Bakersfield, California Car Accident Reports

The Kern County report process can take five to seven business days after the request is made. Some reports may take up to ten business days to process unless there is an active accident investigation. If the accident involved a crime or fatality, you may not receive your requested report for several months or until the fatal collision investigation has concluded.

Payment of reports will depend on how you obtain a crime report. Traffic reports are $7 per copy. Accepted forms of payment include debit cards, credit cards, personal check, or money order. Make the money order or check payable to the City of Bakersfield.

• Contact information for all parties involved in the motor vehicle crash, including their full names and contact details, as well as any witnesses.
• The reporting law enforcement officer’s assessment of who was at fault and how and why the accident occurred.
• A diagram depicting the crash site, including details such as vehicle positions, road markings, and other pertinent information.
• Information on insurance policies held by all drivers involved in the accident.
• Driver’s license numbers and license plate numbers/vehicle identification numbers for all drivers involved.
• Description of personal injuries sustained in the crash, including any medical treatment required, hospitalization, and follow-up care.
• Description of vehicle and property damage incurred during the accident, including cost estimates and photographs.
• Statements provided by witnesses and their contact information, including those that may support or contradict the law enforcement officer’s findings.
• Citations issued or arrests made, including violations such as speeding, reckless driving, DUI, DWI, failure to yield, etc.
• Details on road and weather conditions at the time of the accident, as well as any other factors that may have contributed to the crash, such as road debris, pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcycles, trucks, or broken traffic signals or signs.
• Actions taken by the police officers in response to the accident.
• The type of accident that occurred, such as a scooter, Uber, truck, motorcycle, head-on collision, rear-end accident, rollover collision, scooter, or pedestrian incident.

• All parties involved in the auto accident 
• The parent or legal guardian of a minor involved in the car crash 
• Insurance company 
• Vehicle owner  
• Accident attorney 
• Law enforcement officer

If the Bakersfield Police Department does not have a record of your traffic report, it’s possible that it was filed with another local law enforcement agency. The Kern County Sheriff’s Office handles traffic collisions that occur outside of the BPD’s jurisdiction. 

To learn more, contact a public information officer in the Records Department at the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.

Kern County Sheriff’s Office phone: (661) 391-7500

If you sustained major injuries or property damage due to an accident in Bakersfield City that was not your fault, you may be eligible to file an auto insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit to pursue compensation for the damages you sustained in the crash. An experienced injury attorney will use important information in the report to help strengthen your claim for compensation.

This information can include:

• The reporting agency officer’s opinion regarding which driver they believe was responsible for the collision
• A diagram of the accident scene 
• Description of bodily injury/major injuries 
• Description of vehicle damage/property damage 
• Witness statements
• Anything that may have contributed to the accident, such as brake lights, debris on the road, inclement weather conditions, etc. 
• Any citations issued by the Bakersfield Police Department at the time of the motor vehicle crash for traffic law violation 

A Personal injury lawyer 

A personal injury attorney can use the information found in a crash report when negotiating with an insurance company to help you obtain the compensation you deserve for medical treatment, lost wages, and other damages.