Oakland, California Car Accident Reports

• Your full name and contact information including email address and phone number 
• The location, time, and date when the incident occurred
• Report number (if available)
• Valid identification 

Accident reports are usually available within sixty to ninety business days from the date of a motor vehicle crash. The availability of accident reports can also depend on whether the accident involved a crime, fatality, or significant personal injuries, in which case the report would not be released for several weeks or months.

The cost for mail-in and in-person requests for traffic reports is $20 per copy. Crash report purchases for online requests are $25 per copy, with a $5 convenience fee. For in-person requests, accepted forms of payment include major credit cards, checks, or cash. Checks should be made payable to the City of Oakland.

• 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.

• Any party involved in the automobile accident 
• The parent or legal guardian of a minor involved in the collision 
• Accident attorney 
• Vehicle owner
• Personal representative of a party involved in the motor vehicle crash 
• Insurance company 

If you sustained injuries and/or vehicle damage/personal property damage in a car crash that was not your fault, you may be eligible to pursue compensation in the form of an auto insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit. A traffic report will include information that can help your personal injury lawyer prove the other driver was negligent. 

This information includes:

• The responding police officer’s opinion regarding who they believe was at fault for the auto accident 
• A diagram of the accident scene 
• Witness statements 
• A description of bodily injuries 
• A description of vehicle damage/property damage
• Road and weather conditions 

Working With a Personal injury lawyer 

An experienced accident attorney will use the information in a traffic report during settlement negotiations with the other driver’s insurance company to prove the other driver should be held liable for your damages, including medical bills, lost wages from work, and other accident-related expenses.