insurance claim in Austin?

It helps, but a crash without one can still be claimed. Bring your photos and any driver form you kept.7

How long until my crash report is ready?

Police must send a qualifying report to TxDOT within 10 days.36 A Sheriff's report can take 2 to 10 days.11

Who handles a crash in Austin but outside the city limits?

Often the Travis County Sheriff, which worked 3,138 crashes in 2025.37

Find out if you are owed money.

A free case review. $0 upfront. No fee unless you win.

See if I’m owed money

Keep reading

Austin

Car accident

Texas

Sources

  1. Austin Police, Traffic Enforcement presentation (April 2023), checked 2026-11-08. “Vehicles are drivable and there are no injuries”
  2. Tex. Transp. Code § 550.026(a), checked 2026-11-08. “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”
  3. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(a), checked 2026-11-08. “a person must bring suit for trespass for injury to the estate or to the property of another, conversion of personal property, taking or detaining the personal property of another, personal injury, forcible entry and detainer, and forcible detainer 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. Austin Police, Traffic Enforcement presentation (April 2023), checked 2026-11-08. “City of Austin vehicle is involved”
  6. Austin Police, Traffic Enforcement presentation (April 2023), checked 2026-11-08. “Current criteria for response in place since October 2021”
  7. 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.”
  8. 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”
  9. Travis County Sheriff, Vehicle Accident Report, checked 2026-11-08. “5555 Airport Blvd. Austin, TX, 78751 Monday - Friday 8:00 am-4:00 pm”
  10. Travis County Sheriff, Vehicle Accident Report, checked 2026-11-08. “Certified Report $8.00 Non-Certified Report $6.00”
  11. Travis County Sheriff, Vehicle Accident Report, checked 2026-11-08. “Reports can take 2 - 10 days to become available.”
  12. TxDOT, Crash reports and records, checked 2026-11-08. “$6 for a regular copy.”
  13. TxDOT, Crash reports and records, checked 2026-11-08. “Additional processing fees may be applied for credit card transactions.”
  14. TxDOT, Crash reports and records, checked 2026-11-08. “Any person involved in the accident”
  15. Austin Police, checked 2026-11-08. “Walk-in reporting at the old APD Headquarters (715 E. 8th St.) has moved to 812 Springdale Rd.”
  16. Tex. Transp. Code § 601.072(a-1), checked 2026-11-08. “(1) $30,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person in one collision; (2) $60,000 for bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in one collision, subject to the amount provided by Subdivision (1) for bodily injury to or death of one of the persons; and (3) $25,000 for damage to or destruction of property of others in one collision.”
  17. Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “DELL SETON MEDICAL CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS 10/1/2028 O AUSTIN 78701”
  18. Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “ST DAVIDS SOUTH AUSTIN MEDICAL CENTER 10/1/2028 O AUSTIN 78704”
  19. Tex. Ins. Code § 1952.101(b)-(c), checked 2026-11-08. “unless the insurer provides uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage in the policy or supplemental to the policy. (c) The coverage required by this subchapter does not apply if any insured named in the insurance policy rejects the coverage in writing.”
  20. 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”
  21. 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”
  22. City of Austin, Severe crashes show downward trend in 2025, checked 2026-11-08. “Approximately 65%-75% of Austin’s traffic fatalities occur on roads owned by the state.”
  23. City of Austin, Severe crashes show downward trend in 2025, checked 2026-11-08. “| Motorist | 264 | 178 | ↓32.6% |”
  24. 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.”
  25. 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.”
  26. 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.”
  27. 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”
  28. Nabors Well Servs., Ltd. v. Romero, No. 13-0136 (Tex. Feb. 13, 2015), checked 2026-11-08. “Today we overrule it and hold that relevant evidence of use or nonuse of seat belts is admissible for the purpose of apportioning responsibility in civil lawsuits. [...] The defendant can establish the relevance of seat-belt nonuse only with evidence that nonuse caused or contributed to cause the plaintiff’s injuries.”
  29. Travis County JP5, Filing a Lawsuit in Justice Court, checked 2026-11-08. “The claim can be for no more than $20,000”
  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 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”
  32. City of Austin, File a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “City of Austin Law Department - Claims P.O. Box 1546 Austin, TX 78767-1546”
  33. City of Austin, File a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “Email [email protected]”
  34. City of Austin, File a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “Need Help? 512-974-2268”
  35. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.001, checked 2026-11-08. “the time of the disability is not included in a limitations period”
  36. TxDOT, Crash reports and records, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than the tenth day after the date of the crash”
  37. 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”

Editorial policy

See if I’m owed moneyNo fee unless you win
AccidentsCitiesStatesGuides
See if I’m owed money