# Dallas car accidents: deadlines, crash reports and claims

> After a Dallas car accident: the Texas 2-year deadline, Dallas police crash reports, the City's 6-month claim notice, Dallas County courts and referrals.

Canonical page: https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/dallas/  
Last reviewed: October 29, 2026 by the Accident Claim Facts editorial team  
General information, not legal advice. Talk to a licensed attorney in your state.

## Quick answer

A crash in Dallas is governed by Texas law: you generally have 2 years to file a lawsuit for injuries or vehicle damage, and you recover nothing if you are found 51% or more at fault. If a City of Dallas vehicle or worker was involved, the City Charter requires a written notice of claim within 6 months. Dallas police crash reports are sold online by TxDOT, and the city also takes crash report requests through its Open Records Center.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Lawsuit deadline, injury or vehicle damage | 2 years (Texas law) |
| Wrongful death deadline | 2 years from the date of death |
| Fault rule | No recovery at 51% or more of the fault |
| Notice of claim to the City of Dallas | 6 months |
| Crash report online from TxDOT | $6, or $8 certified |
| Traffic deaths in Dallas, 2025 | 172 |
| Small claims limit (justice court) | $20,000 |
| Dallas Bar Association referral line | (214) 220-7444 |

## Deadlines and fault rules in Dallas

Dallas does not set its own deadline for suing another driver. The Texas statute of limitations gives you 2 years from the crash for most injury and vehicle-damage lawsuits (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(a)), and 2 years from the date of death for wrongful death.

Fault is shared under Texas's proportionate responsibility rule. A jury assigns each person a percentage of fault, and your damages shrink by your share. At 51% or more, you recover nothing from the other drivers.

> **Example:** You are rear-ended on Central Expressway, but the jury finds you 10% at fault for a broken brake light. Your proven damages are reduced by 10%.

The [Texas guide](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/texas/) covers insurance minimums, damage caps and the rules for injured children. You can also test different fault shares in the [fault-rule explainer](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/tools/fault-rule-explainer/?state=tx&fault=20#fault).

## Getting a crash report in Dallas

Officers who investigate a crash with an injury, a death or at least $1,000 of damage must file a report with TxDOT within 10 days. You can get a Dallas police report in two ways:

1. **From TxDOT online.** Search for and buy the report in TxDOT's [Crash Report Online Purchase System](https://cris.txdot.gov/public/Purchase) for $6, or $8 for a certified copy. TxDOT has to receive and process each report before it can be sold.
2. **From the City of Dallas.** The city's [Open Records Center](https://dallastx.govqa.us/WEBAPP/_rs/SupportHome.aspx) has a section for police open records and crash report requests. The Dallas Police Department's open records division can be reached at (214) 671-3343.

If a Dallas County sheriff's deputy or a state trooper handled the crash, the report still goes to TxDOT and can be bought the same way. Our guide to the [police report](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/claim-process/police-report/) explains what insurers look for in it.

## Claims against the City of Dallas

Chapter XXIII, sections 1 and 2 of the Dallas City Charter require written notice of claim within 6 months of an injury or property damage. Texas law lets cities set their own notice periods, and Dallas's matches the state's general deadline of 6 months.

The city's Notice of Claim form (ORM-FRM-230) must be signed and dated. Send it to the City of Dallas Office of Risk Management, 1500 Marilla, 6A South, Dallas, TX 75201. The form also lists fax and email options.

> **Tip:** Keep proof of when you sent the notice, such as a certified mail receipt or the email you sent.

City liability is capped by the Texas Tort Claims Act at $250,000 per person, $500,000 per occurrence and $100,000 for property damage. The act waives sovereign immunity for crashes caused by a government employee using a motor vehicle on the job.

## Crashes in Dallas

TxDOT's 2025 data for the city of Dallas counted 24,677 reportable crashes, 1,065 people seriously injured and 172 people killed. Only Houston had more traffic deaths among Texas cities that year.

