How to Obtain a California Accident Report
After a car accident, obtaining a copy of your California accident report can prove useful if you plan to file a lawsuit for your injuries. If the California Highway Patrol responded to the scene of your accident, they likely created an accident report detailing specific facts about the incident.
Read on to learn why this report is so important and how to obtain a copy of your California accident report after a collision.
How to Get a California Accident Report: Key Facts to Know
If you were in a crash and the California Highway Patrol responded, requesting your California accident report early can make a real difference in your claim. Here’s what to know before you request one.
Key Takeaways
- A California accident report from the CHP, known as the CHP 555 report, is requested using the CHP 190 form and can be obtained online, by mail, or in person.
- Insurance companies, attorneys, coroners, family members, and involved parties are all generally eligible to request a copy, though the CHP’s list of eligible requesters is not exhaustive.
- California’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is generally two years under CCP 335.1, so requesting your accident report early helps protect your claim before deadlines and fading memories become a problem.
What Is a California Accident Report?
A California accident report prepared by the California Highway Patrol is also referred to as the CHP 555 report. The traffic collision report includes the following information:
- Details of the collision,
- Date of the collision,
- Information collected by officers,
- Witness information and statements, and
- Estimated damage from the accident.
However, this CHP accident report isn’t just a list of facts—it serves as an important piece of evidence that often tells the full story of what happened during the crash. It can contain key details like:
- Impairment information. The CHP 555 report may provide information about whether any of the involved parties were impaired or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident. This can play a huge role in determining who’s responsible and what legal consequences may follow.
- Fault determination. In some situations, a reporting officer may also make designations of fault based on their observations at the scene. This is important for insurance claims since companies often use the officer’s opinion when figuring out who should pay for damages.
- Road and weather conditions. The report also sheds light on things like visibility, road conditions, and weather, which might have contributed to the crash. These details help provide context to the incident and clarify factors that may have caused the collision.
Insurance companies rely heavily on this police accident report when figuring out who’s liable and how much compensation should be paid out. Its details help adjusters make decisions on fault and damages. Plus, the report can be used in legal proceedings if you need to support your side of the story or dispute what others say happened.
Who Can Request a Copy of a California Accident Report?
A variety of individuals can request California accident reports, including:
- Insurance companies for the parties,
- Attorneys for the parties,
- Coroners,
- Family members of the victim,
- Parents of any minor children, and
- Involved parties.
Please note that this list is not exhaustive and other individuals may also be permitted to request a copy. You may obtain a copy of your accident report from a California Highway Patrol office or the Department of Motor Vehicles. Contact a personal injury attorney if you have questions about your California accident report.
How Do You Request a California Accident Report?
Before CHP will release the police accident report, you need to complete the CHP 190 form, Application for Release of Information. This form is essential for ensuring your request for your California accident report is processed in a timely manner.
In this form, you will need to provide the following information:
- Date and location of the accident,
- The names of the individuals involved,
- Your relationship to the accident,
- Your address, and
- A photocopy of your identification card or driver’s license.
You can download the CHP 190 form directly from the California Highway Patrol website or pick up a physical copy at your local CHP office.
How Do I Complete the CHP 190 Form?
Let’s break down how to complete each section of the CHP 190 form accurately.
- Collison date. Enter the exact date of the accident if you know it. If you don’t have the exact date, provide an approximate date as close as possible to when the incident occurred.
- Collision location. Fill in the location of the accident. If you don’t know the precise location, list as much information as possible, such as the street name, nearby intersections, or any landmarks.
- Driver or owner. Enter the name of the driver or the vehicle’s owner who was involved in the accident. If you are unsure, you may need to check the vehicle’s registration or other related documents.
- Party of interest. You’ll see several boxes to choose from in this section. Only check the one that applies to your role in the accident (such as driver, passenger, or other).
- Applicant information. Print your full name, street address, city, state, and zip code. Make sure your information is accurate and up to date.
- Agency or company. This section is only relevant if you’re applying on behalf of a government agency or an insurance company. Otherwise you can leave it blank.
- Signature. Sign your name where indicated.
- Verification. Attach a clear photocopy of your state identification card or driver’s license to the form. This is required to verify your identity.
Remember to keep copies of all correspondence and receipts for your records. Ensure that all information provided is accurate and legible to avoid processing delays. Take a moment to double-check the accident details and your personal information, and confirm that your payment is included and that you’re submitting your request to the correct CHP office.
Can I Get My Accident Report Online?
Yes. You can obtain a copy of your California accident report online, by mail, or in person.
