Your LAPD traffic collision report is the first document an insurance adjuster asks for after a crash in the City of Los Angeles. It names the drivers, lists their insurance, records what each person told the officer, and often states which driver the officer believed caused the collision. Borna Houman Law represents injured people across Los Angeles from our Santa Monica office at 2530 Wilshire Blvd, and getting this report is one of the first things we do on a new car accident case.
This guide explains who can get an LAPD collision report, how to request it online or by mail, what to do if a different agency took the report, and how the report can and cannot be used in your claim.
Key Takeaway: To get an LAPD traffic collision report, wait at least 45 days after the crash, then request it online through LAPD’s LexisNexis portal or by mail with a $19 check to LAPD Records and Identification Division, P.O. Box 30158, Los Angeles, CA 90030. Only involved parties and their representatives qualify.
Hurt in a crash in Los Angeles? We request the collision report, the 911 audio, and the camera footage for you, before the insurance company frames the story. No fee unless we win. Call (888) 42-BORNA for a free consultation.
Who can get an LAPD traffic collision report?
Only people with a proper interest in the crash can get an LAPD traffic collision report. Collision reports are not open to the general public the way an arrest log is.
Vehicle Code section 20012 limits release to people with a proper interest. LAPD’s own traffic report request page lists the people who qualify: drivers, injured people and other victims, vehicle owners, parents or guardians of a minor involved in the crash, and an authorized representative such as your attorney or insurance company.
If your lawyer or insurer requests the report, they need your signed authorization. Parents and guardians must include proof of the relationship.
How do you request an LAPD collision report online?
You request an LAPD collision report online through the LexisNexis police report portal that LAPD uses, and you should wait at least 45 days after the crash before you try. LAPD needs that time to review and approve the report for release.
The online portal does not work for every report. Reports that involve an arrest, a fatality, or a juvenile cannot be released online, and neither can reports taken before February 1, 2016. Those must be requested by mail.
Have your report number ready. LAPD calls it the DR number, and the officer usually hands it to you on a small card or slip at the scene. If you lost it, the date, time, location, and the names of the drivers will usually let the records unit find it.
How do you request an LAPD collision report by mail?
You request an LAPD collision report by mail by sending the Traffic Collision Report Request form with a $19 check or money order payable to the Los Angeles Police Department. LAPD will not accept cash by mail.
Mail it to: Los Angeles Police Department, Records and Identification Division, Document Processing Unit, P.O. Box 30158, Los Angeles, CA 90030.
If you write a letter instead of using the form, LAPD asks for these details:
- Your name, address, phone number, and date of birth.
- The DR or incident number, if you have it.
- The names of the parties, and the date, time, and location of the crash.
- The license plate and state for each vehicle.
- Your interest in the report, with a release form if you are a representative or an insurer.
- A signed and dated declaration that your statement is true and correct.
Missing information slows the request down. Send a copy of the slip the officer gave you if you still have it.
What if LAPD did not take the report?
If the crash happened outside LAPD’s jurisdiction, you request the report from the agency that responded. The City of Los Angeles is surrounded by cities with their own police and by freeways patrolled by the California Highway Patrol.
Crashes on freeways and on unincorporated county roads are handled by the CHP. You request those with the CHP 190 form from the CHP area office that took the report, and the CHP charges $10 for a report of 1 to 25 pages.
Santa Monica has its own police department. The City of Santa Monica takes requests through its police report request page, and its Records Unit tells you the fee, if any, after it receives your request. Beverly Hills and Culver City also run their own departments, while Malibu and West Hollywood contract with the Los Angeles County Sheriff.
| Where the crash happened | Agency | How to request | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Los Angeles surface streets | LAPD | LexisNexis portal after 45 days, or by mail | $19 by mail |
| Freeways and unincorporated county roads | CHP | CHP 190 form to the area office | $10 for 1 to 25 pages |
| City of Santa Monica | Santa Monica PD | City public records request | Quoted after request |
| Malibu, West Hollywood | LA County Sheriff | Sheriff station that responded | Set by the Sheriff |
| Beverly Hills, Culver City | City police department | That department’s records unit | Set by the city |
What if the police never came to the scene?
