Kern County Coroner Report After a Fatal Crash: What Families Need to Know

You request a coroner’s report by contacting the Kern County Sheriff-Coroner and showing your connection to the person who died. This guide explains how to get a coroner report after a fatal crash in Kern County, and what each record is for.

What the Coroner’s Report Is After a Fatal Crash

The coroner’s report is the record of how and why a person died. In a fatal crash, it usually covers the cause of death and the manner of death, such as whether the death was an accident.

Families often mix up three records. Each one answers a different question.

• The coroner’s report records the cause and manner of death.
• The autopsy report records the medical examination findings, including injuries and any testing done on the body.
• The CHP fatal crash report records how the collision happened. It comes from the California Highway Patrol’s investigation of the crash. You can read more in our CHP fatal crash report guide.

In Kern County, the coroner’s functions are handled by the Kern County Sheriff-Coroner. A search for the coroner’s report usually leads to that office.

Who Can Request the Coroner’s Report in California

The coroner’s office decides who receives its records, so expect to show who you are. It will usually ask for identification and proof of your relationship to the person who died.

Being able to request a report is a different question from being able to bring a lawsuit. Under Code Civ. Proc. § 377.60, a wrongful death claim may be brought by the decedent’s surviving spouse, domestic partner, children, and issue of deceased children, or, if the decedent left no surviving issue, by the people (including the spouse or domestic partner) who would inherit the decedent’s property under intestate succession; if the decedent’s parents would be entitled to sue this way but are deceased, the decedent’s legal guardians, if any, may sue as if they were the parents. If they were dependent on the decedent, a putative spouse, children of the putative spouse, stepchildren, parents, or the decedent’s legal guardians (if the parents are deceased) may also qualify, as may a minor who lived in the decedent’s household for the previous 180 days and was dependent on the decedent for one-half or more of the minor’s support. The decedent’s personal representative may also bring the claim on their behalf.

An open criminal or traffic investigation can affect what is released and when. Ask the office how an open investigation changes your request.

Are Coroner’s Reports Public Record in California?

The coroner’s office sets its own release process, so your request goes directly to that office. Ask the office what it will release, what it needs from you, and whether any fees apply.

News stories are not the full coroner’s report. A news story may say a man was identified after a crash. It does not give the cause and manner of death in full. Treat news coverage as a starting point, not as the final record.

If a family member has already seen a summary, keep it. Still, ask the office for the official report before you rely on any summary.

Step-by-Step: Requesting the Report in Kern County

Step 1: Confirm the case details. Write down the date and place of the crash. Record the deceased person’s full legal name, exactly as it appears on the death certificate.

Step 2: Gather your documents. Bring a photo ID and proof of your relationship, such as a birth or marriage certificate. Keep a copy of the death certificate ready. You’ll need it for more than the coroner’s request. Under Code Civ. Proc. § 377.32, a person who files as a successor in interest must attach a certified copy of the death certificate to a sworn affidavit or declaration.

Step 3: Submit the request. Send a written request or visit the Kern County Sheriff-Coroner in person. Ask which documents and fees apply to your request. Confirm this with the office directly, because the requirements can change.

Step 4: Track the request. Ask for an expected timeline and the best way to follow up. Write down the date you sent the request and the name of the person you spoke with. These notes help if the request stalls.

How Long It Can Take and Why Results Vary

Timing is set by the coroner’s office. Toxicology results and other pending tests can add time before the cause and manner of death are final. Don’t assume the first summary is the final word.

The report’s findings can shape what happens next. Under Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1, an action for the death of a person caused by another’s wrongful act or neglect must generally be brought within two years. Waiting for paperwork should not cause you to miss that deadline, so contact Colvin Accident Lawyers early about timing.

Fault also matters.

The outcome of any claim depends on the facts of that case, and results will differ if the facts differ.

Talk Through Your Situation With Colvin Accident Lawyers

Many readers of this page are working through a loss while also trying to understand paperwork they never expected to handle. You may be doing this for a parent, a spouse, or an adult child, while still grieving.

Our wrongful death lawyer page explains how these claims work in California. It covers who may bring a claim and what the deadlines are.

If you’re trying to make sense of a coroner’s report while you grieve a loss, you don’t have to sort through it alone. Our team offers a free first consultation, confidential and with no obligation to continue. Contact us at our contact page to talk through the coroner’s report, the CHP report, and what a wrongful death claim involves in California.

Frequently Asked Questions