You can request your Cincinnati car accident report in person, via mail, online, and email. You can pick your copy up at Police Records or opt to receive it in the mail. Some reports can be faxed or emailed, too. Provide as much information as possible with your request to help personnel find your report. For example, the police department recommends you include the date and location of the accident and the name of the person or persons involved.
Many types of compensation may be available if you have been hurt in a car accident. Call Young, Reverman & Bolotin at 513-400-0000 to discuss your case.
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Why You Should Get a Copy of Your Car Accident Report
Having a copy of your car accident report can help with insurance claims and legal action. Insurance companies use police reports as a valuable source of information for processing claims and determining liability. How are car accident claims calculated? They depend on the state, type of negligence, severity of injuries, lost wages, and other factors.
If you take legal action, it is important to have a copy of the report, since it serves as an official record of the incident. A report helps with documenting your car accident injuries. Many people also like to have their Cincinnati car accident report to keep in their own records and to use for future reference, if needed.
Law enforcement officers responding to the scene of an accident prepare the report. If no officers responded, the reports typically are self-reported, sometimes with additional third-party documentation such as medical records, witness statements, and photos or videos of damage, road conditions, and license plates. The details in your report may include:
- Date, time, and location (address or intersection) of the accident
- Names, contact information, and insurance details of drivers, passengers, and witnesses
- Descriptions of the vehicles involved, including make, model, and license plate numbers
- An account of how the accident occurred, along with a visual representation of the scene
- Any citations that officers issued, apparent violations, and initial determinations of fault
Historical figures as of mid-March 2025 show that the overwhelming majority of Cincinnati traffic accidents involve at least one driver (49,052 accidents), while about 8,297 involve a passenger, and about 970 involve a pedestrian.
Requesting a Car Accident Report in Cincinnati
You can request a car accident report online using the online records request system, in person at the Police Records Section, by calling, or emailing. Going in person could mean you get the report right then, if it is ready.
Include your contact details with all requests in case customer service needs more information to locate the right documents. Accident reports are available and accessible only after officials have reviewed and approved them.
If you email, indicate how you want to receive your report. Not all reports are able to be emailed, so indicate whether you also could pick a copy up in person or prefer one be mailed to you. If you file your request in person, on the phone, or through the online system, follow the options there for how to receive your report.
What Information Do You Need to Get Your Accident Report?
Part of how to get accident records is to have as much information as possible ready when you request a copy. The date and time of the accident, the location, the names of the involved parties, and the vehicle information can help with locating the report.
How Long Does It Take to Get Your Cincinnati Car Accident Report?
A car accident report might be ready as soon as five to seven days after a crash, especially if the accident was minor. In severe crashes or those involving fatalities, investigations may be necessary and could add weeks or months to the time it takes to compile the report.
Once the report is reviewed and approved, you may be able to get it immediately if you go in person to request your copy. If you want your copy electronically, you should be able to get it within a few days. Mailed reports take a few days longer than electronic copies, depending on postal delivery days and times.
If your accident report is not available, and you think it should be, follow up with the Cincinnati Police Records Section, the agency that responded to your accident, or a car accident lawyer.
What to Do If Your Cincinnati Accident Report Contains Errors
Accident reports need to be accurate, since insurance companies and courts use them to help assess fault and liability. For example, if a report makes an incorrect statement about failure to yield, the wrong person could end up with primary responsibility for the accident. A failure to yield car accident lawyer may be able to help with corrections and compensation for injuries. If you identify errors in your accident report, take these steps:
- Review the report carefully at least once again to check for other errors.
- Contact the officer who filed the report and provide supporting evidence for the errors. The officer may be able to change the report.
- Submit a formal request for correction to the police records department if contacting the officer does not lead to accurate information being included in the report. Outline the errors and include the evidence for correction.
- Consult a car accident lawyer in Cincinnati, especially if the errors are serious enough to affect insurance claims or court proceedings.
Motor vehicle accident lawyers can take the lead in correcting your report and advise you on the next steps in communicating with insurance companies or other parties. Dealing with car accidents is stressful and frustrating. Young, Reverman & Bolotin can help at all stages with the search for compensation. Contact us today.
