LAPD Traffic Collision Report – How Do I Obtain a Copy?

Posted on October 26, 2022

You were in a car accident in the City of Los Angeles and the insurance company is now requesting a copy of the collision report. How do you get one? Further, what does it show?

You can get a traffic collision report from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) by either requesting one online or through the United States Mail.

To make a request online in English, please click here.

To make a request online in Spanish – Español, please click here.

For requests via the U.S. Mail, you will need to:

1. download and complete a Traffic Collision Report Request, and
2. return it with a $16.00 check or money order made payable to the LAPD (the Department does not receive cash).

You will send your completed report request and payment to:

Los Angeles Police Department
Records and Identification Division
Document Processing Unit
P.O. Box 30158
Los Angeles, CA 90030

For questions, please contact the following phone number: 1-800-ASK-LAPD (1-877-275-5273). You can also visit LAPD online at lapdonline.org.

Note that a traffic collision report is basically a document that summarizes all of the details regarding a car accident. The document is usually written by the police officer that responds to the incident.

1. Who can request a California traffic accident report?

Per California Vehicle Code 20012, the following people can request an LAPD report:

• a driver involved in the accident,
• a guardian of a driver involved in the accident,
• the parent of a minor driver,
• the authorized representative of a driver,
• any person injured in the accident,
• any person who suffered property damage because of the accident,
• any person that may be found liable for the accident, and
• an attorney for any of the people named above.¹

2. How long does it take to get a police report?

You have to wait 45 days from the date of the collision before you can make a request for a traffic collision report. This is so that LAPD can review and approve the report for release.²

Per the LAPD’s website, once you make a request, there is currently a minimum of two months for LAPD to process the report request.³

If you would like to receive an update on when your request might get processed, you can try calling (213) 486-8100.

3. Are there certain accident reports that you cannot get online?

While you can obtain most collision reports online, there are certain types of reports that you can only receive via a request through the U.S. Mail. These reports include:

1. traffic collision reports that involve an arrest, fatality, or juvenile, and
2. traffic collision reports issued prior to February 1, 2016.

4. What information is in an accident report?

A police officer usually responds to the scene of a car accident shortly after the accident takes place. An accident report is that officer’s summary of his/her investigation of the accident scene.

The report usually includes the following information:

• the date and time of the accident,
• the accident’s location,
• the identity of the involved parties,
• identifying information for everyone involved in the accident (this usually includes names, addresses, phone numbers, driver’s license information, and possibly license plate numbers),
• the names and contact information for any witnesses,
• a summary of any damage involved in the accident,
• a summary of the conditions that existed at the time of the accident (for example, traffic, weather, and roadway conditions),
• whether or not the accident involved a traffic violation,
• the officer’s opinion of what took place, and
• a diagram of the accident (this might not always be provided).

5. Can a car accident lawyer help?

Yes. If you were involved in a traffic collision, you should consult with an accident attorney or personal injury lawyer for help.

An attorney or law firm often assists by:

• getting a copy of the report on your behalf,
• gathering your insurance information and submitting the report to the applicable insurance company,
• filing an injury claim with the applicable insurer,
• negotiating that claim on your behalf,
• gathering evidence of who caused the accident, and
• if necessary, filing a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf.

In our experience as auto accident attorneys, injured drivers recover larger payouts from insurance companies when they are represented by a California auto accident lawyer.

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