How to Get Your Los Angeles Car Accident Report

If you’ve recently been involved in a car accident in Los Angeles, you may be considering pursuing a claim against the at-fault party for your losses.

If you plan to file an insurance claim or lawsuit against the at-fault party, it’s vital to obtain a copy of your accident report in Los Angeles. The time following a car accident is stressful and challenging, but getting a copy of your accident report is an important first step toward compensation.

If you cannot obtain a copy of your Los Angeles accident report, your Los Angeles auto accident attorney can get it for you.

Why Are Los Angeles Accident Reports Important?

When a police officer arrives at the scene of an accident, they complete an accident report. The primary purpose of an accident report is to document the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident.

A Los Angeles accident report provides relevant information about an accident, including the following information: 

• Proof of the accident, 
• Parties and vehicles involved, 
• Location,
• Time, 
• Damages, and
• Injuries caused. 

If you were injured at the scene of your accident and were unable to obtain this information yourself, your Los Angeles accident report allows you to piece together events from the incident that you were unable to record on your own. 

Police officers preparing a Los Angeles car accident report provide their unbiased observations of the accident. On top of reporting what they witnessed at the scene, the police officer may also identify the at-fault party. If included, this fact is beneficial for your personal injury attorney in negotiating a favorable settlement. 

Particular rules identify the ways a Los Angeles accident report for a personal injury trial. For example, it may be used in conjunction with the reporting police officer’s testimony and used to refresh the officer’s recollection of events related to the incident. This information may be useful if an LAPD officer’s testimony supports a finding of liability in your accident. 

Ways to Obtain Los Angeles Car Accident Reports 

You may obtain a copy of your LA crash report two different ways – by mail or online.

The LAPD releases Traffic Collision Reports only to authorized persons like victims, representatives of victims, or other individuals identified in Section 20012 of the Vehicle Code. 

Request a Copy of Your LA Accident Report Through The Mail 

You may request your Los Angeles police accident report through the mail.

Before making your request, visit the LAPD website and download a copy of the Traffic Collision Request Report document to complete. 

Include with your request form a check in the amount of $3.00 made payable to the LAPD. 

If you are unable to print or view the form, you may make a written request with the following information:

• Type of report;
• Requester’s name, address, and telephone number;
• LAPD Report Number or Incident Number;
• Requester’s date of birth;
• Names of parties listed in the report;
• Date and time of the incident;
• Location of the incident;
• License plate number and state of registration;
• Whether you are an interested party; and
• Your signature after the statement, “I declare this statement is true and correct.”

Mail the document to the following address:

Los Angeles Police Department, Document Processing Unit

PO Box 30158

Los Angeles, CA 90030. 

It’s important to note that Los Angeles car accident reports involving an arrest, fatality, or juvenile are not released online and can be requested only through the mail. 

Get Your Accident Report Online

Visit the LAPD website to obtain copies of accident reports in Los Angeles. The LAPD website connects you to the LexisNexis Buy Crash site to request a report online.

You must provide the following information: 

• Name, 
• Date of the incident, 
• Location of the incident, and
• Los Angeles accident report number.

Before attempting to obtain a copy of an LA traffic collision report online, allow for a minimum of 45 days from the date of the collision for the report to become available. 

Contact Us for Help Getting Your Los Angeles Accident Report

With over fifty years of experience and millions of dollars recovered for clients, Glotzer & Leib, LLP understands the ins and outs of personal injury law.

One of the first steps to take following a car accident is obtaining a copy of your accident report in Los Angeles. If you are unable to obtain a copy, we can do it for you.

Attorneys Joshua Glotzer and Daniel Leib base their practice on empowering clients to focus on their recovery while aggressively pursuing just compensation on their behalf.

We know the tough road you may be facing and are here to help. Don’t continue to worry about paying for lost medical bills and how to replace your lost income.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation to find out how we can help you get back on your feet!