How Do I Get a Copy of the Police Report?

After the chaos of a car accident scene—the flashing lights, the exchange of information, the tow trucks—one of the most important pieces of evidence from that day is a document you likely won’t have in your hands: the official police report.

This report, completed by the responding law enforcement officer, is a vital, impartial summary of the incident. It contains key details like the date, time, and location of the crash, driver and witness information, a diagram of the scene, the officer’s initial assessment of what happened, and whether any traffic citations were issued. For insurance companies and attorneys, the police report is the foundational document for the entire claims process.

But how do you actually get your hands on a copy? The process can seem confusing, as it depends on which law enforcement agency responded to your call. This guide will provide a clear, step-by-step breakdown of how to obtain your car accident report in Tacoma and the surrounding Pierce County area.

Useful Information for You: In a Nutshell

• Identify the Agency: You need to know which police department responded to your accident. In our area, it was likely the Washington State Patrol (WSP) for highway incidents or the Tacoma Police Department (TPD) for city street incidents.
• Get the Report Number: At the scene, the officer should have given you a small card or piece of paper with a case number or report number on it. This is the key to finding your report.
• Request Online for WSP Reports: For accidents on highways like I-5 or SR 16, the Washington State Patrol is the responding agency. You can request your report online through the Washington State Patrol Requests for Electronic Collision Reports (WRECR) system.
  
   
   
• Request Through Tacoma PD for City Accidents: For accidents on local Tacoma streets, you will need to request the report from the Tacoma Police Department, which has its own public records request portal.
• Be Patient: It typically takes several days to a week for the officer to finalize the report and for it to become available in the system.

Step 1: Identify the Responding Law Enforcement Agency

The first step is knowing who to ask. The agency that responded to your 911 call is the one that will have your report.

• Washington State Patrol (WSP): If your accident occurred on an interstate (I-5, I-705), a state route (SR 16, SR 7), or in an unincorporated area of Pierce County, the WSP likely responded.
• Tacoma Police Department (TPD): If your accident happened on a surface street within the city limits of Tacoma, the TPD would have been the responding agency.
• Pierce County Sheriff’s Department: For accidents in parts of the county that are outside Tacoma city limits but not on a state highway (like parts of Lakewood or Puyallup, depending on jurisdiction), the Sheriff’s Department may have responded.

Step 2: How to Request Your Report

Once you know the agency, you can begin the request process. Having the report number the officer gave you at the scene will make this much faster.

If your report is with the Washington State Patrol (WSP): The WSP uses an online system called WRECR.

1. Visit the official WRECR portal.
2. You will need to provide information to search for the report, such as the report number, the last name of an involved person, and the date of the collision.
3. There is typically a small fee associated with obtaining a copy of the report. You can pay with a credit or debit card and download a PDF version of your report.

If your report is with the Tacoma Police Department (TPD): The TPD handles its own public records requests.

1. Visit the Tacoma Police Department’s official public records request portal.
2. You will need to create an account and submit a new request. Be as specific as possible, providing the date, time, location, and the police report number if you have it.
3. The department will process your request and provide you with instructions on how to receive and pay for the report.

What if I don’t have the report number? Don’t worry! You can still get the report. You will just need to provide more information, such as:

• The exact date and approximate time of the accident.
• The location (e.g., the intersection of S 19th St and Union Ave).
• The full names of the drivers involved. By providing these details, the records department can manually search for your report.

Step 3: Understanding Your Report

Once you receive the report, you’ll see it’s filled with codes, diagrams, and narratives. Key sections to review are the officer’s narrative describing the event, the diagram of the collision, any listed contributing factors, and whether any citations were issued. This information will be used by insurance companies to make their initial determination of fault.

The police report is your first piece of official evidence. It sets the stage for everything that follows. Securing a copy promptly is a critical step in protecting your rights after an accident.

After you’ve obtained your police report, you may have questions about what it means for your case or how it will impact your interactions with the insurance companies. If you need a professional to review your report and help you plan your next steps in the Tacoma area, search the Car Accident Lawyer Directory Tacoma. Compare profiles and find a trusted local attorney who can help you interpret the report and build a strong case.

References

• Washington State Patrol – Request a Collision Report: The official online portal (WRECR) for requesting accident reports handled by the WSP.
  
   

  https://www.wsp.wa.gov/driver/collision-reports/

• Tacoma Police Department – Public Records Request: The official portal for requesting public records, including traffic accident reports, from the TPD. https://www.cityoftacoma.org/government/city_departments/police_department/i_want_to/request_a_police_report
• Revised Code of Washington (RCW 46.52.030) – Accident reports: The state law that details the requirement for law enforcement officers to file a written report for certain accidents. https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.52.030