How to Find Traffic Accident Reports

Traffic accident reports are prepared by various law enforcement agencies, primarily at the city and county level, but sometimes state agencies as well. Reports may also be prepared by drivers involved in the accident to comply with the requirements of the state's department of motor vehicles. If you are involved in an accident in which law enforcement prepares a report, all jurisdictions will provide you with a copy of the report upon request. If you want to find reports of traffic accidents you were not involved in, you will have to use the state's open records law.

Instructions

1. Locate a copy of the open records law (sometimes referred to as a "public information request" or "public disclosure request") for the state in which you want records of traffic accidents. A good source for this information online is the Open Governments Guide.

2. Review the state's requirements for release of information regarding traffic accident reports. There may be different requirements depending on whether you only want a report of a specific accident or a number of reports covering a broader request, such as accidents occurring in a specific place over an extended period of time.

3. Determine whether the scope of your request for reports or a specific report is kept by the state or local agencies. Local city police departments and county sheriff departments may keep records of accidents that are not forwarded to any state agency.

4. File your written request with the appropriate agency. Expect there to be some delay in response, particularly if you made a broad request that would encompass a number of reports. Also be prepared to pay for the copying charges and administrative costs associated with producing the reports.

5. Go to the agency in person to pick up the reports when you are notified that they are available. Records produced in response to a public information request must be provided to the person making the request. A personal trip to the agency will be necessary to provide adequate identification for the release of the records.

Tips & Warnings

• Regardless of whether you want records of your accident or an accident involving someone else, there will be a delay in the availability of the report for at least 2 weeks from the accident date.

• If the accident results in a criminal investigation that is ongoing, you will not be able to obtain copies of any reports until the investigation is complete.

References

• City of Houston
• King County Sheriff, Washington State
• Open Government Guide

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish