# Crash report

> A crash report is the official report an officer writes after a crash, with drivers, vehicles, witnesses and notes. How claims use it and how to get one.

Canonical page: https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/crash-report/  
Last reviewed: October 29, 2026 by the Accident Claim Facts editorial team  
General information, not legal advice. Talk to a licensed attorney in your state.

## Quick answer

A crash report, often called a police or accident report, is the official report an officer writes after investigating a crash. It records the drivers, vehicles, insurers, witnesses, road and weather conditions and the officer's notes, often with a diagram. Insurers use it as a starting point when they decide fault.

## In a car accident claim

Not every crash gets one, and the rules differ by state. In Texas, an officer who investigates must write a report when a crash causes injury or death, or property damage of $1,000 or more to any one person, and file it within 10 days. A regular copy then costs $6 from the state. Some states also require drivers to file their own report: in California, drivers file a form with the DMV within 10 days of a crash with injury, death or damage over $1,000.

Each state designs its own form, guided by a voluntary national standard from NHTSA. The officer's notes on fault are an opinion, not a final ruling, and insurers weigh them alongside photos, video and statements. Our guide to the [police report](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/claim-process/police-report/) explains how to get and read one, and [the first 72 hours after a car accident](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/blog/first-72-hours-after-a-car-accident/) covers why the report number matters early in the [claim process](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/claim-process/).

## Example

> **Example:** Two drivers collide at an intersection, and each says the other ran the red light. The officer's report records both statements, a witness's account and the damage to each car. Both insurers use the report, along with photos and a nearby store's video, to decide who was at fault.

## Related terms

- [Insurance adjuster](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/adjuster/)
- [Hit-and-run](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/hit-and-run/)
- [Comparative negligence](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/comparative-negligence/)

## FAQ

### How do I get a copy of my crash report?

Ask the police agency that wrote it, or use your state's online system. In Texas, for example, reports are sold through TxDOT, and a regular copy costs $6.

### Can a crash report be corrected?

Factual mistakes, such as a wrong plate number or insurer, are handled by the agency that wrote the report. Michigan State Police, for example, say corrections are made by the reporting agency.

## Sources

- [NHTSA, Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria](https://www.nhtsa.gov/traffic-records/model-minimum-uniform-crash-criteria) — the voluntary national guideline for crash report data
- [TxDOT, Crash reports and records](https://www.txdot.gov/data-maps/crash-reports-records.html) — buying a Texas crash report
- [Michigan State Police, Traffic Crash Reporting Unit FAQ](https://www.michigan.gov/msp/divisions/cjic/traffic-crash-reporting-unit/tcru---frequently-asked-questions) — corrections are made by the reporting agency
- [Texas Legislature, Transportation Code § 550.062(a)](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.550.htm), checked October 29, 2026
- [California DMV, Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR 1, Rev. 6/2025)](https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/file/report-of-traffic-accident-occurring-in-california-sr-1-pdf/), checked October 29, 2026