How Do You Find Traffic Accident Reports?
Traffic accident reports are prepared by various law enforcement agencies, primarily at the city and county level, but sometimes state agencies as well. Reports may also be prepared by drivers involved in the accident to comply with the requirements of the state’s department of motor vehicles. If you are involved in an accident in which law enforcement prepares a report, all jurisdictions will provide you with a copy of the report upon request. If you want to find reports of traffic accidents you were not involved in, you will have to use the state’s open records law. Locate a copy of the open records law (sometimes referred to as a “public information request” or “public disclosure request”) for the state in which you want records of traffic accidents. A good source for this information online is the Open Governments Guide. Review the state’s requirements for release of information regarding traffic accident reports. There may be different requirements depending on whether you only wa
