Evidence · Official Records
Police Reports After an Accident
A police report is an official account of an accident prepared by the responding officer. It is one of the most useful documents in a claim — but it is not the final word on fault. This page explains what reports contain, how to get them, and how they are used.
The short answer
What is a police report, and how is it used?
Direct answer: A police report is the responding officer’s official account of the accident — the date, time, location, parties, vehicles, a narrative, a diagram, citations, and witness information. It is obtained from the responding law enforcement agency. Insurers and lawyers review it as one piece of evidence, but it is not conclusive on fault; the officer’s conclusions are one perspective, and fault is determined from all the evidence.
Related resources
What it contains
Inside a police report.
- Basic information: Date, time, location, and weather conditions of the accident.
- Party and vehicle information: Identifying details for the drivers, vehicles, and owners involved.
- Officer’s narrative: A written account of what the officer found and concluded.
- Diagram: A sketch of the scene showing vehicle positions and movements.
- Citations: Any traffic citations issued at the scene.
- Witness information: Names and contact details of witnesses who spoke with the officer.
How to obtain
Getting a copy of the report.
To obtain a police report, you generally request it from the law enforcement agency that responded — a city police department, a county sheriff’s office, or the highway patrol. There is often a fee and a short processing period before the report is ready.
The key information you need to request it is the report number and the responding agency, both of which should be noted at the scene. The specific request process varies by agency; many accept requests online, by mail, or in person.
How it is used
One piece of the evidence, not the verdict.
Insurers and lawyers review the police report early because it provides an official, contemporaneous account. It documents key facts, identifies witnesses, and may note citations that bear on fault. A report that supports your account can strengthen a claim.
But the report is not binding. The officer’s opinion on fault is one perspective, formed at the scene and sometimes without the full picture. Fault is ultimately determined from all the evidence — the report, witness statements, vehicle data, and any reconstruction. Errors in a report can be addressed with other evidence rather than accepted as final.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions, answered directly.
General information only, not legal advice for any particular situation.
Keep exploring
Related resources.
Practice areas
Kansas City area
Free case review
Questions about a police report? Request a free case review.
This is the intake experience a Kansas City injury firm would offer: clear fields, plain language and no pressure. On this demonstration site the form is entirely inert — nothing you type leaves your browser.
Demonstration only. No information is transmitted to an attorney or law firm.
- Phone
- 816-555-0100
- Office
- 1100 Main St, Kansas City, MO 64105
Demonstration Case Review
Demonstration form only. Information entered here is not transmitted to a law firm or attorney.