- Online. You can access your report for free through the CHP’s Online Crash Portal. After a collision, you’ll receive a crash card with a QR code to scan for your report, or you can log into the portal and enter the crash card details to retrieve it.
- Mail. To get your report by mail, you need to fill out the CHP 190 form and send it with a payment of $1013 to the CHP office where your report was filed. The reporting officer usually files the report in the area where the accident occurred.
- In Person. An in-person request can be made at the CHP office where the accident occurred. To obtain a copy of the accident report in person, you must bring a photocopy of your identification card and the completed CHP 190 form.
Be sure to call the CHP headquarters office and ensure your accident report is complete and ready for ordering regardless of the method you choose.
Let Us Help You Get the Answers You Need
Chasing down paperwork after a crash, on top of recovering from your injuries, can feel like too much to handle alone.
Wells Call Injury Lawyers has spent over 40 years standing up for injured Californians and has recovered more than half a billion dollars for our clients. We can help track down your accident report and handle the rest so you can focus on healing.
Schedule A Free ConsultationThe Importance of Getting Your CHP Accident Report ASAP
Obtaining your CHP accident report as soon as possible is very important for several reasons. Here’s why taking swift action after a car accident is vital to protect your rights and build your claim:
- Memories fade. Time can blur details. Obtaining your report promptly can help jog your memory and ensure your account of the accident aligns with the official record.
- Deadlines are strict. California generally has a two-year statute of limitations to file a claim. If you wait too long to request your report, you might miss your chance to file.
- Insurance companies move fast. They often try to settle quickly, sometimes before you fully grasp the situation. Having your report helps you negotiate fairly and avoid getting lowballed.
- Errors can occur. If there are inaccuracies in your report, it’s best to catch them early. The quicker you identify and address any issues, the easier it is to get them corrected.
Acting quickly protects your rights and improves your chances of a fair outcome after your accident.
Contact Us
The attorneys at Wells Call Injury Lawyers understand how to obtain and read California accident reports.
After an accident, the difficulty of gathering evidence while recovering from your injuries often feels like an overwhelming task. Let us get to work building a strong case entitling you to just compensation after a car accident.
The first step is contacting us! We provide free consultations. The attorneys at Wells Call Injury Lawyers are here to help!
Frequently Asked Questions: California Accident Reports
A California accident report, prepared by the California Highway Patrol, is officially known as the CHP 555 traffic collision report. It documents the date and details of the collision, information collected by officers, witness statements, estimated damage, and often notes on impairment, fault, and road or weather conditions at the time of the crash.
Eligible requesters generally include insurance companies for the parties, attorneys for the parties, coroners, family members of the victim, parents of minor children, and the involved parties themselves. This list is not exhaustive, so other individuals may also qualify depending on the circumstances.
You can request your report online through the CHP’s Online Crash Portal, by mail, or in person at the CHP office where the report was filed. Both the mail and in-person methods require completing the CHP 190 form, Application for Release of Information.
Yes. The CHP’s Online Crash Portal lets you access your report for free using the QR code from the crash card you received after the accident, or by logging in and entering your crash card details directly.
The CHP 190 form is the Application for Release of Information required to request your accident report by mail or in person. It asks for the collision date and location, the driver or owner’s name, your relationship to the accident, your contact information, and a photocopy of your identification.
You send the completed CHP 190 form, along with the applicable payment, to the CHP office where your report was filed. That is usually the CHP office covering the area where the accident occurred, so confirm the correct office before mailing your request.
California generally applies a two-year statute of limitations to personal injury claims under Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. Requesting your accident report as soon as possible helps you stay ahead of that deadline while the details are still fresh.
Getting your report quickly helps while memories are still fresh, protects you against California’s strict filing deadlines, and lets you catch and correct any errors in the report early. Insurance companies also move fast to settle claims, so having your report sooner helps you negotiate from a stronger position.
Insurance companies rely heavily on the police accident report to determine who is liable and how much compensation should be paid. The report’s details on fault, impairment, and conditions at the scene can support your account of what happened or help dispute an inaccurate version of events.
You do not need one just to request the report, but an attorney can help you obtain it quickly, review it for errors, and use its findings to build your injury claim. This is especially useful if the report contains disputed fault determinations or incomplete information about the crash.
Resources
- State of California Traffic Collision Report (CHP 555), link.
- CHP Online Crash Portal, link.
- California Code CCP 335.1, Statute of Limitations, link.
- What Happens If There Is No Police Report for a Car Accident in CA?
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