## Where a lawsuit is filed

Under the Texas venue rule, a lawsuit is usually filed in the county where all or a substantial part of the events happened, or in the county where the defendant lived when the claim arose (for a business, its principal Texas office). Most of Dallas lies in Dallas County, where civil cases are heard in three kinds of court:

- **Dallas County district courts**, the main trial courts for civil cases.
- **Dallas County courts at law**, which have concurrent jurisdiction with the district courts in civil cases, whatever the amount in controversy. That is broader than the general Texas rule, which lets county courts at law share civil cases with the district courts only up to $325,000.
- **Small claims in a justice court**, for claims up to $20,000.

Read our guide to [filing a lawsuit](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/claim-process/filing-a-lawsuit/) for what happens after a case is filed.

## Finding a lawyer in Dallas

The Dallas Bar Association runs a Lawyer Referral Service certified under Texas law. Call (214) 220-7444 or use the online form on the bar's website. For $20, a referred lawyer gives a first consultation; any later fee is agreed between you and the lawyer. The service refers callers to Dallas-area lawyers, including in Plano and Collin County.

Check any lawyer's license in the State Bar of Texas [Find a Lawyer directory](https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Find_A_Lawyer&Template=/CustomSource/MemberDirectory/Search_Form_Client_Main.cfm) before you sign anything. Our guide to [lawyer referral services](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/choosing-a-lawyer/lawyer-referral-services/) explains how they work.

## FAQ

### How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Dallas?

Generally 2 years from the crash for injuries or vehicle damage, and 2 years from the date of death for wrongful death. Talks with an insurer do not pause these deadlines.

### How do I get a Dallas police accident report?

Buy it from TxDOT's online Crash Report Online Purchase System for $6, or request it through the City of Dallas Open Records Center. TxDOT reports appear only after the officer files the report and TxDOT processes it.

### How long do I have to file a claim against the City of Dallas?

The City Charter requires a written notice within 6 months of the injury or property damage, using the city's Notice of Claim form sent to the Office of Risk Management.

### Which court handles car accident cases in Dallas County?

Larger cases usually go to the district courts or the county courts at law, which in Dallas County can hear civil cases of any size. Claims up to $20,000 can go to a justice court.

### Can I recover if I was partly at fault for a Dallas crash?

Yes, if your share of fault is 50% or less. Your damages are reduced by your share, and at 51% or more you recover nothing.

## Sources

- [City of Dallas Office of Risk Management, General liability claims](https://dallas.gov/departments/officeriskmanagement/Pages/General-Liability-and-Subrogation-Claims-Administration-.aspx)
- [Texas Legislature, Civil Practice and Remedies Code chapter 101](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.101.htm) — charter notice periods, Tort Claims Act caps and vehicle waiver
- [Texas Legislature, Transportation Code chapter 550](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.550.htm) — officer crash reports
- [Dallas Bar Association, Lawyer Referral Service](https://www.dallasbar.org/index.cfm?pg=LawyerReferralService)
- [Texas Legislature, Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003(a)](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.16.htm), checked October 29, 2026
- [Texas Legislature, Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.33.htm), checked October 29, 2026
- [City of Dallas Office of Risk Management, Notice of Claim form (ORM-FRM-230)](https://dallas.gov/departments/officeriskmanagement/DCH%20Documents/ORM-FRM-230%20NoticeOfClaim.pdf), checked October 29, 2026
- [TxDOT, Crash reports and records](https://www.txdot.gov/data-maps/crash-reports-records.html), checked October 29, 2026
- [TxDOT, Crashes and Injuries Cities and Towns 2025](https://www.txdot.gov/content/dam/docs/division/trf/crash-records/2025/2025-crashes-injuries-cities-towns.pdf), checked October 29, 2026
- [Texas Legislature, Government Code § 27.031(a)(1)](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.27.htm), checked October 29, 2026
- [State Bar of Texas, Certified Lawyer Referral Services](https://www.texasbar.com/Content/NavigationMenu/ForThePublic/DOYouNeedaLawyer/CertifiedLawyerReferralServices1/default.htm), checked October 29, 2026
- [City of Dallas City Secretary's Office, Open Records](https://dallascityhall.com/government/citysecretary/pages/openrecords.aspx), checked October 29, 2026
- [Texas Legislature, Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 15.002(a)](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.15.htm), checked October 29, 2026
- [Texas Legislature, Government Code § 25.0592(a)](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.25.htm), checked October 29, 2026