{"id":7044,"date":"2026-11-03T13:43:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-03T13:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tmaddenlaw.com\/guides\/truck-accident-lawyer-georgia\/are-accident-reports-public-record-in-georgia\/"},"modified":"2026-11-04T01:50:49","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T01:50:49","slug":"are-accident-reports-public-record-in-georgia","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.tmaddenlaw.com\/guides\/truck-accident-lawyer-georgia\/are-accident-reports-public-record-in-georgia\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Accident Reports Public Record in Georgia? Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Georgia Accident Guide | Jonesboro and Clayton County<\/p>

Are Accident Reports Public Record in Georgia?<\/h1>

A general guide to how crash reports are kept, who can request them, and what they can and cannot tell you after a wreck. T. Madden & Associates, P.C. has represented injured people in Georgia since 1999.<\/p>

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Serving Georgia Since 1999<\/h2>\n

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1999<\/h3>

Year the firm began practice<\/p><\/div>

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5<\/h3>

Georgia offices: Jonesboro, Atlanta, Decatur, Macon, Augusta<\/p><\/div>

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By Terance Madden \u00b7 Published November 3, 2026<\/p>\n\n

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Are accident reports public record in Georgia? The answer depends on the facts of each case. Getting a copy isn’t always instant, though. The steps depend on who responded and who is asking. This guide explains how the process works and why timing matters.<\/p>\n

Are Accident Reports Public Record in Georgia?<\/h2>\n

For general information about open records requests, see the Georgia DPS open records page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Public doesn’t mean instant. A request goes to the agency that handled the crash, because that agency prepares and keeps the report. Some reports can be bought online, and others need a written request. The steps change with the agency, so the first task is always identifying that agency. Waiting can slow things down, so it’s worth asking soon after the crash.<\/p>\n

The request still goes to the same agency, using the same details.<\/p>\n\n

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If a truck wreck has left you holding a crash report and unanswered questions, you don't have to sort through it alone. Talk with us about your next step. Talk it through with our team — the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p>

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Which Agency Holds the Crash Report<\/h2>\n

The agency that responded to the crash holds the report. That is usually Georgia State Patrol, a city police department, or a county sheriff’s office, so start by finding out which one came to the scene.<\/p>\n

Location is the first clue. A wreck on an interstate or state highway is often a State Patrol matter. A crash on a city street inside city limits often goes to city police. A crash on a county road outside city limits often falls to the sheriff. A request sent to the wrong office can cause delay, so confirm the agency first.<\/p>\n

Paperwork helps too. A citation or other documents from the scene can name the responding agency and may show a report or case number. Include that number in any request you make.<\/p>\n

Truck crashes follow the same check. Whichever agency responded, the request goes to that office.<\/p>\n

How to Request a Georgia Accident Report<\/h2>\n

You request a Georgia crash report from the agency that responded, using its records process or an online service. Here are the main routes.<\/p>\n

State Patrol reports.<\/strong> Requests for Georgia State Patrol reports run through the Department of Public Safety’s open records process. Give the date, location, and names of the drivers, plus a report number if you have one.<\/p>\n

Online purchase.<\/strong> Confirm which route your agency uses first.<\/p>\n

Local police and sheriff’s offices.<\/strong> City police and county sheriff’s offices usually handle requests through their own records section. Call or write to that section and ask what it needs. Ask about cost and turnaround time, too. Keep a copy of your request and any receipt.<\/p>\n

Why the Crash Report Matters After a Truck Accident<\/h2>\n

A crash report gives an early, official record of when and where a wreck happened and who was involved. In a truck crash, that report is only one of several records that can matter.<\/p>\n

Federal rules add more paper trails. Under 49 C.F.R. \u00a7 390.15<\/a>, a motor carrier must make accident records and information available to an authorized representative or special agent of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, an authorized State or local enforcement agency representative, or authorized third-party representative within the time the request or investigation specifies. It must also keep an accident register for three years after each accident.<\/p>\n

Driver records have a shorter window. Under 49 C.F.R. \u00a7 395.8<\/a>, a motor carrier must keep records of duty status and supporting documents for at least six months from the date of receipt. That short window is one reason to act early.<\/p>\n

Post-crash testing has timing rules too. Under 49 C.F.R. \u00a7 382.303<\/a>, employers must test for alcohol as soon as practicable in the cases the rule lists.<\/p>\n

A report doesn’t settle fault alone. An officer’s notes can be incomplete, so medical records, photos, and witness details can matter too. For the wider picture of truck claims in Georgia, read our truck accident guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Time Limits to Keep in Mind<\/h2>\n

Under O.C.G.A. \u00a7 9-3-33<\/a>, actions for injuries to the person must be brought within two years after the right of action accrues, except as otherwise provided in that article. The same statute sets a four-year period for certain loss of consortium claims.<\/p>\n

Family members may have their own claims. Under O.C.G.A. \u00a7 51-4-2<\/a>, a surviving spouse, or children if there is no surviving spouse, may recover for the homicide of the spouse or parent the full value of the decedent’s life, as shown by the evidence.<\/p>\n

If no one is entitled to sue under that section or a related one, the administrator or executor may bring the action under O.C.G.A. \u00a7 51-4-5<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Claims against the State of Georgia are subject to a separate written notice-of-claim requirement under O.C.G.A. \u00a7 50-21-26(a)<\/a>. Written notice of the claim must be given within 12 months of when the loss was discovered or should have been discovered, under O.C.G.A. \u00a7 50-21-26<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The details depend on the facts of your crash, so a conversation can help sort out which dates apply. Early requests also help you gather records while they are still on file.<\/p>\n

Key Takeaways for Getting Georgia Accident Reports<\/h2>\n