How do I get an accident report in Charlotte? You can go to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department headquarters in person or order a copy of the report online.
For a report from the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), you can get a hard copy in person or via mail, or have a Charlotte car accident lawyer request an electronic report online.
Information Included in a Charlotte Accident Report
After an accident, call law enforcement to the scene. Refer to our car accident victim survival guide to know what other important steps to take. Responding officers can then write an official report. This report includes contact information for all involved parties, vehicle information, and contact details for witnesses. Officers can also document statements from the witnesses and parties involved.
The report includes additional factors, such as the time, date, and location of the accident. It also describes weather and traffic conditions, as well as other relevant circumstances. Typically, reports include diagrams of how the event occurred.
If officers issued citations for traffic violations to either party, that information is also included. For example, a driver may have been cited for excessive speed, impairment, or failure to stop at a traffic signal. This information could affect the outcome of your injury claim.
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Call (980) 294-4931How to Get an Accident Report in Charlotte
You have options for getting an accident report in Charlotte. If the event occurred on local or city roads, direct your request to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) as explained on their Crime/Crash Reports page.
Verify Qualifications
You must first complete the Request for Motor Vehicle Crash Reports form to prove you are permitted to receive the crash information. Those permitted include:
- Operators of involved vehicles
- Registered owners or involved vehicles
- Passengers of the involved vehicles
There is no fee for reports requested in person.
Obtain the Report In-Person or Online
To get the report in person, go to the CMPD headquarters at 601 E. Trade Street in Charlotte, and present your government-issued photo I.D. to the records desk. You can also go to a CMPD patrol area division office. If you need more help, you can call the CMPD Records Division at 704-336-2848.
To get the report online, go to the Buy Crash LexisNexis page. You’ll need to enter:
- The report number, or
- Your last name and date of the accident, or
- Your last name and the location of the accident
There is a $9 fee for generating a LexisNexis report.
How to Get a Report from the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV)
Different rules apply when you need to order a crash report from the NCDMV. Privacy laws protect these reports. Individuals involved in accidents can only order redacted copies. This means private information about others involved is removed from the report. Further, individuals cannot get an accident report in Charlotte online.
Requests from Individuals
You can make your DMV request by mail after printing, completing, and sending a Request for Motor Vehicle Information/Crash Reports form along with a signed check or money order for the stated fee (currently $6.50). You can also make an in-person request by submitting a completed form and payment to either of these addresses:
- Raleigh Central Services/License Plate Agency (Go to the door that reads Vehicle Registration, NOT Driver License)
4121 New Bern Ave.
Raleigh, NC 27616
- Huntersville License Plate Agency
12101 Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road
If you are requesting more than 5 reports, you need to make the request by mail.
Requests From Licensed Businesses
Attorneys, insurance agents, private investigators, and other relevant organizations licensed to operate in NC can request unredacted reports. These requests can be made by mail, in person, or online. Out-of-state businesses can only submit requests by mail.
An experienced Charlotte car accident attorney can handle requests for police reports and other documentation to support your accident claim.
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State Laws for Reporting Accidents
Per North Carolina Statute 20‑166.1, drivers must stop their vehicles and notify law enforcement after a reportable accident. According to the DMV349 Instruction Manual, reportable accidents are those resulting in:
- A fatality
- A non-fatal injury
- Property damage of $1,000 or more
- Property damage of any amount to a seized vehicle or when “a vehicle has been seized and is subject to forfeiture.”
Some of these circumstances may not be immediately apparent, so it is always best to call law enforcement. You may not realize the extent of property damage or whether a vehicle is subject to seizure.
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How Car Crash Reports Can Support Your Claim
To collect compensation for a car accident, you must prove the other party’s negligence caused the crash. Proving negligence is often helped by getting an accident report. As explained by the North Carolina Department of Insurance (DOI), the State’s contributory negligence system is not victim-friendly, so it’s important to collect every bit of evidence that supports your claim.
The contributory negligence system bars victims from seeking damages for a crash if they bear even a small amount of fault. Along with this challenge, you could also deal with insurance adjusters who delay a crash claim. They may use your “missing” car accident report as an excuse to make your path to justice more difficult.
You need a lawyer after a car accident. An attorney can get an accident report and other evidence to support your claim. Our team can work to protect you from unfair assignments of blame that could cost you the compensation you deserve. We can deal with and fight back against insurance companies that delay or try to deny your claim.
We Do the Work for You
Car accidents cause pain. When you’re in pain, call Shane. Shane Smith Law knows how to get an accident report in Charlotte and how to collect other evidence to support your claim.
We handle communication with the at-fault party’s representatives and manage all legal matters. You’ve suffered enough. Connect with us today. We are here to make things better.
Call or text (980) 246-2656 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
