How to Read a North Carolina Police Report | James Scott Farrin (2024)

After you’ve been involved in a car accident, the officer at the scene will investigate the wreck and record their findings in a report.

This “accident report” can play a big role in determining how much an insurance company offers you for your damages.

This is especially true in North Carolina because North Carolina is a contributory negligence state. Basically, if the insurance company can prove that you were negligent in any way, you may get nothing — even if the other driver was clearly reckless. Whether that rule makes any sense is a discussion for another time. Right now, you want to protect yourself against the insurance company and their team that may be looking to try to prove you contributed to the accident in some way.

That’s why obtaining — and knowing how to read — an accident report is so important.

Watch Now! Step by step through your North Carolina police report.

Obtaining Your North Carolina Accident Report

You may be wondering how to look up an accident report in North Carolina. Unfortunately, online is not currently one of your options for getting one. Here’s how it works:

All crash reports are collected at the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles. First, fill out this form. Then, mail it along with a $5.50 fee to the address on the form. You can also drop off the form and payment in person at the Raleigh headquarters (1100 New Bern Ave). Finally, you can obtain a copy of your crash report by calling (919) 861-3098.

NC Accident Report Guide: How to Read a Police Report

To help you, we’ve included a car accident police report sample with comments for you to use as a guide.

If you have questions about any information on your accident report, don’t hesitate to contact one of our North Carolina car accident lawyers.

How to Read a North Carolina Police Report | James Scott Farrin (1)

Where is the Incident Number on a NC Police Report?

The police report incident number, also known as the DMV assigned crash case identifier, is located in the box in the top right-hand corner of the report. This box has the words “Do not write in these spaces” at the top to prevent anyone but the DMV from assigning the police report incident number. This number will help you identify your case when speaking with others about it.

Section A: The Basics

The section we’ve marked A on the police report is for the officer to record the setting and basic circumstances of the wreck. When and where did it happen? Specific details should be recorded by the officer. For example, did the crash occur on a service road or a highway entry ramp?

Section B: Vehicle and Driver Information

Section B, marked in orange, is where information on the drivers and their vehicles gets recorded. Or one of the parties may be a pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle. Special circumstances, including the involvement of a commercial vehicle (like a truck) or the accident being a hit and run incident, are also recorded here. Some officer observations, like possible vision obstructions in the cars or on the roadway or suspected alcohol/drug use, may appear here, as well.

Section C: Contact Information

Section C is where contact information for everyone involved in the wreck gets recorded for when you need to follow up. Page 1 of the North Carolina accident report ends with a place for officers to record details of any EMS professionals who responded to the crash scene.

How to Read a North Carolina Police Report | James Scott Farrin (2)

Section D: Who Was At Fault?

Section D is for the police officer to offer their thoughts on how the accident happened. As the neutral and experienced agent of law enforcement on the scene, the officer’s observations and conclusions are taken seriously. The officer will say how they think things happened, who might have been speeding, and who might have ignored a traffic signal. Witnesses are listed near the bottom of page two of the police report.

Section E: Diagram

Section E, meanwhile, is for the officer to recreate the auto accident through some kind of diagram. Together, Section D and Section E may make the other party’s negligence clear — or it may raise questions of your own possible contributory negligence.

These two sections are not necessarily the end all and be all of the case, but knowing how to read your accident report and ensuring the details are accurate is certainly something you want to be comfortable with following your wreck.

Download a printable copy of How to Read a North Carolina Accident Report.

See Any Mistakes in Your Police Report?

Carefully review the entire police report for mistakes. The smallest mistake, like the wrong time of day, could impact your case. If you believe your report contains errors, contact an attorney immediately.

If you’ve been injured in an accident and are concerned about your report, or just want to try to make sure you’re treated fairly, call us at 1-866-900-7078. One of our experienced car accident attorneys will evaluate your case (for free!).

Text Us

Remember: every day you wait to take action could do damage to your case.

How to Read a North Carolina Police Report | James Scott Farrin (2024)

FAQs

How do you read a collision report in NC? ›

Your accident report will have many components, such as information on:
  1. The names of the drivers involved.
  2. The owners of the vehicles.
  3. The road and/or weather conditions at the time of the crash.
  4. The types (make and model) of the vehicles involved.
  5. A summary of what happened (“contributing circumstances”).

