Georgia Accident Report Lookup: A Step-by-Step Guide

How do I look up an accident report in Georgia? Start by finding out which agency responded to your crash. Then request the report from that agency’s records unit. The responding agency holds the file, so the agency name matters most. This guide walks through each step. It’s written for drivers, passengers, and family members sorting out paperwork after a crash they didn’t choose.

Start by finding out which agency handled your crash

The agency that responded to your crash holds its report. That could be the Georgia State Patrol, a city police department, or a county sheriff’s office. Start with the paperwork from the scene. Look for an officer’s business card, a case or citation number, or an agency name on any ticket you received. The crash location can also point to the right agency.

After a crash, many people find it helpful to note the other driver’s identifying, vehicle, and insurance details.

If you still aren’t sure, call the records unit of the agency you think responded. Give the date, time, and location. Ask whether it has the report or which agency does. Getting a copy is one task. Filing a claim is another, with its own timing, so don’t mix them up.

Request the report from the responding agency

Request the report from the agency that responded, using the details you have ready. Include the crash date and time, the location, and the names of the drivers involved. Add a plate number, VIN, or case number if you have one.

Request methods vary. Some agencies take requests in person, by mail, or through an online records portal. Before you submit, ask the records unit three things: how to request, what it costs and how to pay, and when the report will be ready. Timing depends on the agency and on how complete the investigation is, so don’t assume a set date.

Save your request confirmation with your other crash papers. The state describes its crash-reporting process in the Georgia Uniform Vehicle Accident Report. Knowing how to look up an accident report in Georgia starts with that process.

Getting a Georgia State Patrol report

Crashes investigated by the Georgia State Patrol go through the agency’s crash records process. Contact the agency with the crash date, the location, and the names of everyone involved. Confirm the correct request method before you send anything.

Ask whether a fee applies and how it is paid. The Georgia Department of Transportation’s Crash Data & Reporting page covers Georgia crash data, including crashes on public roads. It also describes how police crash reports are obtained.

If the crash involved a motorcycle or e-bike, the same steps apply. A report can matter to an injury claim, so request it early. Keep a copy of everything you send.

Atlanta, Decatur, and Clayton County reports

Each city or county police department runs its own records process. Atlanta crashes handled by the Atlanta Police Department go through that department’s records steps. Decatur and Clayton County each set their own request procedure, so check with the records unit before you go.

Ask for the report by date, time, and location. Agencies may ask for identification when you pick it up. Jonesboro-area crashes may be handled by a city or county agency, so confirm the agency first. Macon and Augusta follow the same rule: the responding agency holds the report, and its records unit sets the steps.

T. Madden & Associates, P.C. has offices in Jonesboro, Atlanta, Decatur, Macon, and Augusta. The report still comes from the agency that responded.

Who can ask for a copy of a crash report

Drivers and passengers involved in the crash can usually request the report. Vehicle owners and people acting for an injured person can often request it too. The responding agency decides who qualifies.

Expect to show identification when you ask. A representative asking for someone else may need written authorization from that person. If you filed a report as a driver, you can ask the agency for a copy of what was filed.

Family members helping an injured relative should bring any authorization paperwork with them. Ask the agency what it needs before you visit or send a request, so you don’t have to start over.

Reading the report and where it fits in your next steps

A crash report shows what the officer recorded at the scene and afterward. Reports often list the date, location, vehicles, drivers, witnesses, a diagram, and any notes or citations. Compare those facts with your memory, photos, and insurance letters.

The report doesn’t decide fault on its own. Under Georgia’s fault rule, called comparative fault (shared fault), the judge or jury sets each person’s percentage of fault. Damages are reduced by the injured person’s share. A plaintiff who is 50 percent or more responsible for the injury or damages claimed is not entitled to any damages (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33).

Keep the report with medical records, repair estimates, and photos so the full timeline stays in one place. If a truck or commercial vehicle was involved, bring the report and your notes to a consultation.

Frequently asked questions