Accidents move fast. This guide doesn't. Every step below is attorney-reviewed, specific to Los Angeles, California law, and written in plain language instead of legal jargon — with each answer linked to its source, so you don't miss what matters.
In Los Angeles, which agency wrote your crash report depends on where the crash happened. City streets are usually LAPD territory; freeways (the 101, 405, 10, 110 and the rest) belong to the California Highway Patrol. Insurers and attorneys will ask for the report early, so knowing which agency to ask, and how, saves weeks.
This guide applies to crashes in the City of Los Angeles and on California freeways. Other cities and states have their own agencies and procedures.
To get your Los Angeles crash report:
- Crash on a city street: request the traffic collision report from the LAPD, by mail or in person through its Records and Identification Division. You will need the report number (from the officer's business card or exchange slip), the date, and the parties' names.
- Crash on a freeway: request the report from the California Highway Patrol using form CHP-190, or through the CHP's online collision-report portal.
- Who can request it: parties to the crash and their representatives (insurers, attorneys). Crash reports are not public records available to anyone.
- Timing: reports are often available within one to three weeks; serious-injury investigations take longer. A small copying fee applies; the current amount is listed on each agency's request form.
Quick Answer: Source Index3◎ 3 GOVclaim-level sources
LAPD: Los Angeles Police Department (collision report requests)LAPD: Los Angeles Police Department (collision report requests)✓ Official (source-only)
CHP iSWITRS: Collision Report PortalCHP iSWITRS: Collision Report Portal✓ Official (source-only)
California DMV: SR-1 Report of Traffic AccidentCalifornia DMV: SR-1 Report of Traffic Accident✓ Official (source-only)
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What You're Experiencing
Your insurer or attorney asked for the police report, or you want the official record of your crash, and you are not sure which agency has it or how to request it.
What This Likely Means
- If the crash was on a surface street in LA → LAPD wrote the report; request it from the Records and Identification Division
- If the crash was on a freeway → CHP wrote it; use form CHP-190 or the CHP portal
- If the crash was in another city in LA County (Santa Monica, Pasadena, Long Beach) → That city's police department holds it
- If officers never responded → There is likely no report; your own documentation and the SR-1 filing carry the record
Your Options
You Can Do This
- •Find the report number on the officer's card or exchange slip
- •Request the report from the correct agency (LAPD for streets, CHP for freeways)
- •File your DMV SR-1 within 10 days if anyone was hurt or damage exceeds $1,000
- •Read the report for factual errors as soon as you get it
Attorney Handles
- •Pulls the report as your representative, often faster
- •Submits supplemental statements when the report has errors
- •Uses the report alongside photos and witnesses, not instead of them
- •Handles the insurer conversations the report triggers
Avoid Doing This
- •Waiting for the report before seeing a doctor. Medical care comes first; the report can follow.
- •Skipping the SR-1 because police took a report. They are separate duties, and the SR-1 deadline is 10 days.
- •Treating the report's fault box as the final word. It is evidence, not a verdict.
- •Giving the at-fault insurer a recorded statement just because they say they need it for the report. They do not.
What This Typically Costs
Crash report copies cost a small fee set by each agency, listed on the request form. If an attorney is handling your claim, pulling the report is part of the work, not an extra charge.
When to Get Help
Many situations on this page are manageable on your own. The Your Options section above shows what people commonly handle themselves and where an attorney typically adds value.
These signals usually mean it is time to talk to a licensed attorney:
- 1
If the report wrongly blames you and injuries are involved → The fault notation affects the whole claim; this is worth professional attention.
- 2
If the other driver's information in the report turns out to be false or uninsured → Your own UM coverage may apply; see the uninsured motorist guide.
- 3
If the agency says no report exists and you were hurt → Documentation built now substitutes for it later; an attorney can help reconstruct the record.
A consultation is information, not a commitment. Free consultations are standard at California personal injury firms.
Key Numbers
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| City-street crashes | LAPD traffic collision report (Records and Identification Division) | .gov ✓LAPD(as of 2026) |
| Freeway crashes | CHP report, requested with form CHP-190 or the online portal | .gov ✓CHP iSWITRS portal(as of 2026) |
| Driver self-report to DMV (separate duty) | SR-1 within 10 days if anyone was injured or damage exceeds $1,000 | .gov ✓California DMV: SR-1(as of 2026) |
| Who may obtain the report | Parties of interest and their representatives | .gov ✓CHP(as of 2026) |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- 1
Mistake #1: Asking the wrong agency.
If the crash was on a freeway, LAPD will not have it, and the other way around. The officer's business card or the exchange-of-information slip names the agency and usually the report number.
- 2
Mistake #2: Confusing the police report with the DMV SR-1.
The SR-1 is a separate form California requires YOU to file with the DMV within 10 days when anyone was hurt or damage exceeds $1,000. Getting the police report does not satisfy the SR-1 duty, and filing the SR-1 does not get you the report.
- 3
Mistake #3: Accepting report errors as final.
Officers write reports from limited scene information. If facts are wrong (vehicle positions, statements, parties), you can contact the investigating officer or the records division and ask how to submit a supplemental statement. The report's fault opinion is also not the last word; insurers and courts weigh all the evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does an LA crash report take to be ready?▼
Commonly one to three weeks for routine crashes, and longer when there are serious injuries, a fatality, or an ongoing investigation. If your request comes back as 'not yet available,' ask when the report is expected and re-request then. Your insurer or attorney can often pull it as your representative.
The police never came to my LA crash. Is there still a report?▼
Usually not. For minor crashes with no injuries, LAPD and CHP often do not respond, and no collision report exists. You can still document the crash yourself (photos, exchange information, witnesses) and you must still file the DMV SR-1 if anyone was hurt or damage exceeds $1,000.
The report says the crash was partly my fault. Is that final?▼
No. The officer's opinion matters, but it is one piece of evidence, not a ruling. California's pure comparative fault system weighs all the evidence, and insurers and attorneys regularly contest report conclusions with photos, witness statements, and reconstruction. If the report contains factual errors, ask the agency about submitting a supplemental statement.
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Sources & Citations
- .gov[1] LAPD: Los Angeles Police Department (collision report requests) ↗
- .gov[2] CHP iSWITRS: Collision Report Portal ↗
- .gov[3] California DMV: SR-1 Report of Traffic Accident ↗
This guide applies to crashes in the City of Los Angeles and on California freeways. Other cities and states have their own agencies and procedures.
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