CALIFORNIA CAR ACCIDENT REPORTS

Fill out the search form at the top of this page with your name, date of accident, and location. You'll get instant access to your California traffic collision report at no charge.

Most California crash reports are available within 10 days of the accident date. CHP-investigated accidents are filed through the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Local agency reports (LAPD, county sheriffs, city police departments) are filed separately and may have different processing times.

When the California Highway Patrol responds to a crash, typically on freeways, highways, and state routes, they file an official traffic collision report using Form CHP 555. This document contains the officer's narrative, a diagram of the collision, identification of all parties and vehicles, citations issued, and contributing factors. It is the official record of your accident and critical evidence in any insurance or legal claim.

SWITRS (Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System) is California's official database of all reported traffic accidents investigated by the CHP. It is maintained by the California Department of Motor Vehicles and the CHP. Your crash report data is entered into SWITRS after the investigating officer files the report.

No. This service is 100% free and sponsored. No credit card or payment is ever required.

Reports typically take 7–10 business days to appear after the accident. If yours isn't showing yet, check back in a few days or contact the investigating agency: CHP, LAPD, your local police department, or the county sheriff's office that responded to your crash.

In California, freeway and highway accidents are almost always investigated by the CHP. The responding officer files a CHP 555 traffic collision report, which is then entered into the SWITRS database. You can request this report through the CHP Records Unit at the area office that responded to your crash, or retrieve it here for free.

If your crash occurred on a surface street within city limits, the responding agency is typically the local police department (LAPD, San Diego PD, Sacramento PD, etc.) rather than the CHP. City-filed reports are maintained by that department and are not always in the SWITRS system. Use our search form and we'll locate the correct report regardless of which agency responded.

A California traffic collision report (CHP 555 or local equivalent) includes:

Date, time, and location of the accident

Names, addresses, license numbers, and insurance information for all parties

Descriptions of all vehicles involved

Witness contact information

The officer's diagram of the scene

Citations issued

The officer's determination of Primary Collision Factor (PCF) — the official cause of the crash

The Primary Collision Factor is the officer's official determination of the primary cause of your crash. Common PCFs include unsafe speed, improper turning, DUI, running a red light, and following too closely. The PCF listed in your California accident report does not conclusively determine legal liability; other evidence can override or supplement it.

The responding officer's PCF notation is an initial assessment, not a legal determination. If your California accident report appears to blame you, do not assume your case is over. Evidence including photos, surveillance footage, witness statements, cell phone records, and accident reconstruction can establish the true cause of the crash. Our attorneys review accident reports every day and frequently find the initial officer determination to be incomplete or incorrect.

You do not need a report number to search. Use your name and the approximate date and location of your accident. Our system searches CHP records, LAPD, county sheriff offices, and local agency reports statewide. If your report isn't available yet, we'll notify you when it becomes accessible.

Under Vehicle Code 16000, if you were in a collision resulting in injury, death, or property damage over ,000, you must file a written SR-1 form with the California DMV within 10 days — even if a police officer also filed a report. Failure to file the SR-1 can result in license suspension. Your insurance company can file it on your behalf.

Form SR-1 (Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California) is required within 10 days for any accident involving injury, death, or property damage over ,000. It is filed with the California DMV — separate from any CHP 555 or police report. You may be required to file both. The SR-1 is how the DMV tracks your accident history and determines whether a license suspension is warranted.