Find a car accident lawyer in El Paso: your report, your deadlines and what to ask

Last checked November 8, 2026

After a car wreck in El Paso, buy your crash report from EPPD Records at 911 N. Raynor St. for $6.12 Texas generally gives you 2 years to sue.3 If a City of El Paso vehicle hit you, a sworn notice to the Mayor is due in 90 days, or 6 months for good cause.45

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Road map of El Paso marking Joe Battle at Montwood and Gateway West at Yarbrough, two state road intersections with many severe crashes
City vehicle hit you in El Paso? Sworn notice is due in 90 days. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

How do I get my car accident report in El Paso?

Start with the card or paper the officer gave you. It tells you which agency wrote the report, and that decides where you go.

Agency on your paperworkHow to get the reportPrice
El Paso Police (EPPD)Records Division, 911 N. Raynor St., (915) 212-4000.1 Mail takes up to 10 business days, so do not send cash.6$6, or $2 more for a certified copy.27 Mail adds $1.50.6
El Paso County SheriffWeekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 3850 Justice Drive or a patrol station.8$69
Texas Highway PatrolTroopers work the rural highways.10 TxDOT holds the state's crash records and emails your copy.1112$6, or $8 certified13

Read the report closely when it comes. Check the spelling of your name, the street, the other driver's insurer and what the officer wrote about how the crash happened. If something is wrong, ask the agency how to fix it before you give it to an insurance company.

Where do the worst car wrecks happen in El Paso?

Most serious crashes here happen where roads meet. The city's Vision Zero plan found that 87% of crashes that killed or badly hurt someone were at an intersection.14 Those crashes commonly involve a car turning, and they tend to be angle or sideswipe hits.15

On state-run roads, the plan's list of intersections with the most severe crashes starts with Joe Battle at Montwood, then Gateway West at Yarbrough and Gateway West at McRae.16 Its road list starts with Dyer Street from Sun Valley to US 54.17 If your crash was at one of these spots, write down the exact direction each car was going, which light you had and what stores or homes nearby might have cameras.

It also matters who runs the road. More than 40% of the most severe crashes were on state roads like I-10, Dyer and Zaragoza.18 A broken signal on a state road is a TxDOT question, while one on a local street is a question for the city.

What causes car accidents in El Paso?

El Paso County had 17,848 crashes in 2025, and 70 people died.19 TxDOT's county numbers for that year show how often the same three things come up:

  • Speed: 4,462 crashes, with 29 people killed.20
  • Distraction: 2,700 crashes, with 7 people killed.21
  • Impaired driving: 648 crashes, with 22 people killed.22

If you think the other driver was on a phone or had been drinking, tell the officer and write it down the same day. Those facts are hard to prove later. A lawyer can ask for phone records and video, but only if someone moves before they are gone.

Who pays for my car accident in El Paso?

Usually the at-fault driver's insurer, up to the policy limit. Texas requires at least $30,000 per person and $60,000 per crash for injuries.23 A hospital stay can use that up fast. University Medical Center is the area's Level 1 trauma center, and it is worth asking for your records from there early.24

  • Check your own policy. Texas auto policies include uninsured motorist coverage unless a named insured rejected it in writing.25
  • If you were more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover money.26 At 50% or less, your share comes off your award.27
  • A jury can hear that you had no seat belt on, but only if the defense shows it caused or worsened your injuries.28

What if a city truck or Sun Metro bus hit me in El Paso?

Your clock is much shorter. Sun Metro is a department of the city, so a bus crash can fall under the same rule as a police car or a street crew truck.29

  1. Mark your calendar for 90 days from the crash. The 6-month limit is only for good cause.4
  2. Write out the date, time, place, how you were hurt, the witnesses and your doctors.30
  3. Have it sworn. You or someone you authorized must swear to it.5
  4. Address it to the Office of the Mayor at P.O. Box 1890, and include your report and bills if you have them.3132

The city charter also requires the claim to go to the City Council before anyone can file suit.33 For most other public bodies, plan on six months.34

Where did my car go after a crash in El Paso?

Police may tow a car that was in an accident or is not safe to drive.35 Try the Municipal Vehicle Storage Facility at 11615 Railroad Drive, (915) 212-0205, open 24 hours.36 Get your things out and take photos of the damage before the car is moved again. The city's towing rules changed on June 1, 2026, so ask what fees apply to you.37

What should I ask a car accident lawyer in El Paso?

  • Will a government notice apply to my crash, and who will swear to it?
  • How will you get video from the corner where I was hit?
  • What is the limit on the other driver's policy, and do I have uninsured coverage?
  • How do you get paid, and what costs come out of my share?

Questions

How long do I have to file after a car accident in El Paso?

Generally 2 years to sue.3 A claim tied to the City of El Paso needs a sworn notice in 90 days, or 6 months for good cause.4

How much is a crash report in El Paso?

EPPD and the Sheriff both charge $6.29 A TxDOT copy is $6, or $8 certified.13

Do I need a lawyer for a car wreck in El Paso?

Not for every crash. It can help if you were badly hurt, if fault is disputed, or if a public agency is involved and the short notice applies.4

Does a child get more time in Texas?