If no officer came, there may be no collision report at all, and you still have reporting duties of your own. LAPD often does not send an officer to a crash where nobody is hurt and the cars can move.
California requires every driver in a crash that injures anyone or causes more than $1,000 in property damage to file an SR-1 report with the DMV within 10 days. That duty applies whether or not you caused the crash, and missing it can lead to a license suspension.
If you were hurt and no report was taken, you can still go to an LAPD station and report the collision. A report made later is less detailed than one taken at the scene, so photograph everything and get witness names right away.
A report matters most in a hit-and-run. Your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage pays when the other driver flees, and insurers commonly expect prompt reporting to the police before they will pay a UM claim. Our hit-and-run accident guide explains how UM and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage work.
Can the police report be used as evidence in court?
No, a California traffic collision report generally cannot be used as evidence at trial. Vehicle Code section 20013 bars the use of an accident report as evidence in any trial arising out of the accident.
The report still matters outside the courtroom. Insurance adjusters read it first and lean on it heavily during settlement talks. The officer’s opinion about fault often sets the adjuster’s opening position.
At trial, the people named in the report still matter. The officer, the witnesses, and the drivers can testify about what they saw, and their names are in the report. In our experience, the report is most valuable as a map of who to call.
What should you check when the report arrives?
Check the parties, the insurance information, the statements, and the primary collision factor before you hand the report to any adjuster. Errors in those sections cost real money in settlement.
The primary collision factor is the officer’s conclusion about the main cause of the crash, usually tied to a Vehicle Code section such as unsafe speed or an unsafe turn. If it names you and you disagree, do not argue with the adjuster about it. Talk to a lawyer first.
Look at the diagram and the narrative. If your statement is missing or wrong, or a witness is left out, LAPD may accept a request for a supplemental report or correction, but it will not change the officer’s opinion simply because you disagree. Read our guide on what not to say to an insurance adjuster before you discuss the report with anyone.
How does the collision report fit into your injury claim?
The collision report starts your claim but does not prove it. You still need medical records, photos, witness statements, and proof of lost income to recover what you are owed.
Deadlines keep running while you wait for the report. You have two years to sue a driver under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, and only six months to file a claim if a city bus, a city vehicle, or a road defect was involved. Our California statute of limitations guide breaks down each deadline.
If a lawsuit is filed later, you can track it with the Los Angeles Superior Court case lookup. If you were hit on the Westside, our Santa Monica car accident lawyer page explains how we handle these cases from start to finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get an LAPD traffic collision report?
LAPD says to wait at least 45 days before requesting a report online, because the report must be reviewed and approved first. Mailed requests take longer to process. Reports involving an arrest, a fatality, or a juvenile take longer still.
How much does an LAPD collision report cost?
A mailed request costs $19, paid by check or money order to the Los Angeles Police Department. LAPD does not accept cash by mail. Online requests go through the LexisNexis portal.
Can I get my LAPD accident report online?
Yes, for most reports taken on or after February 1, 2016. Reports involving an arrest, a fatality, or a juvenile must be requested by mail.
Is a police report required for an insurance claim in California?
No law requires a police report before you file an insurance claim. But a report makes the claim much easier to prove, and you must file an SR-1 with the DMV within 10 days if anyone was hurt or damage exceeded $1,000.
Can my lawyer get the police report for me?
Yes. Vehicle Code section 20012 allows an authorized representative to request the report. Your attorney includes your signed authorization with the request.
What if the police report blames me for the crash?
The report is not evidence at trial under Vehicle Code section 20013, and California uses pure comparative fault, so you can recover even if you were partly at fault. Your recovery is reduced by your share. Talk to a lawyer before you accept the officer’s conclusion.
Do not let the insurance company read the report first. Borna Houman Law gets your collision report, checks it for errors, and builds the claim around the evidence the report points to. Call (888) 42-BORNA for a free consultation.
Written by Borna Houman, Esq., California State Bar No. 352339, Borna Houman Law, 2530 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA.
Disclaimer: This article is general information, not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Agency procedures and fees change; confirm current requirements with the agency that took your report, and consult an attorney about your specific situation.