Southwest Crash Reports: Car Accident Laws and Crash Data by State
Where to get a crash report, which insurance and fault rules apply, and how many people die on the roads in each of the four Southwest states.
This page compares Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, with links to the full guide for each state.
Who Has Your Crash Report in the Southwest
In every Southwest state, the report belongs to the agency whose officer worked the crash. That is usually the state police or highway patrol on major highways, city police inside city limits, and the county sheriff in many rural areas. The table shows where each state’s own trooper reports come from. City and county reports usually come from that department’s records office, and each state guide lists the largest ones.
| State | Where state police crash reports come from |
| Arizona | DPS Public Services Portal ($9) |
| New Mexico | DPS Records Request Portal (free electronic copy) |
| Oklahoma | Service Oklahoma, Form 303RM-C ($7) |
| Texas | TxDOT Crash Report Online Purchase System (CR-3) |
In Texas, TxDOT’s Crash Records Information System sells the officer’s report, the CR-3, for many agencies, though some city departments sell their own through other vendors or a records counter. In Oklahoma, Highway Patrol reports come from Service Oklahoma on Form 303RM-C by mail or in person, not online.
Not sure which agency took the report, or don’t want to deal with the forms? We can get a copy of your report for you at no cost.
Southwest Insurance and Fault Rules by State
All four states on this page are fault-based. Minimum liability limits are written as three numbers in thousands of dollars: injury to one person, injuries in one crash, and property damage, so 25/50/25 means $25,000, $50,000 and $25,000. The last column shows when your own share of the blame stops you from recovering damages from the other driver.
| State | Insurance system | Minimum liability | When shared fault bars recovery |
| Arizona | Fault-based | 25/50/15 | Never bars recovery; award cut by your share |
| New Mexico | Fault-based | 25/50/10 | Never bars recovery; award cut by your share |
| Oklahoma | Fault-based | 25/50/25 | Barred above 50% |
| Texas | Fault-based | 30/60/25 | Barred above 50% |
Each state guide explains the details, including personal injury protection, uninsured motorist coverage and claim deadlines. To compare every state at once, see our no-fault states and insurance minimums for all 50 states.
Southwest Traffic Deaths by State
In 2024, 6,443 people died in crashes in the four Southwest states, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s analysis of federal Fatality Analysis Reporting System data. That works out to 14.3 deaths per 100,000 people, against 11.5 for the country as a whole. New Mexico had the region’s highest rate, 19.2, and Texas the lowest, 13.3. The last column gives the newest count on each state guide, which comes from the state’s own agencies and can differ from the federal figure.
| State | 2024 deaths | Per 100,000 people | Per 100 million miles | Newest state count |
| Texas | 4,160 | 13.3 | 1.35 | 3,769 (2025) |
| Arizona | 1,229 | 16.2 | 1.74 | 1,156 (2025) |
| Oklahoma | 645 | 15.7 | 1.39 | 645 (2024, preliminary) |
| New Mexico | 409 | 19.2 | 1.43 | 454 (2025, preliminary) |
Source: IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state. Newest state counts are from each state guide; preliminary and early estimate figures can change.
Southwest Crash Guides by City and State
Dangerous roads and intersections: Arizona crash hot spots · New Mexico crash hot spots · Oklahoma crash hot spots · Texas crash hot spots
Accident news by state: Arizona accident news · New Mexico accident news · Oklahoma accident news · Texas accident news, plus our recent accident alerts.
General questions about getting, reading or correcting a police report are answered in our accident report FAQ.
Other regions: Northeast crash reports and laws · Southeast crash reports and laws · Midwest crash reports and laws · West crash reports and laws · All 50 states compared
Southwest Crash Questions
Are any Southwest states no-fault states?
No. All four Southwest states on this page are fault-based, so injury claims go against the liability insurance of the driver who caused the crash. Texas policies include personal injury protection unless you reject it in writing, but that does not limit your right to sue.
Which Southwest state has the most traffic deaths?
Texas had the most in 2024, with 4,160 deaths, according to IIHS analysis of federal crash data. Measured against population, New Mexico had the highest rate in the region, 19.2 deaths per 100,000 people, and Texas had the lowest, 13.3. The U.S. rate was 11.5.
What happens if I was partly at fault for a crash in the Southwest?
It depends on the state. Arizona and New Mexico never bar recovery for shared fault and only reduce the award; Oklahoma and Texas bar recovery only above 50%. In most of these states, the award shrinks by your own share of the fault.
Which Southwest state is deadliest by miles driven?
Arizona. It had 1.74 traffic deaths for every 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2024, according to IIHS, the highest rate in the Southwest and second in the country after Mississippi. The U.S. rate was 1.19. New Mexico had 1.43, Oklahoma 1.39 and Texas 1.35.
After a crash anywhere in the country, Local Accident Reports can connect you with local help, from doctors and body shops to injury attorneys. Contact our team.
Local Accident Reports compiles this information from public agency sources and published reports for general reference. It is not legal advice and is not an official police record. Fees, forms and deadlines change, so confirm with the agency before you send a request. Last updated October 2026.