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The Importance of Documenting Your Car Accident with a Texas Crash Report CR-2 Form
A Texas Crash Report CR-2 form, sometimes called a “blue form,” is an important document for car accident victims who did not get a police report or investigation on the scene. Before a recent legislation change, motorists had to file the form directly with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). As of September 1, 2017, per the 85th Texas Legislature Senate Bill 312, the TxDOT no longer retains the CR-2 form. Just because you don’t have to submit it to the TxDOT, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t fill one out for your own personal records after a crash.
It’s essential to document the crash and what happened in your situation for a variety of reasons. First, the documentation will be very important when you make an insurance claim. Second, you could be in for a big surprise at the auto body shop for damage that might have initially seemed minor. It’s also very common for injuries to present hours or days after a car accident. At the time of the crash, your body could be running on adrenaline. You might initially feel okay, but give it a day or two, and you’re in serious pain. A CR-2 form can still be an important and effective way to document your crash, even if the police officer on the scene didn’t. If the police officer did not investigate your accident or make a report, you can still fill out a CR-2 form even though it is not submitted to TxDOT.
How to Fill Out a CR-2 Form
After your crash, download and print the Texas CR-2 form from the NHTSA website for your own record keeping. You can also contact your local DPS office for more information.
What Information About Your Car Accident Is Included on the CR-2?
- Location of the accident - Remember to include the city or county that the accident happened.
- Date of the wreck - Include the time of the accident, if known.
- Vehicles involved - Your vehicle is the #1 vehicle.
- Damage to all parties’ property - Describe all damaged property.
- Injuries associated with the crash - Include the position of the occupants in your vehicle and injuries sustained during the crash.
- Driver’s statement - This is your narrative of what happened in the crash. If necessary, include a full-size sheet of paper for additional room. Do not send photographs.
- Signature attesting to the factual nature of the information on the Texas Crash Report CR-2
Keep It Simple when Describing Your Car Wreck on the Texas Crash Report CR-2 Form
The old adage about keeping it simple certainly applies to filling out the CR-2 blue form. You want to be as clear, as simple, and as factual as possible when filling these forms out. This isn’t the time to go into a paragraph’s long rant on the dangers of distracted driving and texting behind the wheel, as applicable as it may seem. Simply write what happened in a clear, sequential, and factual way. Put yourself in the traffic officer’s shoes and write down the events that transpired prior to and during the accident in a professional and clear way. Insurance companies can be inscrutable, and the last thing you need is a complicated and wordy document diatribe being used against you. When in doubt, keep it simple and talk to your lawyer.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney for a Free Case Evaluation
After any type of car accident due to another driver’s dangerous, reckless, or negligent behavior, it’s important to speak with a lawyer about your injury claim and potential case. Whether a police officer conducted an investigation and filed a report on your accident or you’re filling out a Texas Crash Report CR-2 form yourself, a lawyer can be your advocate and a great resource during a difficult time.
If you have been injured or if you have lost a loved one in a car accident in the Conroe, Texas area, contact the Scott Law Firm at (936) 243-4299 for a free case consultation.
