How to read your crash report

Top section: the basics

Report number, date, time, location, agency and the number of units. Make sure the date, time and location are right. Small errors can cause big confusion later.

Units: each vehicle and person

Each driver, vehicle, cyclist or pedestrian is a “unit.” Check names, addresses, plates, vehicle descriptions and insurance companies and policy numbers.

Contributing factors

These are coded boxes for what the officer believes contributed to the crash. A code key is usually on the form or available from the agency. Common ones include failure to yield, following too closely, improper lane change and distracted driving.

Diagram

A sketch showing lanes, directions of travel and the point of impact. Compare it to your photos and memory.

Narrative

The officer’s written summary. It often repeats what drivers told the officer at the scene, which may be incomplete or biased.

Injuries

Many reports code injuries by severity. A report that says “no apparent injury” doesn’t mean you weren’t hurt; many injuries show up later.