For Serious Injuries Dial 911
- Check your vehicle occupants for injury.
- If possible move your vehicle from the roadway to a safe location. Even if you have a flat tire or some other issue that would normally make the vehicle disabled try to move it from the roadway. The roadway is not a safe place to be! If you can steer it and it runs, clear it from the roadway!
- Check the other vehicle occupants for injuries.
- Contact Emergency Medical Services if there are any injuries.
- If the vehicles involved are operable and no wreckers are needed exchange personal information, including name, phone number, address and drivers license number.
- Exchange insurance information. Be sure to verify expiration date and get the telephone number for the insurance company.
What Are Houston Vital Records
Houston’s vital records provide information on significant events that happened in the city. Under federal and state laws, such events include births, deaths, marriages, and divorce. Texas vital records may be public or confidential depending on the type of record and the information it contains. The Vital Records Division of the Texas Department of State Health Services issues copies of vital records under certain conditions at the state level. For Houston, the county offices that provide vital records include the Harris County District Clerkâs Office and the Harris County Court Clerk’s Office.
Why Do You Need The Police Report After A Car Crash
In order to recover damages, you need to prove the other driveror another third partycaused your car accident. This can often be hard to do since the other party may not want to admit fault for the accident.
Police reports often contain essential information about an accident, including:
- The date and location of the crash
- The contact information of those involved
- Statements from witnesses
- The officers understanding of what happened
If the other driver received a citation for violating a traffic law, that may also appear in the report. That information can offer compelling proof that the other driver caused the wreck and is responsible for your damages.
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Why A Police Report Is Important
A police report contains details about your car accident that can help you prove the other driver caused the accident that led to your injuries. If you can prove the other driver was responsible, that driver will be held liable for your damages. You can find the following information in a police report:
- Date and location of the crash
- Statements from witnesses
- Contact information of the drivers involved
- The officers understanding about what happened
Insurance companies and courts rely heavily on police reports because the police do not get any benefit from not telling the truth or leaving things out. Adjusters accept police reports as the most accurate evaluation of the car accident.
How To Obtain Houston Civil Court Case Records
Interested parties can search for civil court cases for the City of Houston by visiting the Harris County District Clerk’s website. The enquirer will need to create an account using a valid e-mail address before they can access the Clerk’s database. The Clerk requires an account registration for the purpose of protecting court documents.
Public civil court cases are available to everyone. Members of the public can conduct a search, at any time of the day. The Clerk charges $5 for the search fee when the System Person Number is not provided or if the enquirer is not certain that the record exists. For complaints or further inquiries, one can contact the Clerk’s Office at:
Harris County District Clerk
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How To Get Your Houston Police Accident Report For Free: While Accessing Government Files Requires Just The Internet And A Fee Some Legal Outlets Allow Drivers To Do It For Free
Besides considering hiring a lawyer after a car accident, the next best thing following an accident is to obtain your police accident report. Not only will it provide details about your car accident, but it serves as critical evidence if your car accident case ever goes to trial. It also serves to build an unyielding car accident claim.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 601,187 fatal roadway incidents from 2001 to 2016. That means there have been over 600,000 police reports in those fifteen years alone.
There are different ways you can get your police accident report. All you need is Internet access and the information from your accident.
City Of Houston Police Department
The Houston Police Department is comprised of 8 officers who all share the same passion and dedication in ensuring that the City of Houston continues to be a safe and secure place to live, work, and play.
The Officers of the Houston Police Department want you to know that no matter if you are planning to visit or become a new resident of our wonderful community that your safety and protection is our most important responsibility. We pride ourselves in an ongoing effort for professionalism and service to our community.
The City of Houston Police Department can be reached at 417-967-5999 for non-emergencies during regular business hours. In case of an emergency please dial 911.
Houston Police Force Personnel
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How To Find Houston Inmate Records
The Harris County Sheriff maintains records of all inmates detained in the Harris County Jail. Members of the public can locate inmates by using the inmate locator tool. Houston’s inmate information is open to the public. Record-seekers may search for inmates by name, social security number , birth date, or System Person Number . The search results will display a summary of the inmate’s data and conviction information.
