How to Get a Police Report in Dallas-Fort Worth After an Accident

The Texas Department of Transportation operates the Crash Report Information System (CRIS) at cris.dot.state.tx.us. This is a statewide system that contains crash reports from all Texas law enforcement agencies, including the Dallas Police Department, Fort Worth Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and all suburban agencies in the DFW metroplex.

To request your report online: visit cris.dot.state.tx.us, click 'Order Crash Report,' enter the crash date and location or the crash report number (found on the blue card the officer gave you at the scene), verify your identity as a party to the crash, and pay the fee electronically. An uncertified electronic copy costs $6 and a certified copy costs $8. The system accepts credit and debit cards.

Reports are available on CRIS once the investigating officer has submitted the report to TxDOT, which typically takes 5 to 14 business days after the accident. If your report is not yet available, try again in a few days. The CRIS system is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

As of December 2024, the Fort Worth Police Department directs all online crash report requests exclusively through the TxDOT CRIS system. Dallas PD reports are also available through CRIS as well as through the department's own records request process.

You can request a crash report in person from the Dallas Police Department Records Division at 1400 Botham Jean Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75215. Phone: (214) 671-3148. The Records Division is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours.

Bring a valid photo ID and, if possible, the crash report number from the blue exchange card the officer gave you at the scene. If you do not have the crash report number, provide the date, time, and location of the accident so staff can locate your report. The fee for an accident report requested in person or by mail is $6.

You can also submit a Dallas Police Open Records Request Form by mail, fax, or email. Mail requests to: Open Records Unit, 1400 Botham Jean Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75215. Fax: (214) 671-4636. Email: dpdrecords@dallascityhall.com. Include your name, contact information, the date and location of the accident, and a check or money order for $6 made payable to the City of Dallas.

Dallas PD accident reports are usually available 5 to 7 business days after the accident. If you need the report sooner — for example, to file an insurance claim immediately — ask the records clerk whether an expedited request is possible.

You can request a crash report in person from the Fort Worth Police Department Records Division at 1000 Calvert Street, Fort Worth, TX 76107. Phone: (817) 392-4160. The Records Division is open weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Bring a valid photo ID and the crash report number if you have it. Fort Worth PD charges $6 for an uncertified copy of a crash report. You can also fax a Police Records Request Order Form to the Fort Worth Police Records Division at (817) 392-4175. Download the form from the Fort Worth Police Department website at police.fortworthtexas.gov.

Fort Worth PD reports may take up to 10 to 14 business days to become available after the accident date. If your accident involved serious injuries or a fatality, the report may take longer because the crash reconstruction team handles the investigation. Call the Records Division at (817) 392-4160 to check on the status of your report.

The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex includes dozens of suburban cities with their own police departments: Arlington, Plano, Garland, Irving, Grand Prairie, McKinney, Frisco, Denton, Mesquite, and many others. If your accident was investigated by a suburban police department, that agency holds the original report.

The fastest option for suburban reports is the TxDOT CRIS system at cris.dot.state.tx.us, which contains crash reports from all Texas law enforcement agencies. If CRIS does not yet have the report, contact the suburban agency's records division directly. Most suburban departments also accept in-person, mail, and online requests.

If your accident occurred on a Texas state highway or interstate (I-35E, I-35W, I-30, I-20, I-635, the Dallas North Tollway, etc.) and was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety, request your report through TxDOT CRIS or from the DPS regional office.

Texas crash reports (Form CR-3, the Peace Officer's Crash Report) contain detailed information that is critical for a personal injury claim. The report includes: the date, time, and exact location of the crash; names, addresses, driver's license numbers, and insurance information for all drivers involved; vehicle descriptions and license plate numbers; the officer's narrative describing what happened; a diagram of the accident scene; weather, lighting, and road conditions; names and contact information for witnesses; any citations or charges issued; and the officer's assessment of contributing factors.

The officer's narrative and contributing factor assessment are particularly important for personal injury claims. While the report is not conclusive — a jury can disagree with the officer's findings — insurance companies and attorneys rely heavily on the crash report when evaluating fault and liability. If the other driver was cited for a traffic violation like running a red light, speeding, or failure to yield, that strengthens your claim significantly.

Review your crash report carefully as soon as you receive it. If you find errors — a wrong street name, incorrect vehicle descriptions, or an inaccurate narrative — you can request a correction by contacting the investigating officer's agency. Factual errors should be corrected promptly because insurance adjusters use the report to make coverage decisions.

If law enforcement did not investigate your accident, no CR-3 report exists. Under Texas Transportation Code § 550.061, drivers involved in an accident resulting in injury, death, or property damage of $1,000 or more were historically required to file a Driver's Crash Report (Form CR-2) with TxDOT. However, as of September 1, 2017, TxDOT no longer collects or retains CR-2 forms.

If police did not come to the scene, you should still document the accident yourself: take photographs of all vehicles, injuries, road conditions, and the surrounding area; exchange insurance and contact information with the other driver; get names and phone numbers of any witnesses; and note the date, time, and exact location. This documentation becomes your evidence if you later file a claim.

You can also file a police report after the fact by visiting the Dallas PD or Fort Worth PD records division and requesting to file a supplemental or late report. Not all departments will create a formal CR-3 at this stage, but having an official record of the incident helps establish that the accident occurred.

If you were injured in a Dallas-Fort Worth accident and you have your crash report, take our free 2-minute assessment. You will answer a few quick questions about your accident and injuries, and we will give you a personalized report that includes Texas's filing deadline for your specific claim, what your crash report means for your case, and whether connecting with a personal injury attorney makes sense for your situation.

Your crash report is a starting point — but understanding what it means for your rights is what matters. Our assessment is free, confidential, and gives you the information you need to decide what comes next.