How to Get a Police Report After a Car Accident in Pennsylvania

If you were in a car accident in Pennsylvania and the police came to the scene, getting a copy of the police report is one of the most important steps you can take for your case. These police reports, also called crash reports, are written by the officer and describe what happened during and after the crash.

In this article, we will walk you through the steps to obtain a police report in Pennsylvania, what the reports will contain, and why they are so important.
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‍Do I Have to Report a Car Accident in Pennsylvania?

Not every car accident in Pennsylvania needs to be reported. If the crash only caused minor damage and no one was hurt, often called a “fender-bender,” you don’t need to file a police report.

You must report an accident if any of the following are true:

1. Someone was injured or killed in the crash.
2. A vehicle was damaged so badly it couldn't be safely driven and had to be towed.

If the driver of any vehicle is physically incapable of reporting an accident and a passenger is in the vehicle at the time of the accident, the passenger will need to report the incident in place of the driver as long as they are able to do so.

Once the initial investigation is completed, a police officer will provide each driver a signed statement that the accident was reported [2].

If for some reason police do not respond to an accident that results in injury, death or disabling damage, all drivers involved need to complete an AA-600 form, also known as a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Driver’s Accident Report, within 5 days of the incident. The report will then need to be sent to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)[3].

If you’re involved in a hit and run and the police don’t come to the scene, it's important to fill out an AA-600 form.

Your insurance company will likely need this form to process certain claims under your policy. Filing the form quickly helps protect your ability to recover damages from your own insurance.

The AA-600 form requires similar information to official police reports, which are detailed later in this blog.

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How to Obtain a Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Accident Report

If your crash was handled by the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), you can request a PSP crash report online or by mail. Reports are accessible 15 days after the date of the crash and copies cost $22.00 [1].

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Online

Using PSP’s Online Portal, you can order a copy of the crash report for your accident. There are two ways to request a report.

1. CAD/Case Number
2. The last name of an involved party and the date of the incident

Not sure if your report is through PSP? Report case numbers for PSP contain Pennsylvania’s abbreviation, the year of the incident, and a six-digit number. For example,your report number might look like this: PA 2025-123456.  

Once you’ve entered the info, click “Search.” If your report is available, it will appear at the top of the screen.

• Double check that these details match your accident:
  • CAD/Case Number
  • Date of the crash
  • Names of the people involved
  • Location, municipality, and county
• Select the report and enter your name, phone number and email address.
• Choose the reason for your request. If you were in the crash, select “involved in crash” and briefly explain your role.
• You will receive a confirmation email for your request. Requests can take 7 days to be approved or denied.
• Once approved, you will be taken to a payment portal where you can enter your card details. You will then be emailed a receipt and a download link for your report.

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Mail

To request a PSP report by mail:

1. Download and complete the request form (PDF).
2. Print and sign the form.
3. Include a money order or certified check for $22.00, made out to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
4. Mail everything to:
   • PA State Police
     Crash Reports Unit
     1800 Elmerton Avenue
     Harrisburg, PA 17110

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Getting a Report from Local Police or Other Agencies

If your accident was handled by a city or municipal police department in Pennsylvania, you’ll need to follow their specific process to get a local police accident report.

The easiest way to get are port is to visit the police department’s website. Look for their records department or administrative contact information. They can give you the report number, the cost, and explain how to request a copy.

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Why Is the Police Report Important for Your Car Accident Claim?

Getting a car accident police report in Pennsylvania might seem like a hassle, but it’s one of the most important parts of building your claim. These reports give an unbiased view of the crash. They help show who was at fault, what injuries happened, and what damage was done. The importance of police reports lies in the detailed information they provide.

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What’s in a Police Accident Report?

A Pennsylvania car accident police report, also called a crash report, includes many important details about the crash. While every police department may use a different format, the reports usually include the same key information.

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Police Agency Data

This will include dispatch and arrival time, the investigating officer’s name and badge number,and the reviewing officer's name and badge number.

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Crash Data

This includes the date,time, and location of the crash, plus the type of crash and road or weather conditions at the time.

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Involved Parties

Each person involved is listed under the car they were in (called a unit). The report will include their name, address, birth date, and any tickets or charges given at the scene.If the parties involved do not own the vehicle, it will also list the owner’s information.

Note: Sometimes information in these sections will be redacted or charges will be added later depending on the results of the department’s investigation.

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Vehicle Information

The vehicle involved will be described by make, model, year and color. Reports will also include license plate and VIN numbers if they are available and tow yard information if a vehicle needs to be removed from the scene.

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Witness Statements

If there are witnesses to the accident, the report will include their statements. These may be in a notes section if interviews were conducted later and not at the scene of the accident.

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Diagrams

Reports will often have diagrams depicting the area, vehicles and order of events to clarify how the incident occurred and why a certain party was at fault.

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Officer Notes / Narrative

Officer notes are usually found at the end of a report. These notes may include details about damage, injuries, and what drivers or witnesses said about the crash.

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Can You Correct Mistakes in a Police Report?

Sometimes, a Pennsylvania crash report may have mistakes that need to be corrected. If you notice something wrong in your report, you may be able to ask for a correction. What can be changed depends on the type of mistake.

For errors where the officer wrote something down incorrectly, contact the police department and ask to speak with the officer listed on the report. You will need some form of proof to have the error corrected. For example, if your address or birthday is incorrect, you can provide a copy of your driver’s license or a recent piece of mail. The same is true for missing information. For example, if you were injured and the officer notes no injuries, you can provide a photo from the incident or medical records proving you were injured at the scene.

If you disagree with an officer’s decision on fault/violations or a witness’s statement, these are harder to change. If the investigating officer determines that you are at fault or you disagree with a witness’s statement, these cannot be changed. However,you can ask for your version of events to be included somewhere in a corrected report or a supplemental police report. Supplemental reports are additional documents used to add or clarify information from the original report.

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Need Help Getting or Using Your Police Report?

Struggling to get or understand your accident report? Our car accident lawyers are here to help you figure it out. Contact us at Edgar Snyder and Associates for help with your police report. Our team can help you read through your report and use it to support your case. If you need help with a police report after a car accident in Pennsylvania, our team is ready to guide you.

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