Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky function like one metro—yet Ohio and Kentucky apply different rules after a crash. That’s why it’s important to consult with a Cincinnati personal injury attorney who knows both systems and can keep the focus where it belongs: pursuing compensation from the insurer, not ‘suing a neighbor.’
How to Get a Copy of Your Accident Report in Kentucky or Ohio
Your report will be filed where the accident occurred, even if you live in Ohio and the car accident was across the border in Kentucky.
In Kentucky, accident reports are usually available through the Kentucky State Police online portal or by contacting the agency that handled your accident directly. You will need the report number, the date, and the driver’s last name to get a copy of the report. You may need to pay for the report, and if it is available, it will be accessible from the online portal.
If your accident occurs in Ohio around Cincinnati, your crash accident report can be obtained through the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s crash report system or from the investigating agency. The report may not be available immediately, but it will be free to download.
When you search for your report, you can find it by searching the accident date, license number, and incident report number. If the report isn’t online, contact the law enforcement agency investigating the crash to request a copy.
If you need help obtaining or correcting the report, the legal team at Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC, can assist you.
Key Sections of a Typical Car Accident Report (And What They Mean)
When a car accident occurs in Ohio or Kentucky, an investigating police officer should arrive on the scene and fill out an accident report. In Kentucky, this is called a Kentucky Uniform Police Traffic Collision Report. In Ohio, it is known as an Ohio Public Safety Traffic Crash Report. Crash reports in Ohio and Kentucky are similar in terms of the information included in the report.
Always carefully review the officer’s narrative in the report. This section may include information that doesn’t appear anywhere else in the report. If something in the narrative contradicts information included elsewhere in the report, it can negatively affect your ability to recover damages.
Basic Information Section
In both Kentucky and Ohio, the first page of the crash report contains identifying information about the individuals involved in the crash, the date, time, and location of the crash, and their contact information. It also details the vehicle information and the driver’s license numbers, which can be used to confirm the identities of those involved and match insurance records.
Crash Diagram and Narrative
Crash reports in Ohio and Kentucky should also contain a section where law enforcement officers may draw a diagram of the accident. The crash report will also describe how the car accident happened and indicate the type of collision, such as head-on, rear-end, or sideswipe.
A section detailing the parts of the vehicle that were hit in the accident, a road layout, the vehicle’s direction of travel, and the point of impact should also be included. This diagram will include the direction of travel, any maneuvers the drivers took to avoid the accident, and the presence of skid marks on the road.
Flag any mismatch between the diagram and narrative—insurers notice these, and your attorney can resolve them early.
Contributing Factors and Suspected Fault
The next section of the report documents valuable information about how the crash occurred and whether a driver was believed to be distracted or drunk at the time of the accident. If a party made statements about fault, police officers will note this in the report, as well as who the officer believes caused the crash and why.
The crash report will also include descriptions of any non-vehicular property damage that occurred and will contain contact information for the property owner.
If any citations were issued after the accident, like failure to yield or speeding, this could be noted here. Fault can still be disputed because police opinion is influential but not legally final.
Injury and Damage Codes
If injuries were reported at the time of the accident, the report will document who was injured, the severity and nature of the injuries, and whether the injured persons were taken by ambulance to the hospital. If you have minor or no injuries that appear at the time of the crash, it’s incredibly important to still get medical attention within the next 48 hours. If any injuries appear later, it’s vital to document them as much as possible for your claim.
The crash report will indicate damage codes to describe the conditions in the various categories. The different sections should have a key to indicate the numbers associated with each section. For example, on many forms, a number is used to indicate the weather conditions, i.e., 1 = clear visibility, 2 = rainy, and 3 = snow. Codes will also indicate vehicle damage locations, like front left or rear right.
Environmental Conditions
The report will describe the weather and road conditions during the accident, such as whether it was raining or snowing, or if the road had any damage of note. The data here could support or challenge your claims of negligence. It should also include the speed limit, if there were any stop signs or traffic lights.
Witness Information
This section includes the names and contact information of anyone who witnessed the crash, such as bystanders or third-party witnesses, who spoke directly with the officers. If no witnesses talked to them, this section is often incomplete.
Why Your Car Accident Report Matters
If you were injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you need to obtain a copy of your accident report and give it to the insurance company. Courts and experts use the report as foundational evidence; it doesn’t decide liability by itself, but it shapes how insurers and juries view the case.
Any errors, even small ones, can affect the outcome of a claim. Your ability to understand the accident report will help protect your rights.
Common Mistakes and How to Correct Them
Getting a copy of the report after it’s been filed is vital. You should review the report to ensure that it is accurate. Police officers are human beings and can sometimes make mistakes. It’s important to correct those mistakes before you submit the police report as evidence for your claim.
Some mistakes that can happen in an accident report are:
- Incorrect vehicle or driver details
- Wrong license plate or VIN
- Misstated road conditions or time of the crash
- Fault assigned to the wrong party
How to Submit a Request for a Correction
If you notice there was a mistake on your accident report, you can submit a request for a correction. To do so, you must contact the investigating department or the officer directly. You can do so over email by asking for an amendment or clarification, including your report number, the mistake, and the correct information. When submitting this, include documentation proving your correction, like photos, dash camera footage, or witness statements.
If the officer’s opinion of fault seems off, don’t argue facts at the roadside—work with your attorney to submit clarifying evidence and, if needed, an expert reconstruction. Your case deserves a thorough investigation to have the best chance at fair compensation.
Need Help Reading Your Accident Report? Call Us Today.
If you were involved in a car accident in Ohio or Northern Kentucky, you need an experienced car accident attorney familiar with both states’ laws. The legal team at Lawrence & Associates has the skills and experience to aggressively negotiate with an insurance company for fair compensation after a car accident.
Our results and client testimonials speak for themselves. We’ve helped thousands in Ohio and Northern Kentucky. Our experienced Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky personal injury attorneys can guide you on what to do—and what to avoid—so you don’t unintentionally harm your case.
Call us today at (513) 951-6723 (Ohio) or (859) 251-3045 (Kentucky) for a free, confidential consultation, or fill out our online form to get started. Let us fight for the compensation you deserve while you focus on healing.
