In Car Accident- How Do I Get a Copy of The Police Report? What Happens If There Was No Police Report Done?

If you were in a Car Accident in Pennsylvania, the Police typically will do a Police Accident Investigation Report. This is not the same as the one page "Notice of Accident Investigation" that you may have received from the Officer at the accident scene. Typically, the full Accident Investigation Report takes about 5 days for the Police Department to complete. It usually requires the supvervisor or Sargeant to review it and sign off. You can get a copy by contacting the Police Department and requesting the Report be sent to you. Or, you can stop in to pick it up. Most Departments will charge $15 for the Report. First, ask your insurance company to give you a copy - they may have already ordered it and then you won't have to pay. If the Accident happened on a State Route, such as I-76 (Schuylkill Expressway), or if it happened in an area patrolled by the State Police (such as some areas of Route 422 or Route 100 or Route 73), then the State Police respond and do the Report. It usually takes the State Police longer to do the full Report (usually about 2 1/2- 3 weeks). You would need to call the State Police Barracks to ask for a copy if your insurance company doesn't have it.

Sometimes the Police will not do a Report. If there were no injuries reported at the scene and/or both vehicles were driveable, then they may not do a Report.

If the Police do not do a Report, make sure you promptly contact your insurance company anyway to notify them of the auto accident. In Pennsylvania, the Police Report itself is not admissible in Court. So, whether a Report is done or not, if the case went to Court, you would still have to prove liability on the other driver. NOTE: Even though not admissible, the insurance company uses the Police Report to help them decide who is at fault. If you know of any witnesses, and no Police Report is done, it is important to obtain a witness statement from any witnesses.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or would like more information.


David Schreiber, Esq.
Personal Injury Accident Lawyer
Of Counsel
Law Offices of Thomas Wolpert, P.C.
(610) 792-3304