How to Get a Copy of a Florida Traffic Crash Report

If you or someone in your family was in a traffic crash, the police were likely called to the scene to make a report. This is a step-by-step guide to obtaining a Florida traffic crash report and explanation as to why you would need it.

If you are a client of Dismuke Law, we will obtain the traffic crash report for you, there is no need for you to go to the trouble of securing it.

Why get a copy of a Florida Traffic Crash Report?

This report is useful, and often even necessary, for making property damage or injury claims with the insurance company. The law dictates that the report must include:

1. The date, time, and location of the crash.
2. A description of the vehicles involved.
3. The names and addresses of the parties involved, including all drivers and passengers, and the identification of the vehicle in which each was a driver or a passenger.
4. The names and addresses of witnesses.
5. The name, badge number, and law enforcement agency of the officer investigating the crash.
6. The names of the insurance companies for the respective parties involved in the crash.

Most reports will also include details about how the accident occurred, if EMS was called for anyone involved, an estimate of the property damage to each vehicle, if and to whom a citation was issued, and more.

When can you get a copy of a Florida Traffic Crash Report?

The time it takes for a traffic crash report to become available varies. Florida Statutes requires that a crash report be completed and submitted to the department within ten days after an investigation is completed by the law enforcement officer. More often than not, if all parties involved in the crash remained at the scene when police arrived, and the collision did not cause a fatality, the investigation is complete on the same day as the crash, and the report becomes available within ten days. However, if circumstances create an extended investigation, the crash report will not be available to the public until the investigation has been completed.

How can you get a copy of a Florida Traffic Crash Report?

You can obtain a copy of the traffic crash report by visiting the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website. The total fee is $12 and can be paid by debit or credit card. You will be asked to provide your driver’s license or ID number (for proof of age and citizenship), the date of the crash, the county in which it occurred, and the last name of any party involved. Once purchased, the report will be immediately available for download.

If you have questions about your traffic crash, call us today at (863) 292-6922 to get started with a free consultation.