Louisiana Car Accident Reports

The Louisiana State Police Department offers crash reports online for a fee. You must visit the Louisiana State Police Department’s website and search for your report. You can download your report ten business days after the accident. In some cases, an accident report may not be available for several weeks. These cases often involve a fatality, personal injuries, a criminal investigation, or significant damage to property. If your report is still not available after ten business days due to an active accident investigation, contact Louisiana law enforcement to learn more.

If you don’t have a report number for your traffic collision report, you must provide the following information to locate your report:

• The time, date, location of the accident
• Full name of one of the drivers
• Driver license number
• License plate number or VIN

• Description of the accident scene
• Any citations issued or arrests made (DUI, DWI, speeding, etc.)
• Description of property damage
• Description of personal injuries
• Crash narrative, which includes the police officer’s opinion regarding who they believe is responsible for the collision
• Diagram of the accident
• Contact information for all parties involved
• VINs
• License plate numbers
• Driver’s license numbers
• Insurance policy information
• Vehicle registration information
• Anything that may have contributed to the accident, such as traffic congestion, road debris, animal, inclement weather, etc.
• Accident type (scooter accident, motorcycle accident, semi-truck accident, rollover, pedestrian accident, etc.)
• Time, date, and location of the accident
• Name of responding police officer and name of reporting law enforcement agency

The cost of a crash report will vary from agency to agency. In most cases, you can expect to pay 5-35 dollars per report, depending on the length. Forms of payment accepted include debit card, credit card payment, company check, money orders, or personal checks.

Auto accidents can be very traumatic for all parties involved, especially if a passenger or driver was injured or the accident resulted in a fatality. If you were seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident, you must take the proper steps to seek compensation for your injuries and other damages. A traffic report contains important information, such as the opinion of the responding law enforcement officer concerning who they believe was responsible for the crash. This information can be used as evidence if you plan to file an insurance claim.

Filing an Insurance Claim or Personal Injury Lawsuit

If you were injured in the motor vehicle accident, you may be filing an insurance claim to pursue compensation for pain and suffering, medical bills, vehicle damage, and other losses. The information found in a vehicle crash report can help prove the other motorist was negligent. This can strengthen your claim, allowing your personal injury attorney to negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf. 

DUI, DWI, & Other Criminal Charges

If you were involved in a drunk driving accident, the other driver’s criminal case will be held separate from your civil case. This means you must still file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation for your pain and suffering and other damages. Your personal injury lawyer will use the information found in the auto accident report and documents pertaining to the other driver’s criminal case, to recover the fair settlement you deserve for your injuries and other damages.Accident report requests can be a challenge for accident victims who sustained serious injuries or extensive vehicle damage. In most cases, law enforcement agencies will require you to pick up a Louisiana crash report in person or mail a written request. If the law enforcement agency offers online reports they often charge a steep fee per copy.If you’re injured and out of work, these options can prove challenging. So, what’s the solution?