- December 20, 2023
- Vehicle Accidents
Have you been in a serious vehicle accident caused by someone else’s negligence in Dallas, Texas? If yes, you’ll need all the evidence you can find to prove the other party’s fault and get adequate compensation. Many times, however, gathering enough proof to support your claim can be difficult because you may not know where to look. That’s where a Dallas accident report comes in handy.
An accident report is a document that records various details about an auto crash. Typically written by a police officer, it contains information gathered during an investigation, including the date, time, and location of the accident, details of the parties involved, accident sketches, officers’ opinions, etc. In some cases, your vehicle accident report can serve as a valuable lead to crucial evidence that supports your claims.
As such, it’s important to know how to get an accident report in Dallas. Fortunately, the process is usually simple, especially with the help of a personal injury lawyer from Crain Brogdon, LLP. We’ll let you in on all the essential steps to be involved in getting your car accident report in Dallas below.
What Are the Steps for Obtaining an Accident Report in Dallas?
To access your Dallas accident report, you will have to:
- Find out whether you’re eligible to request an accident report
- Gather relevant information
- Verify the right agency
- Send a request to the applicable agency.
Let’s get into the details:
Determine Your Eligibility Status
The first step to obtaining your accident report is verifying that you’re eligible to request one. In Texas, accident reports are confidential documents. As such, only a few individuals are entitled to official copies. They include:
- Parties involved in the accident
- Parents of minor crash victims
- Owners of vehicles and other properties that were damaged in the collision
- Individuals who are qualified to pursue wrongful death actions due to the crash
- Lawyers and insurers of qualified parties.
Gather Important Information About the Auto Crash
To obtain your accident report, you need to gather and provide relevant details about the crash to the investigating agency. The information you provide will facilitate the search and ensure you receive the correct report.
Typically, the investigating police officer will furnish you with an incident or accident report number at the crash site. With this number alone, you can access your crash report without hassles. However, if you don’t have it, you may still request your accident report by providing at least two of the details below:
- The car accident date
- Location of the auto crash
- Names of the parties involved in the collision.
It’s also an added advantage if you have the Police Service Number. This number can help them narrow your search further, ensuring that the right documents are available. Once you have as much of this information available as possible, you’ll be ready to request your Dallas accident report.
Verify the Investigating Agency
You should always submit your request for an accident report to the specific police department that investigated the crash. For example, if the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office is the investigating agency, you should request a copy of your report from them. Visiting another agency, like the Dallas Police Department, may not yield the desired result, as it may be outside their jurisdiction.
File Your Accident Report Request
Accident reports are typically not completed until about five to seven days after the car crash. So, confirm that your report is ready first before filing your request. If yours isn’t available yet, you and your Texas lawyer can continue checking in to get it.
Once the crash report is ready, you’ll need to submit the details necessary to receive your documents. The authorized officials will receive the information you provide and honor your request after you pay the stipulated fees. Once this step is complete, you’ll choose to receive your accident report either in person or by mail.
Get Quality Legal Assistance for Your Dallas Accident Claim Now
While it’s important to know how to access your accident report, it’s not enough to win your case. Without the legal expertise to leverage this document to maximize your compensation, it’s just mere paper in your hands. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about this when you have our accident attorneys on your side.
The dedicated injury lawyers at Crain Brogdon, LLP, know how to use your accident report to secure favorable outcomes in your case. Beginning with a free consultation, we’ll help you make the best decisions for your claim if you’ve been hit by another driver.
Are you ready to fight aggressively for the compensation you deserve? Get help using all your evidence by calling 214-522-9404 now.
Attorney Quentin Brogdon
Quentin Brogdon has over thirty years of experience and expertise in the field of personal injury trial law. He is board certified in both personal injury trial law and civil trial advocacy. Quentin has received an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible rating. This rating reflects an attorney’s ethics and abilities according to reviews from fellow attorneys. [ Attorney Bio ]
