# San Antonio car accidents: deadlines, crash reports and claims

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

Canonical page: https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/san-antonio/  
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 San Antonio 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 deadline to know is the City Charter's: a claim against the City of San Antonio needs written notice within 90 days. SAPD crash reports can be bought from TxDOT online or requested from the SAPD Records Office.

## 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 San Antonio | 90 days |
| Crash report online from TxDOT | $6, or $8 certified |
| SAPD crash report fee | $6, plus SAPD's request charges |
| Traffic deaths in San Antonio, 2025 | 167 |
| Small claims limit (justice court) | $20,000 |

## Deadlines and fault rules in San Antonio

San Antonio has no separate deadline 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)). For wrongful death, the deadline is 2 years from the date of death.

Texas's proportionate responsibility rule cuts your damages by your share of the blame and bars recovery at 51% or more. Insurers apply the same rule when they negotiate, so small facts about who did what can matter. The [Texas guide](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/texas/) explains insurance minimums, damage caps and the rules for injured children.

## Getting a crash report in San Antonio

SAPD's records page lists three ways to get a crash report:

1. **TxDOT online.** Buy a certified or uncertified copy through TxDOT's [Crash Report Online Purchase System](https://cris.txdot.gov/public/Purchase) for $6, or $8 certified. SAPD notes that reports can take up to 14 days to appear there.
2. **SAPD online.** Request it through the City's Open Government Portal. You need an account, and you can choose delivery by email, mail or pickup at SAPD Headquarters.
3. **By mail or in person.** Fill out SAPD's crash report request form and take or mail it to the SAPD Records Office, 315 S. Santa Rosa, San Antonio, TX 78207 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

SAPD's fee table lists $6 for an accident report, a $5 administration fee per report and a 20% overhead charge added to each request, so the total from SAPD is more than the base price. Mail and online requests are paid by check or money order sent by U.S. mail; the headquarters also takes cash and cards.

The request form asks you to sign under penalty of perjury and say how you are connected to the crash, for example as a person involved or an insurance representative. Our guide to the [police report](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/claim-process/police-report/) explains how the report is used in a claim.

## Claims against the City of San Antonio

Section 150 of the San Antonio City Charter requires written notice within 90 days after an injury, death or property damage is sustained. It goes to the City Manager or the City Clerk, in writing; the city's online Notice of Claim form goes to its Office of Risk Management. Texas law lets a city set its own notice of claim period like this one, and it is much shorter than the state's general deadline of 6 months.

The charter says the notice must state when, where and how the injury or damage happened, how serious it is and the amount of damages. The City's online Notice of Claim form asks for the date, time and place of the crash, a police case number if you have one, and supporting papers such as medical bills, estimates and photos. Questions go to the Office of Risk Management at 210-207-7204.

> **Warning:** The charter's notice deadline of 90 days runs out long before the lawsuit deadline of 2 years.

Claims against a city are capped by the Texas Tort Claims Act at $250,000 per person, $500,000 per occurrence and $100,000 for property damage, which limits what sovereign immunity allows.

## Crashes in San Antonio

TxDOT's 2025 data for the city of San Antonio counted 37,299 reportable crashes, 579 people seriously injured and 167 people killed. Only Houston and Dallas had more traffic deaths among Texas cities.

## 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 San Antonio lies in Bexar County, where civil cases are heard in three kinds of court:

- **Bexar County district courts**, the main trial courts for larger civil cases.
- **Bexar County courts at law**, which under the general Texas rule share civil cases with the district courts 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.

## Finding a lawyer in San Antonio

The San Antonio Bar Association's Lawyer Referral Service is certified under Texas law and takes requests through its [online form](https://www.salawhelp.org/hire-a-lawyer). It refers you to a screened local lawyer and does not charge a referral fee; you discuss the lawyer's own fees at the first consultation. The State Bar of Texas service at (800) 252-9690 sends Bexar County callers to this local service.

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). See also our guide to [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 San Antonio?

Generally 2 years from the crash for injuries or vehicle damage, and 2 years from the date of death for wrongful death. Negotiating with an insurer does not stop the clock.

### How do I get an SAPD accident report?

Buy it online from TxDOT for $6, request it through the City's Open Government Portal, or mail or bring the request form to the SAPD Records Office. SAPD adds request charges to its $6 report fee.

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

The City Charter requires written notice within 90 days after the injury or damage. The City accepts notices through its online Notice of Claim form.

### Can I go to small claims court after a San Antonio crash?

Yes, if your claim is $20,000 or less. Justice courts in Bexar County hear these cases with simpler procedures.

### Can I recover damages if I was partly at fault?

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

## Sources

- [City of San Antonio, Notice of Claim](https://webapp1.sanantonio.gov/NoticeOfClaim/English.aspx) — Charter Section 150 and the online form
- [San Antonio Police Department, Open Records Requests](https://sa.gov/Directory/Departments/SAPD/Transparency-Open-Data/Open-Records-Requests) — crash report options and fees
- [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
- [San Antonio Bar Association, SA Law Help](https://www.salawhelp.org/hire-a-lawyer) — lawyer referral service
- [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
- [Texas Legislature, Government Code § 27.031(a)(1)](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.27.htm), 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 § 25.0003(c)(1)](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.25.htm), checked October 29, 2026
- [State Bar of Texas, Lawyer Referral & Information Service](https://www.texasbar.com/Content/NavigationMenu/ForThePublic/DoYouNeedaLawyer/LawyerReferralServiceLRIS/default.htm), checked October 29, 2026