San Diego, California Car Accident Reports

When you request a San Diego police report, you must provide the following information:

• The name of one of the parties involved
• Date and location of the accident
• Report number if available

San Diego crash reports are $12 per copy. Money order or check are the only forms of payment accepted at this time. Please make the money order or check payable to the city of San Diego.

It can take twelve business days for your CA accident report to arrive in the mail. However, this can vary depending on the volume of report requests the San Diego Police Department receives. All reports are processed in the order they are received. If you have any questions regarding the status of your report or it has not arrived after twelve business days you can visit the San Diego Police Department’s website and fill out the online form. Be sure to provide your email address and report number if available. You can also contact the department directly at (619) 531-2846. 

Hours of operation are Monday – Friday, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

If the San Diego Police Department did not file your report, check with the San Diego County Sheriff. The Sheriff’s Office handles accidents that occur outside city limits. Contact the Sheriff’s Office for any additional questions concerning your report. 

In an incident report, you’ll find the following information:

• 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.

You can send copies of reports to your insurance company, the other driver’s insurance company, and your personal injury attorney.

If you’re involved in a serious automobile accident and you sustained injuries and significant property damage, you must file a claim for compensation to cover your losses. Because an accident report contains important information including the responding Law Enforcement Officer’s opinion regarding who they believe was liable for the accident, and a description of contributing factors that may have played a role, such as bad weather, a report can be used as valuable evidence.

Working With a Personal injury attorney 

If you have an accident attorney, they can use the information found in the report to help strengthen your insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. If you’re out of work due to your injuries and you’re struggling to make ends meet, an accident report can be one of the most important pieces of evidence needed to pursue compensation.

DWI, DUI, Other Criminal Charges

If the other driver was arrested for a DUI, DWI, or other criminal charges, you must still pursue compensation by filing an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. The other driver’s criminal case will be separate from your civil case. A personal injury attorney will use the information in your auto accident report, in addition to other legal documentation, to help you negotiate a fair settlement for your pain and suffering, lost wages, vehicle damage, and other losses.