How to Read an Accident Report

Accident reports provide helpful information following car accidents. You should request a copy, whether the collision involved a passenger car, pedestrian, commercial truck, or motorcyclist. The officer writing the report should include relevant details, such as their determination of fault and any contributing factors that led to the accident.

Most people don’t know how to read an accident report. It’s often confusing and difficult to decipher the information in each section. You should review the details below, so you know how to read your accident report. Feel free to contact us for a free consultation if you have any questions- Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP has all the experience you’ll need.

One of the most important documents you’ll need.

Location and Time

The first box on an Alabama accident report consists of basic details related to the accident, including:

• Date, time, and location of the accident
• Number of vehicles involved
• First harmful event and its location
• Number of injuries and fatalities
• Crash severity
• Manner of the collision
• Primary circumstances contributing to the accident

Driver Information

The next box includes specific information for every driver involved in the crash. If there’s more than one driver, the report will identify them by a number. For example, if there were two drivers, one driver would be identified as driver one and the other as driver number two.

Information about the drivers often includes:

• Full name
• Address and phone number
• Date of birth
• The direction of travel prior to the crash
• Driver’s license number and issuing state
• Employer’s name
• The sequence of events before the accident
• Condition of the motorists
• Whether a driver had drugs or alcohol in their system

Vehicle Information

Document all damages- personal and property.

The following section includes details regarding the cars involved in the accident, such as:

• Year, make, model, and color of the vehicle
• Car owner’s name and address
• Auto insurance carrier name and policy number
• License plate number
• The severity of damage to the car
• Vehicle identification number (VIN)
• Location and severity of damage to the car
• Whether someone towed the vehicle from the scene and the name of the towing company
• Car defects contributing to the collision
• Posted speed limit and the estimated speed limit of the vehicle

Seating Position Codes

This box on a police report has codes indicating where in the vehicles each person was sitting, and whether other parties, such as pedestrians, domestic animals, or non-motorized vehicles were involved.

Victims

The victim section includes information about other people involved in the crash, such as passengers in the vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists. The details you might find in this box include:

• Name, address, and phone number
• Age, sex, and birthdate of the occupant or non-motorist
• The seat position in the car
• Type of injury suffered in the accident
• Whether the passenger wore a seatbelt
• Whether the airbag deployed
• Ambulance service used to transport the victim, and the name of the medical facility

Diagram

A box is available for the investigating officer to draw a diagram based on what they believe happened. The officer can show details, such as:

• The direction each vehicle traveled prior to the crash
• Actions taken by the drivers, such as turning right or entering a parking lot
• Where the cars ended up after the collision
• Whether a car hit a curb, tree, wall, or pedestrian

Narrative

The narrative section gives law enforcement a space to write the version of events they believe led to the crash. They can include the same information they used in the diagram, such as the direction of travel and driver behavior, but in the form of words and phrases. If you need more clarity on this topic, contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Roadway Environment

The roadway environment box consists of various details regarding situational elements and environmental factors associated with the accident. Common information includes:

• Road or bridge involved
• Type of road surface
• Number of cars involved
• Condition of the road at the time of the collision
• Whether the accident involved a work zone and whether workers were present
• Environmental circumstances contributing to the crash
• Curve and grade of the road
• Any objects obstructing the driver’s vision
• Light conditions
• Weather conditions
• Traffic control devices in the area of the crash
• Number of occupants in the vehicles
• Number of injuries and fatalities

Investigation

An accident report concludes with information about the investigation. The officer should complete each box with details, such as:

• Investigating officer’s name, ID number, and agency ORI
• The time law enforcement arrived at the accident scene
• Name of the photographer at the crash site
• The time EMS arrived and the response run number
• The time someone notified police of the collision

Contact Us

Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP understands the importance of requesting a copy of the accident report. It often includes valuable information to prove what happened. When you pursue an insurance claim or lawsuit, you need evidence to show that someone else is at fault for your injury. An accident report and other important documents could provide the information necessary to hold the other driver or another party liable.

If you were injured in a car accident in Alabama, do not hesitate to contact Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP. One of our Birmingham car accident lawyers can meet you for a free consultation to discuss your case. Call now at (205) 324-1212.