After responding to a North Carolina car accident call, the investigating police officer is tasked with preparing an official report.
If you were involved in a collision, the official North Carolina car accident report could be a key part of your personal injury attorney’s initial information-gathering process.
What Is Included in an NC Crash Report?
Accident reports in North Carolina contain valuable details about collisions, including:
- The names of the drivers involved
- Information about the vehicles involved
- The date, time, and location at which the accident occurred
- Information about whether drugs or alcohol may have played a role
- The officer’s understanding of the sequence of events leading up to and during the collision
- A diagram of the accident scene
While the officer’s observations and the NC collision report are not the final word on what happened and who was responsible for the crash, they do provide a valuable starting point for further investigation.
How to Get an Accident Report in North Carolina
You may have several options for accessing the official NC crash report after a car accident. If you know which law enforcement agency responded to the collision – such as a local police department or the North Carolina State Highway Patrol – you can reach out to them directly.
If you don’t know which agency responded, the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) gets reports from all statewide police agencies. These reports are generally available within 3 to 7 days after the crash.
Here’s how to access the report:
- Online – While individuals cannot order a report online, your attorney can do so for you with some basic information about the crash.
- In person – Bring the completed request form to the Raleigh Central Services/License Plate Agency at 4121 New Bern Avenue or the Huntersville License Plate Agency at 12101 Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road. If you’re requesting a single report, you should receive it immediately.
- By mail – Mail the completed form and a check for $6.50 to the NCDMV Traffic Records Branch, Crash Reports Unit, at 3106 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27697-3106. Allow approximately 10 business days for the NCDMV to process your request.
Common Issues When Requesting NC Collision Reports
It is not unusual to run into issues when requesting an official North Carolina accident report. Most delays stem from administrative overload or information being omitted from the initial request. Take extra care to ensure you’re providing accurate information from the outset.
Other times, you may receive the report quickly, but notice that it includes errors about you, your vehicle, or the circumstances surrounding the crash. The easiest way to resolve any problems involving your accident report is to have an experienced car accident lawyer from Kornbluth Ginsberg Law Group, P.A., handle the process for you.
Our attorneys request and review crash reports all the time. We can manage these steps while you focus on healing.
Get Help from a North Carolina Car Accident Lawyer
If you got hurt in a car accident another driver caused, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and other losses. Kornbluth Ginsberg has decades of combined experience supporting car accident victims in Durham, Sanford and all across North Carolina.
Contact our office online today or call us 24/7 at 919-980-9895 to arrange a free initial consultation to discuss your case with a North Carolina car accident attorney at our law firm.