How to read a crash report? ›

What to Look for in an Accident Report
  1. The time, date, and location of the accident.
  2. The vehicles involved, along with the drivers, owners, and any passengers involved in the accident.
  3. Whether anyone involved in the accident was taken to a hospital.
  4. Contact information for all the drivers involved in the accident.
Dec 5, 2023

How do I find my police report in NC? ›

To request records regarding criminal and civil cases, police reports and traffic citations, contact the North Carolina Judicial Branch or the Clerk of Court in the county where the citation was issued.

How do I get a police report in South Carolina? ›

You can call (843) 577-7434 and Press 1 for Records for assistance or come to the Records Office at the Police Department headquarters at 180 Lockwood Boulevard. The cost of the Police report is $5. There is no cost for crime victims to obtain their incident reports. Be sure and bring a state-issued ID/license.

Is unit 1 at fault in NC? ›

Investigating officers will customarily designate the vehicle they think caused the accident as Unit 1, but this is not a legal determination of fault. Insurance companies and lawyers use police collision reports to get the information they need to settle claims and resolve disputes around MVAs.

What is a non-reportable accident in NC? ›

Crashes with injuries must be reported to local law enforcement, resulting in the officer(s) filing a crash report otherwise known as a form DMV-349. These are called “reportable crash reports.” Non-reportable crash reports are those that involve property damage of $1,000.00 or less and no bodily injury.

How do you Analyse a crash report? ›

Overview
  1. Start from the user's perspective.
  2. Group multiple crash reports according to similar and unique details.
  3. Check the header to identify the crash environment.
  4. Identify the exception information.
  5. Look for diagnostic messages.
  6. Read the backtraces.
  7. Understand the crashed thread's registers.

How to read a crash report on an iPhone? ›

Retrieving iOS crash logs
  1. Open Settings. app.
  2. Tap Privacy, then scroll down and tap Analytics.
  3. Tap Analytics Data.
  4. Locate the log for the app that crashed. The filename will use this format: <AppName>_<DateTime>_<DeviceName>
  5. Tap the crash log to open it.
  6. Email the crash log to the Support Human you were working with:
Jun 27, 2024

What is considered a severe crash? ›

Serious car accidents result in life-threatening injuries to the involved parties. The cars involved may be totaled or require extensive repairs, while injured parties may require intensive medical treatment or have permanent disabilities.

Are local police reports public record? ›

Californians have the right under the state Public Records Act and the California Constitution to access public information maintained by local and state government agencies, including the Department of Justice.

How to look up someone's charges in NC? ›

Information about criminal cases in the North Carolina court system can be accessed by visiting a public, self-service terminal located at a clerk of court's office in any county. You can use the terminal to search for cases by defendant name, case number, or victim or witness name.

Can you access NC court records online? ›

NCAOC offers online remote access to both criminal and civil information from all 100 North Carolina counties. The North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts (NCAOC) offers online remote access to both criminal and civil information from all 100 North Carolina counties.

How do I get a copy of a police report in North Charleston, SC? ›

You can always call the North Charleston Police Department at (800) 559-5741 and ask to speak with the Records Department.

Are South Carolina police reports public record? ›

Anyone may request public records and a statement of purpose is not required. The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act prohibits the use of police reports, information about disabled individuals and employee information for commercial purposes.

Where is the report number on a SC accident report? ›

You can locate the police report incident number in the upper left corner of the South Carolina police report. The Department of Public Safety adds the incident number on the police report above the rectangular box with the words “D.P.S. USE ONLY” at the top left-hand corner of the form above Section A.

How do you read a Carfax accident? ›

On a Carfax Vehicle History Report, shoppers can often see an overhead diagram of the vehicle, with shading to indicate where the damage occurred. In some cases, the report includes information on the severity of the crash (see graphic above). The diagram identifies where the impact was.

When you are involved in a collision you must report to your insurance company when? ›

Notify your agent and/or your insurance company immediately. If anyone is injured or the vehicle damage exceeds $750.00, you must report the accident to the Department of Motor Vehicles within 10 days.

How long does it take to get a crash report in NC? ›

You may request a certified crash report from the NC DMV. Crashes investigated by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol since May 16, 2013, are available in this system. Reports will normally be entered into the system within 5 to 7 business days.

Which type of collision must be reported? ›

A collision must be reported to police when there are any injuries, damage exceeds $5,000 or you are the victim of a hit and run.

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