How to Write a Motor Vehicle Accident Report

Detailing the Crash Site

1. 1
   Report when the motor vehicle accident occurred. Include the date, day of the week, and the time.
2. 2
   Describe the natural and artificial lighting conditions at the time of the crash. State if it was daytime, dark, dusk, or dawn. Say whether there were streetlights illuminated.
3. 3
   State the weather conditions.
4. 4
   Report where the crash happened. Be as specific as possible. The details you can provide will depend on if the crash was in an urban or rural area.
   • Street name and block number
   • Name of the nearest cross streets, if applicable. Include how far the crash was from the intersection.
   • Address number, intersecting roadway, bridge, mile marker, exit number or other landmark
   • Name of the municipality, county, township and state where the accident occurred

Writing About the Vehicles

1. 1
   Describe all vehicles involved in the crash. These may include cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, bicycles, or ATVs.
   • Makes, models, and years of the vehicles
   • License plate number, the issuing state, and the years
   • Where the damage occurred on the vehicle. Estimate how much it will cost to fix.
   • State if the vehicle is inoperable, drivable, or totaled.

Writing About the Drivers

1. 1
   Include identifying and insurance information for all drivers involved.
   • Names, birth dates, and genders
   • Home addresses
   • Drivers' license numbers and issuing states
   • Drivers' insurance companies and policy numbers

Including Other Property Damage

1. 1
   Note if there was other property damage. For example, one of the vehicles may have knocked down a street sign was knocked down or hit a homeowner's fence.
   • Include the name and address of the property owner if the damage was to private property.
2. 2
   Estimate how much it will cost to fix.

Writing About the Injured

1. 1
   Identify anyone who was injured in the traffic accident.
   • Name, age, and gender
   • Home address
2. 2
   State the severity of the injury and where on the body it occurred. Note if the injured person died.
3. 3
   Name the hospital the injured person went to. Give the name the doctor if you know it.
4. 4
   Identify if the injured person was a driver and in what vehicle, a passenger and in what vehicle, or a pedestrian.
5. 5
   Describe the locations of any injured pedestrians during the crash. Include if the pedestrian was in the roadway or not.
   • Detail what the pedestrian was doing. For example, the pedestrian may have been jogging on the sidewalk or playing in the street.
   • State which direction the pedestrian was traveling.

Describing What Happened

1. 1
   Identify any witnesses to the accident. Include names, addresses, and ages.
2. 2
   Write a detailed narrative describing the accident.
   • Assign numbers to all vehicles involved. Use those numbers when detailing what happened.
3. 3
   Detail the actions of all drivers when the crash happened. For example, driver 1 was stopped at a red light, driver 2 was passing, and driver 3 was making a U-turn.
   • Show objectivity. Don't assign blame. Let the facts speak for themselves.
4. 4
   Sketch a diagram of the accident.
5. 5
   Sign and date your traffic crash report.