Car accident in Dallas: your crash report, your deadline, and finding a car accident lawyer

Last checked November 8, 2026

After a car wreck in Dallas, a police crash report costs $6 and is usually ready in 5 to 7 working days.12 You generally have two years to file an injury lawsuit.3 A claim against the City of Dallas needs written notice within six months after the injury.4

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Road map of Dallas showing US 75 and IH-35E, freeway main lanes that sit outside the city's High Injury Network
Dallas crash report: $6, usually ready in 5 to 7 working days. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Who wrote my crash report after a car wreck in Dallas?

It depends on the road and the date. In 2025, Dallas Police worked 16,257 crashes and county deputies worked 6,816.56 Freeways are where that split just changed. An August 2026 police memo says the county ended its highway traffic agreement effective August 28, and the Dallas Police Traffic Unit is taking over freeway crash investigations inside the city.7

So if your wreck on a Dallas freeway came before that date, your report may sit with the Sheriff's Office, which has an accident report line at 214-712-5039.8 For a later wreck, or any wreck on a city street, start with Dallas Police Records at (214) 671-3345.9

  • Have one of these ready: the name of someone in the crash, the location or the date. A Police Service Number speeds it up.10
  • Do not expect details by phone. Dallas Police will not give them out that way.11
  • TxDOT sells the same report online for $6, and it may add a card fee.1213
  • Texas limits who can buy a report to people directly concerned, like someone in the crash, a vehicle owner or an insurer.14

Does the road I crashed on change my claim in Dallas?

Yes, and more often than people expect. Of 168 fatal crashes in Dallas in 2025, 90 were on TxDOT roads, 75 on city roads and 3 on NTTA toll roads.15161718 Across the county, interstates and U.S. and state highways took 160 of 274 lives that year.19 The owner of the road tells you which government, if any, could be involved.

Where it happenedWho you likely deal withWhat to watch
Freeway or state highwayThe other driver and their insurerFreeway main lanes such as US 75 and IH-35E are not on the city's High Injury Network map.20
City streetThe other driver, and the city only if a city vehicle or a road problem played a partWritten notice within six months to the Office of Risk Management.421
DART bus or railDARTNotice is usually due in six months,22 and DART says an email does not count.23

A city street can still be a dangerous place to drive. City data say 7% of streets hold 56% of severe crashes, though a separate city page says 62%.2425 If your wreck was on Buckner or Ledbetter, you are on one of those mapped roads.20

What if my car was towed after a wreck in Dallas?

  1. Find it. Wrecked cars can be taken to the Dallas Auto Pound.26 It is at 1955 Vilbig Road, and the number is 214-670-5116.27
  2. Pick a time between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. It is open every day.28
  3. Bring your original license or ID, because a copy will be turned down.29
  4. If you plan to drive it out, Dallas Police also lists a valid license and a paper copy of current insurance.3031
  5. Take photos of the damage before anyone moves or fixes the car.

How much insurance does the other driver need in Texas?

Less than many Dallas wrecks cost. The Texas minimum is $30,000 for one person, $60,000 for a crash and $25,000 for property.32 A ride to Parkland, Baylor University Medical Center or Methodist Dallas, all Level I trauma centers, can use up a small policy quickly.333435

Look at your own policy too. Uninsured motorist coverage comes with a Texas auto policy unless a named insured turned it down in writing.36 If you do not have your paperwork, ask your agent for the declarations page. The seat belt question can also come up later, but a jury only hears about it if the defense shows it caused or worsened your injuries.37

Who decides fault after a car accident in Dallas?

Not the officer, in most cases. Dallas Police says it does not normally file charges for a wreck with only property damage unless an officer saw it happen.38 It also says claims from wrecks are civil matters, so the fight over who pays happens with insurers and, if needed, in court.39

The share of blame matters. If you are found more than 50 percent at fault, you cannot recover money in Texas.40 Be careful what you say to an adjuster before you know the full extent of your injuries.

Texas also requires a driver to report a crash right away if someone is hurt or a car cannot be safely driven.41 For a smaller wreck with no officer, Dallas Police says to call your insurer and turn in an Individual Accident Report.42 Keep your own copy, since TxDOT no longer stores forms filled out by drivers.43 If you want other police records, such as photos or video, open records requests now go through the City Secretary's Office.44

How long do I have after a car wreck in Dallas?

  • Injury lawsuit against a driver: generally two years.3
  • Claim against the City of Dallas: six months, in writing, stating when, where and how you were hurt, how badly, and the amount you are asking for.445
  • After the city gets your claim, it says an adjuster will contact you within three working days.46
  • Small claims in Dallas County justice courts cover money claims up to $20,000.47

What should I ask a car accident lawyer in Dallas?

  • Which agency wrote my report, and is anything missing from it?
  • Could a government be involved, and has my six-month clock started?
  • What happens if the other driver only has the minimum coverage?
  • How would a claim that I was partly at fault change things?
  • Do you charge if we do not recover money?

Questions

How much is a car accident report in Dallas?

$6 from Dallas Police, and TxDOT sells a copy online for $6.112

Who investigates a crash on a Dallas freeway now?

The Dallas Police Traffic Unit is taking that over inside the city, after the county agreement ended August 28, 2026.7

Can I sue the city for a bad road in Dallas?

Only in limited cases, and you must give written notice within six months.4

How long does a Dallas crash report take?