The 2-year clock usually waits until the child turns 18.38 A notice to the city may not wait, so do not count on it.

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El Paso

Car accident

Texas

Sources

  1. El Paso Police Department, Records & Reports, checked 2026-11-08. “EPPD RECORDS DIVISION 911 N. Raynor St El Paso, TX 79903”
  2. El Paso Police Department, Records & Reports, checked 2026-11-08. “Accident or Crash Reports $6.00”
  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 El Paso City Attorney, Filing a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “shall within 90 days or within 6 months for good cause shown from the date the damage occurred or the injury was received, give notice in writing to the mayor”
  5. City of El Paso City Attorney, Filing a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “shall be sworn to by the person claiming damages or by someone authorized by him to do so on his behalf”
  6. El Paso Police Department, Records & Reports, checked 2026-11-08. “Allow 10 business days for a response. The fee for reports requested by mail is $1.50.”
  7. El Paso Police Department, Records & Reports, checked 2026-11-08. “Accident Reports $6.00 plus $2.00 extra for a certified copy”
  8. El Paso County Sheriff, Criminal / Accident Reports, checked 2026-11-08. “Monday through Friday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM at any of the three locations: Sheriff’s Office Headquarters, 3850 Justice Drive”
  9. El Paso County Sheriff, Criminal / Accident Reports, checked 2026-11-08. “Crash Reports - $6.00”
  10. Texas DPS, Highway Patrol Service, checked 2026-11-08. “responsible for general police traffic supervision, traffic, and criminal law enforcement on the rural highways of Texas”
  11. TxDOT, Crash reports and records, checked 2026-11-08. “TxDOT is the custodian of crash records for the state of Texas”
  12. TxDOT, Crash reports and records, checked 2026-11-08. “receive their report(s) via email following the purchase”
  13. TxDOT, Crash reports and records, checked 2026-11-08. “$6 for a regular copy. $8 for a certified copy”
  14. City of El Paso, Vision Zero Action Plan (June 2023), checked 2026-11-08. “87% of KSI crashes occurred at an intersection”
  15. City of El Paso, Vision Zero Action Plan (June 2023), checked 2026-11-08. “Commonly involves a turning movement”
  16. City of El Paso, Vision Zero Action Plan (June 2023), checked 2026-11-08. “Joe Battle – Montwood”
  17. City of El Paso, Vision Zero Action Plan (June 2023), checked 2026-11-08. “ROADWAYS WITH THE HIGHEST FREQUENCY OF SEVERE CRASHES [...] Dyer St. Sun Valley Dr. – US 54 [...] Zaragoza Rd. Azogue Ave. – Don Haskins Dr.”
  18. City of El Paso, Vision Zero Action Plan (June 2023), checked 2026-11-08. “Over 40% of the most severe crashes in El Paso occurred on a state roadway, resulting in 371 deaths or serious injuries”
  19. TxDOT, 2025 Crashes and Injuries by County, checked 2026-11-08. “El Paso 67 70 274 308 3,129 4,407 1,792 2,894 11,629 34,177 957 3,629 17,848”
  20. TxDOT, 2025 Speed Involved Crashes and Injuries by County, checked 2026-11-08. “El Paso 26 29 83 97 910 1,270 574 944 2,663 8,518 206 604 4,462”
  21. TxDOT, 2025 Distracted Driver Crashes and Injuries by County, checked 2026-11-08. “El Paso 7 7 43 48 485 700 335 529 1,746 5,452 84 321 2,700”
  22. TxDOT, 2025 DUI Crashes and Injuries by County, checked 2026-11-08. “El Paso 21 22 35 44 161 264 60 110 354 861 17 44 648”
  23. 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.”
  24. UMC El Paso, 2024 Annual Report, checked 2026-11-08. “UMC Receives Reverification as Level 1 Trauma Center”
  25. 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.”
  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. Sun Metro Suspension of Service Policy, checked 2026-11-08. “the City of El Paso's Mass Transit Department (Sun Metro)”
  30. City of El Paso City Attorney, Filing a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “the name of the doctors, if any, to whose care the injured person is committed”
  31. City of El Paso City Attorney, Filing a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “Office of the Mayor P.O. Box 1890 El Paso, Texas, 79950”
  32. City of El Paso City Attorney, Filing a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “Accident report, if available, Photocopy of Certificate of Title of damaged vehicle, Photocopy of medical bills, if any, and Doctor’s narrative”
  33. City of El Paso City Attorney, Filing a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “no suit shall be instituted against the City unless the claimant shall aver and prove that, previous to filing the original petition, the claim was presented to the Council”
  34. 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”
  35. El Paso Police Department, Vehicle Towing, checked 2026-11-08. “Involved in an accident or deemed unsafe to drive”
  36. El Paso Police Department, Vehicle Towing, checked 2026-11-08. “City Of El Paso Municipal Vehicle Storage Facility 11615 Railroad Drive El Paso, Texas 79934 (915) 212-0205 Open 24 hours”
  37. El Paso Police Department, Vehicle Towing, checked 2026-11-08. “Chapter 12.54 (Towing Regulations and Fees), effective June 1st, 2026”
  38. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.001, checked 2026-11-08. “the time of the disability is not included in a limitations period”

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