How to Obtain a Crash Report in Fairfield County, Ohio

It’s hard to know what to do after a car crash. While accidents resulting in injuries and fatalities in Fairfield County, OH, tend to be lower than the state average, they still happen, and you’ll likely need the details for your insurance or personal injury claim.

Here’s some information about obtaining a car accident report in Fairfield County and why they are helpful.

What Is a Car Accident Report?

When you are involved in a car accident in Ohio, the responding law enforcement officers will fill out and submit an OH-1 Traffic Crash Report, which will look like this sample. The report contains a wealth of info about the circumstances of the crash, including:

• Location, date, and time
• Weather conditions
• Manner in which the wreck occurred
• Whether the scene is within a work zone or school zone
• The name and badge number of the officer at the scene

Filing an accident report provides a record for the state of the crash’s details and how law enforcement responded. However, filing crash reports are not always required.

When Is an Accident Report Required?

If the police respond to an accident, they must file a crash report that will be recorded in Ohio’s database. But if the police are not called and don’t appear at the scene, you may file your own crash report in some cases.

If you’re the other driver involved in your accident was uninsured, you can file form 3303 and submit it to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. However, the following criteria must be met:

• The form must be filed within six months of the accident
• A personal injury occurred, or property damage occurred which exceeds $400
• You must have at least three pieces of identifying information about the uninsured driver that match BMV records (name, address, DOB, driver’s license number, SSN)

In most cases, having a crash report on file will be helpful. Even if your crash was a minor fender bender, it’s a good idea to call the police and get a report.

How Does an Accident Report Help My Case?

Even if you and the other driver settle the incident through your respective insurance companies, having a copy of the accident report will help you with the claim process and expedite your payout.

If a dispute concerning fault makes settling the matter more complicated, a copy of the accident report serves as an unbiased account.

Where to Get a Crash Report in Fairfield County, Ohio

After filing a report of your accident, you may wonder how to get a copy, especially if you reside in a rural area. After the police make a report, it can take up to six weeks to be added to the Ohio Department of Public Safety website. You can search unofficial accident reports online.

Purchasing a Copy

If your accident was investigated by State Highway Patrol, you could purchase a copy online through the Ohio Department of Public Safety website for between $4 and $12, depending upon whether you request a physical or digital version.

If you can’t find your report or your accident was investigated by another agency, reach out to the agency that investigated the crash. If you have questions, contact local agencies such as:

Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office
345 Lincoln Ave.
Lancaster, OH 43130
Phone: 740-652-7900

Fairfield County State Highway Patrol Post
3800 Lancaster-Circleville Rd.
Lancaster, OH 43130
Phone: 740-654-1523

Contact a Lawyer for Help

If you were injured in a car accident, obtaining a copy of the crash report could help make your case for recovering compensation. For help understanding or locating a copy of your Fairfield County, Ohio accident report, contact an accident lawyer at Kisling, Nestico & Redick today.

For a free, no-obligation consultation, contact us at 1-800-HURT-NOW.