Usually 5 to 7 working days.2

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Dallas

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Sources

  1. Dallas Police, Types of Reports, checked 2026-11-08. “There is a $6.00 fee for the accident report if requested through the mail or if picked up in person.”
  2. Dallas Police, Types of Reports, checked 2026-11-08. “Reports are usually available 5 to 7 working days after the accident.”
  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. Dallas City Charter, Chapter XXIII, Section 1, checked 2026-11-08. “within six months after the injury was received”
  5. TxDOT, 2025 Crashes and Injuries by Investigating Agency, checked 2026-11-08. “DALLAS PD 115 122 700 843 2,999 4,174 2,926 5,264 8,577 28,004 940 3,768 16,257”
  6. TxDOT, 2025 Crashes and Injuries by Investigating Agency, checked 2026-11-08. “DALLAS COUNTY 51 51 148 174 643 816 939 1,430 4,927 14,471 108 1,761 6,816 SO”
  7. City of Dallas memo, Transition of Freeway Traffic Enforcement and Crash Response Services, checked 2026-11-08. “DPD will expand its Traffic Unit to assume responsibility for freeway traffic enforcement, crash investigations, and High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane enforcement within the City of Dallas.”
  8. Dallas County Sheriff, Contact Us, checked 2026-11-08. “Accident Report Information 214.712.5039”
  9. Dallas Police, Types of Reports, checked 2026-11-08. “Call (214) 671-3345 for further assistance.”
  10. Dallas Police, Types of Reports, checked 2026-11-08. “You must provide a name of a person involved in the accident, the location of the accident or the date of the accident.”
  11. Dallas Police, Types of Reports, checked 2026-11-08. “We cannot release information about the accident over the telephone.”
  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. City of Dallas, Vision Zero 2025 Annual Progress Report (April 2026), checked 2026-11-08. “Total Crashes 216 218 201 208 168 1,011 100%”
  16. City of Dallas, Vision Zero 2025 Annual Progress Report (April 2026), checked 2026-11-08. “TxDOT Roads* 125 123 115 107 90 560 55%”
  17. City of Dallas, Vision Zero 2025 Annual Progress Report (April 2026), checked 2026-11-08. “Dallas Roads 88 90 83 96 75 432 43%”
  18. City of Dallas, Vision Zero 2025 Annual Progress Report (April 2026), checked 2026-11-08. “NTTA Roads* 3 5 3 5 3 19 2%”
  19. TxDOT, 2025 Fatal Crashes and Fatalities by County and Road Type, checked 2026-11-08. “Dallas 75 78 75 82 3 4 0 0 100 104 5 6 0 0 0 0 258 274”
  20. City of Dallas, Vision Zero Action Plan, checked 2026-11-08. “It does not include the access-controlled main lanes of highways (e.g., US 75, IH-35E, Dallas North Tollway).”
  21. City of Dallas, Notice of Claim Form, checked 2026-11-08. “OFFICE OF RISK MANAGEMENT 1500 MARILLA 6A SOUTH DALLAS, TEXAS 75201 214-671-9458”
  22. 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”
  23. DART, Legal Notices, checked 2026-11-08. “communications made through E-Mail or other messaging system shall in no way be deemed to constitute legal notice to DART”
  24. City of Dallas, Vision Zero 2025 Annual Progress Report (April 2026), checked 2026-11-08. “7% of streets accounting for 56% of severe crashes (2015-2019)”
  25. City of Dallas, Vision Zero Data, checked 2026-11-08. “the 7 percent of roads where 62 percent of crashes resulting in death or severe injuries”
  26. Dallas Police, Auto Pound, checked 2026-11-08. “no financial responsibility (insurance), result of an accident”
  27. Dallas Police, Claiming a Vehicle, checked 2026-11-08. “Auto Pound Unit 1955 Vilbig Road Dallas, TX 75208 Tel 214-670-5116”
  28. Dallas Police, Auto Pound, checked 2026-11-08. “A vehicle can be retrieved between 9 am - 5 pm, daily.”
  29. Dallas Police, Auto Pound, checked 2026-11-08. “the original driver license or identification card must be present”
  30. Dallas Police Department, Public Information, checked 2026-11-08. “If the vehicle is being driven out: Valid driver's license & a paper copy of current insurance.”
  31. Dallas Police, Auto Pound, checked 2026-11-08. “the Dallas Auto Pound will require proof of insurance on all releases vehicles”
  32. 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.”
  33. Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “PARKLAND MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 7/1/2028 E DALLAS 75235”
  34. Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “BAYLOR UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER 4/1/2028 E DALLAS 75246”
  35. Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “METHODIST DALLAS MEDICAL CENTER 12/1/2027 E DALLAS 75203”
  36. 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.”
  37. 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.”
  38. Dallas Police Department, Public Information, checked 2026-11-08. “The Dallas Police Department does not normally file charges on vehicle accidents resulting in property damages only unless the officer witnessed the accident.”
  39. Dallas Police Department, Public Information, checked 2026-11-08. “Claims arising from vehicle accidents are civil matters.”
  40. 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.”
  41. 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”
  42. Dallas Police Records, FAQs, checked 2026-11-08. “Submit an Individual Accident Report to the Dallas Police Department Record Section.”
  43. 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.”
  44. Dallas Police Department, Public Information, checked 2026-11-08. “Effective Thursday, October 21, 2026, all open records requests will be processed by the City Secretary’s Office.”
  45. Dallas City Charter, Chapter XXIII, Section 1, checked 2026-11-08. “when, where, and how the exact injury occurred; (2) the full extent of the injury; and (3) the amount of damages claimed or asserted”
  46. City of Dallas, How to File a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “Within three working days after receiving your claim , a claim adjuster will contact you”
  47. Dallas County JP 1-1, Small Claims Procedures, checked 2026-11-08. “for $20,000 or less”

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