# Houston car accidents: deadlines, crash reports and claims

> After a Houston car accident: the Texas 2-year deadline, HPD crash reports, the City's 90-day claim notice, Harris County courts and lawyer referral.

Canonical page: https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/houston/  
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 Houston crash 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. The local trap is a claim against the City of Houston: its charter requires a sworn written notice within 90 days, far sooner than the state's 6 months. Houston police crash reports are sold by the HPD Records Division and online through TxDOT.

## 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 Houston | 90 days, signed before a notary |
| HPD crash report by mail | $6 |
| Crash report online from TxDOT | $6, or $8 certified |
| Traffic deaths in Houston, 2025 | 293 |
| Houston Lawyer Referral Service | (713) 237-9429 |

## Deadlines and fault rules in Houston

Houston has no deadline of its own for suing another driver; the Texas statute of limitations applies. Most injury and vehicle-damage lawsuits must be filed within 2 years of the crash (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(a)). A wrongful death claim must be filed within 2 years of the date of death.

Texas uses proportionate responsibility. Your damages are reduced by your own share of the blame, and you recover nothing if your share is 51% or more. The [Texas guide](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/texas/) covers insurance minimums, damage caps and exceptions such as injured children, and the [fault-rule explainer](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/tools/fault-rule-explainer/?state=tx&fault=20#fault) shows the math.

## Getting a crash report in Houston

Houston police officers write the Texas Peace Officer's Crash Report and file it with TxDOT. HPD says reports need 5 to 8 days of processing before the public can get them. There are three ways to get a copy:

1. **Online.** Buy it through TxDOT's [Crash Report Online Purchase System](https://cris.txdot.gov/public/Purchase) for $6, or $8 for a certified copy. HPD notes that online buyers must confirm, under penalty of perjury, that they meet the requirements of Texas H.B. 2633.
2. **By mail.** Send a $6 check or money order payable to the City of Houston, a self-addressed stamped envelope and HPD's completed H.B. 2633 form to the Records Division.
3. **In person.** Visit the Records Division.

The Records Division is at HPD Records Division, Edward A. Thomas Building, 1200 Travis St., 1st floor, Houston, TX 77002 (713-308-8500, option 3).

HPD asks for at least two details: the date, the location, a driver's name, or the incident number. It also says full copies are sold only in person or by mail. Our guide to the [police report](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/claim-process/police-report/) explains how insurers use it.

## Claims against the City of Houston

If a city vehicle or employee caused your crash, Article IX, Section 11 of the City Charter requires a written notice of claim to the mayor and city council within 90 days after the injury or damage. Texas law approves city charter deadlines like this one, so the shorter period counts.

The charter says the notice must state when, where and how the crash happened, how serious the injury or damage is, the amount you would settle for, your street address and past addresses, and the names and addresses of your witnesses. The City asks that the letter be signed before a notary and sent with repair estimates, photos, the accident report if available, the vehicle's title and any medical bills. Mail it to the City Secretary's Office, P.O. Box 1562, Houston, TX 77251-1562, with a copy to the City Attorney's Office, Claims/Subrogation Section, P.O. Box 368, Houston, TX 77001-0368.

> **Warning:** Missing the City's notice deadline of 90 days can end a claim against the City, even though the lawsuit deadline is 2 years.

The Texas Tort Claims Act also caps a city's liability at $250,000 per person, $500,000 per occurrence and $100,000 for property damage. Claims against other public bodies, such as Harris County, generally follow the state's notice deadline of 6 months.

## Crashes in Houston

TxDOT's 2025 figures for the city of Houston show 60,317 reportable crashes, 1,465 people seriously injured and 293 people killed. That is the highest death toll of any Texas city in TxDOT's table, out of 3,769 traffic deaths statewide.

## 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 Houston lies in Harris County, so many Houston crash cases are filed there. A suit can go to one of three kinds of court:

- **Harris County district courts**, the main trial courts for larger civil cases.
- **Harris County's county civil courts at law**, which share jurisdiction with the district courts in civil cases up to $325,000.
- **Small claims in a justice court**, for claims up to $20,000.

Our guide to [filing a lawsuit](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/claim-process/filing-a-lawsuit/) explains the steps after the petition is filed.

## Finding a lawyer in Houston

The Houston Bar Association's referral program is the Houston Lawyer Referral Service, which is certified by the State Bar of Texas. Call (713) 237-9429. A first office consultation with a referred lawyer costs $20. Before you hire anyone, check the 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). Read more about [lawyer referral services](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/choosing-a-lawyer/lawyer-referral-services/).

## FAQ

### How long do I have to sue after a car accident in Houston?

Generally 2 years from the crash for injuries or vehicle damage, and 2 years from the date of death for wrongful death. These are Texas deadlines; Houston does not change them. Talks with an insurer do not pause the clock.

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

Buy it online from TxDOT for $6, or get it from the HPD Records Division in person or by mail ($6 by check or money order). Reports usually take 5 to 8 days to become available.

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

The City Charter requires a sworn written notice within 90 days after the injury or damage. It goes to the City Secretary's Office, with a copy to the City Attorney's Office.

### Can I use small claims court after a Houston car accident?

Yes, if the amount is within the justice court limit of $20,000. Larger claims go to the county civil courts at law or the district courts.

### What if I was partly at fault for a crash in Houston?

Texas reduces your damages by your share of fault. If a jury puts your share at 51% or more, you recover nothing from the other drivers.

### How do I find a lawyer in Houston?

The Houston Lawyer Referral Service, run with the Houston Bar Association, refers callers at (713) 237-9429. Check any lawyer's license with the State Bar of Texas before you sign a fee agreement.

## Sources

- [City of Houston Legal Department, Filing a Claim](https://houstontx.gov/legal/fileclaim.html) — charter text, notary requirement and attachments
- [Houston Police Department, Public information](https://www.houstontx.gov/police/public_information.htm) — crash report options
- [Texas Legislature, Civil Practice and Remedies Code chapter 101](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.101.htm) — charter notice periods and Tort Claims Act caps
- [Texas Legislature, Government Code chapters 25 and 27](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.25.htm) — county court at law and justice court jurisdiction
- [Houston Bar Association, Houston Lawyer Referral Service](https://www.hba.org/?pg=Houston-Lawyer-Referral-Service-Ancillary-Org)
- [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
- [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
- [State Bar of Texas, Certified Lawyer Referral Services](https://www.texasbar.com/Content/NavigationMenu/ForThePublic/DOYouNeedaLawyer/CertifiedLawyerReferralServices1/default.htm), checked October 29, 2026
- [TxDOT, Texas Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Facts Calendar Year 2025](https://www.txdot.gov/content/dam/docs/division/trf/crash-records/2025/2025-texas-motor-vehicle-traffic-crash-facts.pdf), 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 § 27.031(a)(1)](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.27.htm), checked October 29, 2026
- [Houston Lawyer Referral Service, About HLRS](https://hlrs.org/about-hlrs/), checked October 29, 2026