How To Get a Police Report After a Car Accident in Louisiana

After a car accident, the involved drivers are interviewed by the law enforcement officer at the scene, who then makes an accident report of the incident. If you choose to file an accident claim, you may not know how to get a police report after a car accident in Louisiana. You will have to request a copy, in person or online, from the law enforcement agency that responded to the scene of the accident. An experienced car accident attorney can also help you with this process.

Contacting the Right Law Enforcement Agency

The responding agency to your accident may have been the Louisiana State Police, the nearby city police department, or the local sheriff’s office. You need to know which agency responded so you can contact them for a police report. Often, the responding officer will give you the necessary information about requesting a police report at the accident scene, including the steps and the agency’s contact information.

If you are unsure which agency responded, you can contact local and state departments to determine. Generally, accidents in cities are handled by that city’s police department or parish’s sheriff’s office, while the state police handle interstate crashes.

The Louisiana State Police is located at 7919 Independence Boulevard in Baton Rouge, and their non-emergency number is (225) 925-6006.

The Baton Rouge sheriff’s offices include:

• Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office at 300 Houmas Street, Donaldsonville, (225) 473-8671
• West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office 850 8th Street, Port Allen, (225) 343-9234
• East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office 8900 Jimmy Wedell Drive, Baton Rouge, (225) 389-5000

Be aware that it takes time to create an accident report that you can request. It may take a few days or up to two weeks. You pay a fee either online or in person to receive a copy. When you contact the relevant agency, they can give you further information about where to secure the police report. When you get a police report, you may also be able to secure any police photos from the accident.

Information Needed to Secure a Police Report

If your crash report is handled by the Louisiana State Police, you will need to provide the following information to receive the report:

1. The crash report number, or the first and last name of a driver involved in the crash
2. The parish where the crash occurred
3. The date of the crash

An experienced attorney can also help you secure the police report.

What Is the Importance of a Police Report After an Accident?

Car collisions are an unfortunately frequent cause of personal injury, damage, and fatalities. In the state of Louisiana in 2024, there were approximately 108,980 property damage-only crashes, 37,379 suspected injury crashes, and 702 fatal crashes. An accident report provides important information for all parties involved in the accident and can help you understand what you can do to recover financially following the incident.

After a car accident, injured individuals can file claims with the insurer of the at-fault driver. A police report is an important piece of evidence when filing that claim.

A police report contains information like:

• When and where the accident occurred
• The weather and road conditions at the time of the accident
• The officer’s observations of the accident
• The parties involved in the crash
• Whether any parties were impaired
• Whether traffic laws were violated
• Contact and insurance information for all involved parties
• Where those involved in the accident were located in vehicles
• The license plate numbers of the involved vehicles
• The point of impact of the accident
• Contact information of any eyewitnesses

All of this information is important for filing your claim against the at-fault driver. It gives a clear third-party account of the crash and establishes important facts. While it is not the only evidence to support your claim, it can influence the claims process significantly.

FAQs

How Long Does It Take to Get a Crash Report in Louisiana?

The time it takes to get a crash report in Louisiana will depend on the agency from which you get the report. The Louisiana State Police requires 10 to 15 business days, while the Baton Rouge City Police have records in 10 business days. Some reports can be secured online, while others must be obtained in person. The time it takes to get a report may also depend on how complex your accident was and how long the investigation takes.

Are Accident Reports Public Record in Louisiana?

Accident reports can be requested and paid for by the public in Louisiana with information relevant to the accident, but they are not accessible outside of this system. To access an accident report, you may need information like where the accident occurred, the date it happened, and the name of one of the involved parties. The request must also be made to the law enforcement agency that responded to the accident.

What Happens if You Don’t Report an Accident Within 24 Hours in Louisiana?

Louisiana does not have a 24-hour reporting requirement, but does require that drivers report accidents immediately if there is a certain level of property damage or if anyone was injured or killed. Failing to do this may result in fines and penalties and will make it harder to file an insurance claim for the crash. It could even be charged as a hit-and-run criminal offense if you leave the scene of an accident where someone else was injured.

Do You Need a Police Report to File an Insurance Claim in Louisiana?

While a police report is not required to file an insurance claim in Louisiana, it is an incredibly useful piece of evidence, and without it, it can be much harder to file your claim. There is other evidence that can be used to build a claim, even if there is no police report. However, most accidents that result in insurance claims are also serious enough to require drivers to report the crash to the police.

Contact a Skilled Car Accident Attorney in Louisiana Today

When you are in a car accident, significant evidence needs to be gathered to have a successful insurance claim against the driver who caused the crash. A police report is important, but other evidence, like eyewitness accounts, photos and videos of the crash, and cell phone records, are also important. At Murphy Law Firm, we can investigate the accident to gather this information and evidence and help you secure the police report. Contact our firm today.

About The Author

Peyton Murphy

Peyton Murphy, is the founder of Murphy Law Firm, LLC, based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, specializing in personal injury law. Peyton obtained his law degree from the prestigious Tulane School of Law in 1991 and has been licensed to practice law in Louisiana since 1993. With over 28 years of experience, Peyton is dedicated to representing injured victims and actively contributing to his community. Education: Obtained his law degree from Tulane School of Law in 1991. Professional Associations: Member of the Louisiana State Bar and active in the Baton Rouge Bar Association and the Louisiana Association for Justice. Experience: Founder of Murphy Law Firm, LLC, with extensive experience in personal injury law and licensed in multiple federal courts and the U.S. Supreme Court.

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