Does Texas Still Have the 'Blue Form' (Form CR-2) Driver Self-Report for Car Accidents?
Direct Answer Under Texas Law
No. Effective September 1, 2017, TxDOT stopped collecting, processing, and retaining the Driver's Crash Report ('Blue Form' Form CR-2) for crashes not investigated by a peace officer. Today, ONLY peace officers can submit official crash reports (Form CR-3) to the TxDOT CRIS database.
Critical Texas Procedural Trap to Watch Out For
Outdated legal websites still tell Texas drivers they have '10 days to mail a Blue Form CR-2 to Austin if police don't come.' Relying on that obsolete advice means no state record of your crash will ever exist if you leave the scene without calling law enforcement.
Recommended Action Plan for Texas Claimants
If police did not respond to the scene, go in person to the local police precinct or sheriff's substation within 24 hours to file an over-the-counter incident report, and preserve your own timestamped photos and witness contact details.
Detailed Texas Statutory & Case Law Breakdown
Under Former Tex. Transp. Code § 550.061 (Repealed Effective Sept. 1, 2017) and controlling Texas appellate precedent in TxDOT Crash Records Retention Policy (SB 312 / 85th Leg.), Texas trial and appellate courts apply strict statutory rules to this exact issue. Unlike generic multi-state legal summaries, Texas tort procedure under the Civil Practice and Remedies Code (CPRC), Insurance Code, Transportation Code, and Labor Code enforces specific statutory formulas—including the 51% proportionate responsibility bar (CPRC § 33.001), paid-or-incurred medical expense admissibility (CPRC § 41.0105 / Haygood), and mandatory statutory lien caps (Prop. Code Ch. 55 & Ins. Code Ch. 140).
Step-by-Step Texas Procedural Checklist
- Verify the exact statutory text of Former Tex. Transp. Code § 550.061 (Repealed Effective Sept. 1, 2017) and how Texas courts apply TxDOT Crash Records Retention Policy (SB 312 / 85th Leg.) in your county's appellate district.
- Beware of the Texas Procedural Trap: Outdated legal websites still tell Texas drivers they have '10 days to mail a Blue Form CR-2 to Austin if police don't come.' Relying on that obsolete advice means no state record of your crash will ever exist if you leave the scene without calling law enforcement.
- Execute the Texas Action Plan: If police did not respond to the scene, go in person to the local police precinct or sheriff's substation within 24 hours to file an over-the-counter incident report, and preserve your own timestamped photos and witness contact details.
- Preserve all physical, electronic, and medical billing records early so your CPRC § 18.001 affidavits and TRCP 194.2 Initial Disclosures are complete.
Frequently Asked Questions Under Texas Law
Does Texas Still Have the 'Blue Form' (Form CR-2) Driver Self-Report for Car Accidents?
No. Effective September 1, 2017, TxDOT stopped collecting, processing, and retaining the Driver's Crash Report ('Blue Form' Form CR-2) for crashes not investigated by a peace officer. Today, ONLY peace officers can submit official crash reports (Form CR-3) to the TxDOT CRIS database. Key Texas Trap to Avoid: Outdated legal websites still tell Texas drivers they have '10 days to mail a Blue Form CR-2 to Austin if police don't come.' Relying on that obsolete advice means no state record of your crash will ever exist if you leave the scene without calling law enforcement.
What Texas statute and Supreme Court / appellate precedent control did texas eliminate the 'blue form' (cr-2)??
This question is governed in Texas by Former Tex. Transp. Code § 550.061 (Repealed Effective Sept. 1, 2017) and the legal standards articulated in TxDOT Crash Records Retention Policy (SB 312 / 85th Leg.). Recommended step: If police did not respond to the scene, go in person to the local police precinct or sheriff's substation within 24 hours to file an over-the-counter incident report, and preserve your own timestamped photos and witness contact details.
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