Find Your Car Accident Report in California, Step by Step

How do I look up an accident report in California? Request it from the agency that wrote it. For crashes the California Highway Patrol (CHP) investigated, that means the CHP’s online system, mail, or an in-person request. For crashes handled by a city police department or county sheriff, the request goes to that agency.

This guide covers who writes the report, who may get a copy, how to ask for it, and the dates to track. Many readers are working through this while they recover from injuries or grieve a loss. The steps are meant to be clear and simple.

Colvin Accident Lawyers is based in Bakersfield, and we represent accident victims and their families.

What a California Accident Report Is and Who Creates It

The officer who responds to a crash usually writes the official collision report. The CHP writes reports for crashes it investigates, and city police or county sheriffs write them for crashes in their areas.

A typical report lists the date, time, and location. It also names the drivers, passengers, and vehicles. Witness details, the officer’s observations, and a diagram or narrative often appear too. Its details help you confirm the basic facts of the crash, like when and where it happened. Insurers and courts may ask for it.

Don’t mix this up with the driver’s own report. Under Veh. Code § 16000, a driver in a crash on a street or highway that causes injury, death, or damage to the property of any one person in excess of $1,000 must report it within 10 days, unless the vehicle was owned or leased by, or under the direction of, the United States, this state, another state, or a local agency. The report goes to the department on a department-approved form, either personally or through an insurance agent, broker, or legal representative. That report is filed by a driver, not written by an officer, so it is a separate document.

Who Is Allowed to Obtain a Copy of a Collision Report

Collision reports can be one source of information about how a crash was documented. The CHP’s request page explains who may request a crash report, and how.

After a death, the family member asking should be ready to explain their connection to the person who died. California’s wrongful death statute lists who may bring a claim, such as a surviving spouse, domestic partner, or children, or the decedent’s personal representative on their behalf (Code Civ. Proc. § 377.60).

Write down the names of everyone involved, plus any witnesses you know. That list helps you check the report when it arrives and spot anything it leaves out. Crashes involving a bus, truck, or motorcycle can involve several parties, insurers, and agencies, which makes that list more useful.

If someone handed you a report, confirm your right to it before you rely on it in a claim.

How to Request a Crash Report Online Through CHP

For a crash the CHP investigated, start with the CHP’s Online Crash Report System. The CHP’s request page explains how to request a report online, in person, or by mail.

Before you search, gather what you know:

• The date and exact location of the crash
• The report or incident number, if you have one
• The names of the drivers and other parties

Search by date and location first. Exact dates matter, because a search with the wrong date can return no match. If nothing appears, try a different spelling of a name or a nearby date. Confirm the result matches your crash before you download it.

The agency sets fees, payment methods, and processing times. Use the current instructions on the CHP page when you request. If an insurer or court asks for an official copy, ask the agency what form of copy it can provide.

Requesting a Report by Mail, Phone, or in Person

If a city police department or county sheriff handled the crash, send your request to that agency’s records unit, not the CHP.

Before you call, mail, or visit, write down these details:

• Date, time, and exact location
• Names of the drivers and passengers
• Vehicle makes, models, and plate numbers, if known
• Report number, if you have one

For a crash the CHP investigated, the CHP 190 collision report page explains how a party of interest can request a copy. It covers the request, identification, payment, and mailing steps.

A mailed request should include every detail on your list and any required payment. Incomplete requests can slow the process. Keep a copy of your request and any receipt for your records.

Fees and processing times vary by agency, so ask the agency directly when you request.

Police Report vs. Accident Report: What Is the Difference?

The two terms are often used for the same thing: the officer’s written report of the crash.

The driver’s report to the DMV is different. The driver files it, not the officer, under Veh. Code § 16000.

An insurance claim file is the insurer’s own file. It can hold notes and statements that are not in the official report. The report is what the officer recorded. The insurer’s file is what the insurer collected. Those two sets of facts can differ, so compare them carefully.

Medical records describe injuries and treatment. They are separate from both reports.

Under Evid. Code § 1160, sympathy expressed after a crash to the injured person or to the family of that person generally cannot be used as an admission of liability in a civil action. A statement of fault is not covered by that protection, so note who said what.

A report is evidence, but it is not the final word on fault. For how reports fit into a death claim, see our wrongful death information.

How Long After an Accident Can You Still Pursue a Report or Claim

Many California injury and wrongful death actions must be brought within two years, while claims against a government entity have a six-month deadline.

The two-year rule comes from Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1, which covers an action for injury to, or death of, a person caused by someone else’s wrongful act or neglect.

Claims against a government entity for death or personal injury follow Gov. Code § 911.2, which sets a six-month deadline to present the claim.

Exceptions and start dates depend on the facts of each case.

Under Veh. Code § 16000, if no party reports a crash to the department within one year, the department is not required to file a report on it. Cal. Veh. Code § 16000 reads: “(c) If none of the parties involved in an accident has reported the accident to the department under this section within one year following the date of the accident, the department is not required to file a report on the accident and the driver’s license suspension requirements of Section 16004 or 16070 do not apply.”

Don’t let the report search push other dates out of view. Write down the accident date and the day you asked for the report. If the request takes time, a written log of your calls and visits helps you track the timeline. Keep copies of everything you send or receive.

Talk With Colvin Accident Lawyers About Your Report

Talking with Colvin Accident Lawyers can help you understand what your report means for your next steps.

A report you can’t yet read can leave you unsure what comes next. You may be reading this while you recover from an injury, handle insurance calls, or grieve someone you lost. A report full of names and times you don’t recognize can add to that stress.

Common questions