S For Filing A Police Report In Houston
It is important to try and remain calm then take the following steps after a car accident:
- If you are severely injured or believe someone else might be, call 911. They will send emergency medical services and a police officer to the scene to administer care, transport people to the hospital, and take an accident report.
- . If emergency services are not necessary, call 884-3131 to report the crash. They will still send a police officer to create an accident report.
- Gather information. While you are at the scene, gather as much information as you can, including photos or videos of the damage, your injuries, contact and insurance information for the drivers involved, and contact information for any other passengers or witnesses.
- Notify your auto insurer. Call your insurance company to report the accident. Provide any information that they request that you were able to collect from the scene.
No matter how minor a car accident is, it is always in your best interests to notify the police. Their accident report can carry a lot of weight when an insurer is deciding who caused the collision.
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Get A Private Investigator On Board If Needed
Okay, lets suppose you dont have the evidence described above, for any reason hey we dont judge, theres a lot more you can do.
One way to tip the balance in your favor is to get private investigators on your case, and no, you dont need to fly to London to meet up with Sherlock Holmes, your personal injury lawyer would be more than pleased with arranging a professional service for you.
This way, youll be able to fill up the gaps in your case and be able to demand compensation from the insurance company.
A Guide To A Texas Peace Officers Report
Texas has a standard form used to report all accidents in the state. The form is called CR-3.
The crash report lists details about the accident, such as persons involved, vehicles, insurance, opinions regarding fault, and much more.
The images below highlight what to look for in the accident report and where that information is listed.
It is essential to understand that just because the investigating officer found fault or issued a ticket does not make the officers conclusions binding on an insurance company when you make an injury or property damage claim.
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How Do I Visit Inmates In Houston City Jail
Houston City inmates are housed in the Harris County Jail. Video visitation is available only for inmates housed in the Joint Processing Center. On-site visitation occurs at any of the following jail locations:
701 N. San Jacinto StreetHouston, TX 77002
711 N. San Jacinto StreetHouston, TX 77002
Houston, TX 77002Phone: 755-2400
Inmate visitation is on Tuesday and Wednesday , and during the weekend . The Harris County Sheriff permits one 20-minute visit for each visiting day. Visitors aged 17 years and above will need to provide a valid means of identification before they can visit.
Getting Your Report From Reputable Law Firm
One reputable Texas law firm to reach out to is Sutliff & Stout Law Firm. They offer Houston locals the ability to access a police accident report for free! The reports are restricted to individuals only, not including insurance companies and trucking companies.
If you have questions about your car accident report or about your car accident, our Texas personal injury lawyers are here to help. To discuss your car accident report or case, dont hesitate to call Sutliff & Stout at 987-7111.
We want to help you too.
Submit the short form below to get a free case review.
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How Are Crash Reports Used In A Trial
If a personal injury claim from an auto accident or motorcycle crash is denied or a reasonable settlement is not possible, a trial may happen to decide the matter. In which case, Texas crash reports can come into evidence, but they may be partially redacted.
Insurance is almost always redacted before a jury sees a report in a trial.
The admissibility of an officers opinion in the crash report regarding the cause of the crash depends on the officers qualifications and the work done investigating the case.
Consult with a personal injury law firm in Houston for more importation about crash reports and trials.
How Do I Get A Houston Police Report For A Car Accident
Home»Auto Accidents»How Do I Get a Houston Police Report for a Car Accident?
Practice Areas
So you were involved in a car accident case but dont have an accident report at hand?
No worries, well cover the whole procedure of getting your hands on one in Houston, Texas. Since Texas is a fault state, you can sue the liable parties for all the economic and non-economic damages they caused you. But of course, the first step would be to fill up on evidence and get everything documented, this includes getting an accident report as well.
In Houston, Texas, the local police have a Public Affairs Division which keeps an open record of such information and will be more than willing to help you out with a copy of your crash report.
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How Long Does It Take To Get A Houston Accident Report
Seven to ten days is the average wait for a report to be completed. The Texas Department of Transportation gets reports from all over the state for collisions on public roads in Texas. Usually, you must wait at least a week before the crash report is ready.
If the accident involved a fatality, the reports would always take longer, as the investigation is more thorough. In some cases, the accident report may be ready in five days. But, for non-fatal accidents, the reports can take up to 14 days.
