If you were involved in a Georgia car accident, you can usually request a copy of the crash report from the law enforcement agency or government office that maintains it.
First, determine who investigated or maintains the report. If the Georgia State Patrol handled the crash, the Georgia Department of Public Safety provides a process for requesting the report, including through its EPORTS system. For other crash reports, you may need to contact the appropriate records office or the Georgia Department of Transportation, depending on where the report is maintained.
This guide explains which agency holds the report, who Georgia law allows to request one, how long it usually takes, and what the report does and does not prove in an injury claim.
Which Agency Has Your Crash Report
The process depends on which agency investigated the collision.
If Georgia State Patrol investigated the crash
The Georgia Department of Public Safety states that you can request Georgia State Patrol crash reports through its Open Records process. DPS also provides EPORTS, an online system for searching for and obtaining available crash reports prepared by Georgia State Patrol and certain other DPS divisions.
When making a request, provide as much identifying information as possible, such as:
- Your full name and contact information
- Date of the accident
- City and county where the crash occurred
- Names of people involved
- Crash or incident report number, if known
- Law enforcement agency that responded
- Officer’s name or badge number, if known
If another agency investigated the accident
Not every Georgia car accident police report is maintained by the Georgia State Patrol.
If a city police department or county sheriff’s office responded to your collision, contact that agency’s records division and ask about its accident report request process.
DPS also directs requesters seeking other crash reports to the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Crash Reporting Unit. GDOT’s Crash Reporting page says police crash reports can be bought online through BuyCrash or requested by mail with GDOT’s request form.
This distinction is important because requesting the report from the wrong agency can delay your search.
Who Can Request a Georgia Car Accident Report?
Georgia law places specific limits on access to individual Georgia Uniform Motor Vehicle Accident Reports.
Under O.C.G.A. section 50-18-72(a)(5), a written statement of need is generally required. The law identifies several circumstances that can establish the required need, including:
- You were involved in the accident.
- You were injured in the accident.
- You witnessed the accident.
- Your property was damaged.
- You have a personal, professional, or business connection with someone involved.
- You are an insurer for a person or property involved.
- You are alleged to be liable for the accident.
- You are an attorney representing someone connected to the matter.
The statute also provides that a person or entity whose name or identifying information appears in the report may receive a copy personally or through a lawyer or other representative.
In other words, you do not necessarily need to be the driver who caused the collision to have a legally recognized reason for requesting the report.
What Does a Georgia Accident Report Contain?
A Georgia accident report may contain information gathered by the responding officer during the crash investigation. Depending on the agency and report, it may identify the drivers and vehicles involved, document the location and circumstances of the collision, record reported injuries, identify witnesses, and include information about citations or the officer’s observations.
The report is useful, but you should not automatically treat it as the complete picture of what happened. Other evidence can include:
- Photos of the vehicles and crash scene
- Traffic or surveillance video
- Medical records
- Vehicle repair records
- Statements from people who witnessed the collision
- Insurance records
- Other physical or documentary evidence
For example, a passenger may have witnessed the collision and provided information that is relevant to what happened. You can learn more about witness statements and the role a passenger may play in a car accident claim.
What If the Police Report Is Not Available Yet?
Getting a police report after a car accident can provide an early record of the collision and may help establish basic facts about the people, vehicles, location, and circumstances involved.
However, the report does not necessarily resolve every question about fault or liability. Also, a crash report may not be available immediately after a collision.
Georgia State Patrol policy 17.03 states that a crash report is not considered complete until a supervisor reviews and approves it, and calls for the investigating member to complete it within three days of the crash unless circumstances prevent it.
That does not mean every report will be available to you within exactly three days. The report must go through the agency’s processing and records procedures before it can be released.
If you cannot find the report yet, keep your own records while you wait. Save photographs, medical documents, insurance correspondence, repair records, and information for anyone who witnessed the crash. If the other driver’s adjuster calls before the report is out, remember that you are not required to give them a recorded statement.
You can also review what to do after a car accident for other steps that may matter after a Georgia collision.
What Should You Do After Receiving the Accident Report?
Once you receive the report, read it carefully. Check the basic information, including the names of the people involved, date and location of the collision, vehicle information, reported injuries, witness information, and description of the crash.
Pay particular attention to how the officer described fault, because that description is often the insurer’s starting point. Georgia uses a modified comparative negligence system, which means a person’s damages may be reduced according to their percentage of fault. Under O.C.G.A. section 51-12-33, a person who is 50 percent or more responsible cannot recover damages at all.
If your crash happened in Paulding County, you can read more about how we handle injury claims in the Dallas area.
How The Gumprecht Law Firm Can Help
Thinking about how to get a police report for a car accident? Getting the police report is an important step after a Georgia car accident, but it is only one piece of evidence that may matter to an injury claim. The Gumprecht Law Firm can review the available information, explain the legal issues involved, and discuss your options during a free consultation.
Call us at (678) 800-1050 to discuss your car accident claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get a police report after a car accident in Georgia?
There is no single release time for every Georgia crash report. The investigating agency must complete and process the report before it can be released.
Can I get my Georgia accident report online?
Yes. Georgia State Patrol reports are available through the Department of Public Safety’s EPORTS system, and GDOT’s Crash Reporting page points to BuyCrash for police crash reports. If yours isn’t there, ask the agency that took the report.
Do I need a police report to file a car accident claim?
Not necessarily. A police report can provide useful information, but medical records, photographs, witness statements, vehicle evidence, and other documents may also support a car accident claim.
Can my lawyer request my Georgia car accident report?
Yes. Georgia law allows certain people, including an attorney representing someone connected to the accident, to obtain a Georgia Uniform Motor Vehicle Accident Report when the statutory requirements are met.