How to Read Your Pennsylvania Police Accident Report

If you’ve been involved in a Pennsylvania car accident, obtaining and understanding your police accident report is a crucial step in any legal or insurance claim. A Pennsylvania car accident report provides a comprehensive record of an accident, including details about the people and vehicles involved, the circumstances leading to the incident, the response of law enforcement, and the nature of damages and injuries. A police report can even confirm liability for the accident. However, deciphering the codes and jargon in the report can be challenging. Our Pennsylvania car accident lawyers at Solnick Lawyers can help you understand your Pennsylvania police accident report and guide you in your legal claim. 

Understanding Your Police Accident Report 

The Pennsylvania Police Accident Reporting form is an official form that can be found online, but there are varied forms used by different police departments, sometimes depending on the circumstances of the accident and the nature and degree of property damage and injuries incurred in an accident.  In most cases, the police report is prepared by the investigating police officer.  Click here to download a printable copy of the most detailed police accident form used by police departments in Pennsylvania. 

There are multiple pages and sections to the form, which can be difficult to understand when you obtain your copy. A seasoned car accident lawyer can help you review and understand your police accident report. A brief description of the standard long form Pennsylvania police report is set forth below.

Page 1

The first page of the report covers a lot of details about the accident including the investigating officer and agency, the time and place of the accident, when law enforcement arrived at the scene, the number of traffic units, how many people were involved, any fatalities or injuries, lane closures, and traffic control measures. It will also identify any intersections, landmarks, and principal roads.

Pages 2-3

Pages 2 and 3 cover the people involved (drivers and passengers), insurance company details, and vehicle information including features of vehicles involved such as whether they were illegally parked, a motorized vehicle, a train, or if it involved a pedestrian on skates or in a wheelchair, as well a damage description.  These pages also cover whether or not drugs or alcohol were involved or suspected in the accident.

Page 4

The next page sets forth additional information about the people involved, including both drivers and passengers, their birth and contact information, seating position, vehicle safety equipment, injuries, and the emergency medical services involved (if any).

Page 5

Page 5 relates to the details of the actual accident including general crash information, weather conditions, lighting, road conditions, environmental factors, possible vehicle failures, and actions of the drivers or any pedestrians, including causes of the accident and sometimes an assessment of fault. 

Page 6

This page allows space for a narrative of the accident and a diagram. This page can provide a lot of extra details about the accident and, like the rest of the report, may be relied on by a police officer when testifying about the accident in court. This is also where witness information and contact details will be recorded.

Who Can Obtain a Copy of a Police Accident Report?

In Pennsylvania, a copy of a police accident report can be requested by anyone involved in the accident, their attorney or insurer, government entities, branches of the military service, officials of political subdivisions, and agencies of other states or nations and their political subdivisions. This is regulated by law. If you are having difficulty proving that you are eligible to obtain a copy of a police accident report, our team at Solnick Lawyers may be able to help.

How Do I Request a Copy of My Police Accident Report in Pennsylvania?

If you have been involved in a car accident investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police, you can request a copy of your police accident report online at the Pennsylvania State Police Online Crash Report Requests website. The first step is to search for your accident report by incident number (if you have it) or by your name and the date of your accident. After that, you will submit an application for a copy of your accident report, which should be approved within 7 days. You will then receive an email with a link to pay for a copy of the report, which will be emailed to you after payment. Your lawyer can also help you obtain a copy of your police accident report.

If your accident involves a city or local police department, the procedure for obtaining a copy of the police report will vary.

If You’ve Been Involved in an Accident, Our Personal Injury Attorney Can Help

At Solnick Lawyers, we have been representing victims of Pennsylvania car accidents for years. We understand the nuances of the Pennsylvania police accident report and how critical it is to your car accident claim. A police accident report can determine fault and liability and is always a crucial piece of evidence in a claim. It is vitally important to read your Pennsylvania accident report thoroughly with your lawyer to ensure that there are no errors. If you need help obtaining or understanding your police accident report, or navigating the aftermath of a car accident, contact our experienced team at Solnick Lawyers today. Solnick Lawyers is on your side.