Fingerprint Search Is Better
A fingerprint search matches one individuals fingerprints a name-based search can match multiple candidates. This is because the search relies on comparing similar-sounding names or names spelled exactly alike. A name-based search can mistakenly find records that dont relate to the person being sought and can also fail to match accurate data with that of the person who is sought.
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The Police Report Could Establish Negligence In Your Case
To recover funds from the other driver or their insurer, you will need to show that they acted negligently. Basically, this involves proving that:
- The other driver had an obligation to employ safe driving practices.
- The other driver failed to uphold this obligation by speeding, driving drunk, or drag racing.
- You were injured in a car accident.
- Because of the collision, you have losses, whether they are financial, emotional, or physical in nature.
The police report is just one piece of information that can help validate these four statements.
Where And How To Get Public Houston Marriage Records
The Texas Department of State Health Services keeps marriage license information for events that occurred in the City of Houston. With this database, record seekers may easily locate records or verify the date and location of the marriage event. The state office also provides marriage verification letters upon requests at $20 per copy. The requester may order a Verification Letter online, or by downloading and completing a . The Application form should be sent through mail or in person to the:
Texas Vital RecordsDepartment of State Health Services1100 W. 49th Street
The requester must be a qualified person and must provide an acceptable government ID.
Members of the public can access and download the Texas Marriage License Application Indexes for $10 per annum for the first year. Subsequently, they can download indexes of additional years at $5 per year. Interested parties may use the information provided on the index to obtain certified copies of a Houston marriage license from the Harris County Court Clerk’s Office by forwarding a Request/Credit Card Authorization Form via mail or in person to:
Harris County Civil Courthouse
Uncertified copies are also available but only obtainable in person.
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Get Your Police Report
Since the police report is such an important document, you want to make sure that you get a copy to provide to your personal injury attorney and your insurance company. The steps to getting an accident report may vary depending on your location.
Under Texas law, not everyone is entitled to see police reports due to the confidential information many of them contain. Only individuals who are directly involved in the accident or individuals with proper interest are eligible to request the full, unredacted police report. Those individuals include:
- The owner of the vehicle in the accident
- The authorized representative of someone who was involved in the accident
- The parent, guardian, or employer of a driver involved in the accident
- Any individual who is financially responsible for a vehicle that was involved in the accident
- Any individual who may bring a lawsuit because of the death of someone involved in the accident
- An insurance company that has issued a policy covering a vehicle or person who was involved in the accident
- A qualified radio station, television station, or newspaper
If you fall under one of the criteria above, you can request a copy of the police report. Some locations where our clients frequently request police reports are included below.
Sealing Juvenile Criminal Records
A minor can have their records sealed when they turn 18 as long as they do not have an adult felony conviction or any pending adult charges. If the offender was referred to juvenile court for delinquent conduct but never adjudicated or found guilty, or adjudicated for a misdemeanor but not a felony, their records will be sealed when they turn 19. The exception is when the individual has an adult conviction for a jailable misdemeanor or felony and has pending adult or juvenile charges.
An offender cannot have their records sealed if they were ever certified by the juvenile court to stand trial as an adult or given a determinate sentence . If the minor was required to register as a sex offender, they cannot get their records sealed until their obligation to register has expired. Sealing of records does not apply to records in the gang database.
References
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Here Is How To Obtain A Houston Crash Report
- In person-You can fill out a request form and go to the Houston Police Department at 1200 Travis Street, Houston, TX 77002 and buy a copy for six dollars.
- Mail in the request form and include a six-dollar money order and a self-addressed and pre-stamped envelope.
- On-line-You can buy the HPD crash report online from the Texas Department of Transportation by following this link
After You Obtain Your Police Report
Once youve received a copy of your police report, youll want to review the report to make sure the information included is accurate and complete. If you feel that information is not accurate or if there is information you are looking for that is not on the police report, reach out to the police department. The officer who is at the scene of the crime is usually handling many things at that time, so they may forget to put some things in the report. That does not mean that they dont have that information on hand.
Also, make sure to give a copy to your insurance company and your attorney. If you do not have an attorney representing you, it is recommended that you start the process of hiring an experienced accident attorney. Having an attorney advocating for your rights and helping you through the claim will be beneficial to you for a number of reasons.
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