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Car accidents are some of the worst accidents out there. Not only are they dangerous, but car accidents can also be expensive. You may have to pay an insurance company, lawsuits are on the table, and you may even need a new vehicle. What’s more, if someone has a history of accidents or a poor driving record it may impact their ability to be hired for work.
For these reasons, it’s important to know if car accidents are public records. So, are car accidents public record? While they do tend to be available to the public some restrictions may apply.
Read on to learn more.
What Is a Car Accident?
This might sound like a dumb question but it’s one that we need to answer. Car accidents occur when two (or more) drivers crash their vehicles into one another or a building, person, or really anything.
While the concept of a car accident is self explanatory, not all car accidents are treated equally. This is because some people may try to go around insurance companies or simply offer someone cash for their vehicle if nobody was hurt.
While this is becoming more rare, if there’s an accident and no police report there’s zero chance it’s publicly available. Therefore, for the purpose of this article we’ll be focusing on car accidents with accident reports, insurance claims, or other types of legal intervention.
Are Car Accidents Public Record?
Yes, car accidents tend to be public records. People can view police reports, information about the vehicles, and much more. That said, many states have rules about when these records become public to avoid any issues during the insurance discovery process or court process.
For this reason, you may have to wait up to 60 days to view accident records in states like New York. Still, it often varies and depends on the police report, how soon it’s filed, and the outcome of any court hearings.
What Information Can You Find in an Accident Report?
You can find a lot of information in an accident report. Depending on the accident you may be able to find the following information:
- Details about the vehicles involved in the crash.
- Where the accident happened.
- Witness statements about the accident.
- The parties involved in the accident.
- Whether or not emergency services were involved.
Depending on the accident, you may find some or all of this information.
How to Find Public Accident Records
Knowing that accident records are public is one thing and finding them is a whole different challenge. Thankfully, third-party tools and state databases make it easy to find these records if you know where to look.
1. PublicRecord.com
PublicRecord.com is one of the best places to find public records. It doesn’t matter if you need criminal court records or information about a car accident someone was involved in, PublicRecord.com’s search will help you find what you’re after. The best part is that all you need is someone’s first and last name, address, or phone number to begin your search.
Once you have the necessary information enter it into the search tool and give the tool about five to ten minutes to compile a full report. Within this full report, you’ll find information about car accidents, criminal records, sex offender status, financial records, social media accounts, and more.
That said, if someone has never been in a car accident there’s a chance that you won’t find anything.
2. Local Police Departments
Police reports are public records. Therefore, you can visit your local police department or sheriff’s office to request a copy of a police report written for a car accident.
That said, you may want to call ahead first to avoid any issues because sometimes this information might not be available yet. You can also check for online portals that police departments have. These are often available to the public and let you view records for a small fee.
3. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
Every state has a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and while the lines are long and slow, it’s one of the best places to find car accident records. This is because the DMV keeps records for just about everything relating to vehicles, so if you’re coming up short, a trip to the DMV might be a necessary last resort.
The good news is that many DMVs have websites and databases that help you request records online.
Are Car Accidents Public Record?
So, are car accidents public record? At the end of the day, yes, car accident records become available to the public. While it may take a few days, weeks, or even months, in most cases you’ll be able to view an accident report.
If you ever want to find an accident report or you want to know what shows up in your accident history, we always recommend starting with PublicRecord.com.