Police Report in an Accident: What It Is and How to Read It
A police report, typically created following an accident, is a document prepared by authorities to record the details of the incident. This document contains:
- The date the accident occurred.
- Specific details about the event.
- Information gathered by officers at the scene.
- Statements and contact information of witnesses.
- An estimate of the damage caused by the accident.
This report is crucial for your claim process as it includes initial details and the cause of the accident, as well as its severity. Additionally, the police report provides your personal injury attorney with the necessary information to begin determining the compensation you are entitled to for the accident.
Why the Police Report is Important
A police report is important because it is considered an impartial account of your accident, making it more reliable than a claim or recounting of the incident by the at-fault driver. If you decide to file a personal injury claim after the accident, the police report is an essential document to present to your insurance company.
How to Obtain a Police Accident Report: Video Tutorial
[Link to request your police accident report online]
How to Read a Police Accident Report
Here, we will explain how to read the police report, also known as the CHP 555 form. You can download it by clicking here. The link is from the NHTSA. Download it and use this article to guide you through each page.
Police reports typically consist of three to four pages, documenting all pertinent and important details of the car accident, from the names and information about the vehicles involved to the accident details and statements from victims and witnesses.
If you don’t want to go through the process of completing this form and submitting it to the appropriate entities, you can simply request your police accident report online for free on our website. If you have any questions or would like more information, call My Attorney Mark at (866) 721-5808.
Page One
The first page of the police report focuses on information and details about the drivers involved in the accident and has space for up to three parties involved.
It contains three distinct sections:
SECTION ONE – UPPER SECTION
In the upper section of the report, the police officer will note any “Special Conditions” applicable to your case, such as the involvement of emergency vehicles, fatalities in the accident, or a delayed report. It also includes the number of people injured and whether the accident was a hit-and-run.
As expected, this section includes the location, date, and judicial district of the accident. The top of the page also lists the identification number of the investigating officer.
SECTION TWO – MAIN SECTION
This is the main part of the first page of the police report. Here, details about the parties involved in the accident are listed; this section accommodates up to three parties. If more than three people were involved, additional pages will be attached by the police to complete the information.
Details collected in this section include:
- Driver’s license number (left blank for pedestrians)
- Contact information and demographic data for the drivers
- Airbag deployment status
- Safety equipment used, such as seat belts, helmets, or other protective gear
- Direction of travel and speed limits
- Vehicle information, including year, make, model, and license plate
- Mechanical defects in the vehicles involved
- Initial damage assessment by the police officer at the scene
LOWER SECTION
Here, the officer on the scene will include their name and ID number as the “preparer number,” while the “reviewer name” is the name and ID number of the officer at the station who reviewed the report.
Page Two
The second page begins with a section that should correspond with all other sections of the report. It includes information about property damage, details about the property owner, and whether they were contacted. Following this, there’s a legend used to complete other parts of the report.
This page also includes traffic collision coding, which the officer uses to fill out sections of the report. The officer marks applicable sections with an “X” based on coding. Key areas include:
- General description of the crash, such as traffic violations or driver errors.
- Environmental conditions, like weather, lighting, road surface, and overall conditions.
- Vehicle types and associated factors contributing to the collision.
- Vehicle movements prior to the crash, such as making turns, reversing, slowing down, parking, or traveling against traffic.
The final section notes if any parties were under the influence of alcohol or drugs, which is critical in determining liability, especially in disputed cases.
Page Three
The third page focuses on injured parties, passengers, and witnesses. As with previous pages, the top section should remain consistent throughout the document.
Injured individuals are listed first, followed by witnesses and uninjured participants. Details included in this section are:
- Names, contact information, and injury descriptions.
- Treatment locations for injured parties.
- Witness names and contact information.
- Investigating officer’s name and ID number at the bottom of the page.
Driving under the influence is a significant factor in car accidents nationwide, and if the at-fault driver was intoxicated, this will help establish liability.