You can take advantage of the free online crash report information center available at AccidentReports.com and locate your collision report instantly.

You can also obtain your report through the Los Angeles Police Department, the governmental agency responsible for maintaining and disbursing reports and certain types of civil records. The department provides access to records in a couple of ways.

In-Person

For this type of request, you can visit the police station and fill out a public record request form. 

The station is located at:

Los Angeles Central Community Police Station  

251 E 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Business hours are Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. 

During this time, you must provide valid forms of identification, and pay the required fee. 

By Mail 

You can request your Los Angeles police report by mail from the Department Records Unit. 

The request must be sent to:

Los Angeles Police Department, Document Processing Unit
P.O. Box 30158
Los Angeles, CA 90030. 

Before you mail in your request, visit the LAPD website to download the Traffic Collision Request Report. You must include your mailing address, email address, a copy of valid identification, and payment with your written request. For mail requests, reports will cost $3 per copy. 

Acceptable forms of payment for this type of request include personal checks, which should be made payable to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The Los Angeles Police Department releases certified copies of a traffic collision report to the following parties:

•  Any party of interest who was involved in the accident
•  Legal representation of any party involved, including accident attorneys
•  Insurance companies/auto insurance carrier
•  The parent of a minor 
• Other authorized parties include:
• Owner of the vehicle 
• The parent or legal guardian of a minor

Los Angeles and San Diego accident reports will cost $3 per copy.

A law enforcement agency’s patrol officer typically completes reports for a minor accident within seven business days but the reports must go through a review process. Unfortunately, you must wait a minimum of 45 business days from the date of the crash for your California accident report to be available. If you have not received your report in this time period, contact the department for more information. If the accident involved a juvenile, fatality, or arrest, a report can only be requested by mail.

• 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.

If you have recently been involved in an auto accident in Los Angeles, CA, you may be considering pursuing an insurance claim against the other driver to cover the cost of your losses.

Filing an Insurance claim 

If you plan to file a personal injury lawsuit or insurance claim you must obtain a copy of your traffic report. The responding police officer who fills out the accident report will provide their unbiased observations and may also identify the at-fault party. This can help to significantly strengthen your claim. Obtaining a copy of your collision report is an important first step towards receiving the compensation you deserve for your injuries, property damage, and other losses.

Additional copies of your report can be given to your auto insurance carrier, the other driver’s auto insurance provider, and an accident attorney.

When a law enforcement officer arrives at the scene of an accident, they will fill out a crash report. The main purpose of these reports is to document the facts and circumstances that surround the accident. A report will provide relevant information regarding the collision, including:

•  The names and contact information for all parties involved
•  The date and location of the accident
• Time of accident 
•  A description of personal injuries and property damage
•  Insurance information
•  License plate numbers and Vin
•  A description of any contributing factors that may have caused the accident
•  A diagram of the accident scene
• The responding police officer’s opinion concerning who they believe may be liable for the accident 

With this type of report, any citations given will also be listed.