Long Beach, California Car Accident Reports

• Your full name
• Time officer investigated crash scene 
• Date and location of the collision 
• Vehicle plate number 
• Mailing address
• Contact information including phone number and email address 

The fee for crash reports in Long Beach is $23 per copy. 

In most cases, a crash report is processed in seven to ten business days. However, if it was a fatal crash, the accident involved significant bodily injury, property crime, a violent crime, or another type of crime, the report may be unavailable for several weeks or months, during an active auto accident investigation. Additionally, a crash with fatality will only be available for in-person pick-up. 

• 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.

Access for records is available to the following parties:

• Any party involved in the motor vehicle crash 
• The parent or legal guardian of a minor involved in the auto accident 
• Legal representative 
• Insurance carrier 
• Vehicle owner 
• Governmental agencies 

If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident that was not your fault, you may be eligible for compensation to cover the cost of damages you sustained due to the negligence of another person or entity. The information in an accident report can help strengthen your claim. An experienced accident injury attorney can use this document to negotiate a full and fair settlement from the other driver’s insurance company. Important information in a crash report that can help your insurance claim can include:

• The reporting police officer’s opinion concerning who they believe was negligent, how, where, and why the accident occurred
• A description of the injuries you sustained in the accident 
• A description of vehicle damage and personal property damage 
• Witness statements
• A diagram of the crash site 

A personal injury lawyer will use this information to build a strong case that can prove the other driver should be held accountable for their negligent actions.