How to get your Indiana crash report

What an Indiana crash report is

When a law enforcement officer responds to a collision in Indiana, the officer completes an Indiana Officer's Standard Crash Report and files it through the state's crash records system. The report records the drivers, vehicles, insurance information, witnesses, a diagram, the officer's narrative, a contributing-circumstances code for each driver, and any citations. It is the first document every insurance adjuster reads, which is why getting it, and checking it, matters.

Three ways to get it

1. Online through BuyCrash

   Most Indiana agencies, including the Indiana State Police and most departments in Lake, Porter, and St. Joseph Counties, distribute reports through BuyCrash, a private vendor. You create an account, search by a driver's name, the crash date, the agency, and the county, and pay about $12 by card. The PDF downloads immediately and stays available in your account for about 30 days.

2. From the responding agency

   Some departments still provide copies at the records window, often for a small fee, and some require a written request. Bring your ID and the report number. The agency's records division can tell you its current process.

3. Through us, at no cost

   If you were injured and the crash was not your fault, we obtain the report, review it with you, and explain what it means for your claim. No charge and no obligation.

What you need to search

• The name of at least one driver
• The crash date
• The responding agency (city police, county sheriff, or state police)
• The county and city or town
• The report number, if you have it, which narrows the search to one result

How long it takes

Officers typically have several business days to complete the report, and the vendor needs a few more to process it. Expect five to ten business days. If the crash involved serious injury or a fatality, the report can take longer because of the investigation.

If no officer came

Indiana requires a report when a crash involves injury, death, or apparent property damage of $1,000 or more. If police did not respond, you must file a driver's crash report with the Indiana BMV within ten days. We help clients with this routinely.

How to read your report

Check the driver and insurance information first; a wrong policy number costs weeks. Then read the narrative and diagram against what happened. The contributing-circumstances line for each driver, such as failure to yield or following too closely, is the line adjusters weigh most. Injury severity codes for each occupant support the claim. Our blog walks through every section in After the Crash, Part 2: The Crash Report.

County guides

• How to get a Lake County crash report
• How to get a Porter County crash report
• How to get a St. Joseph County crash report

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Indiana crash report cost?

Through BuyCrash the fee is about $12 per report, paid by card, and the vendor sets the price so it can change. Some agencies also sell paper copies at their records window for a small fee. If you were injured in a crash that was not your fault, we will get the report for you at no cost.

How long until my crash report is available?

Officers typically have several business days to complete and file the report, and the vendor needs a few more to process it. Most reports appear within five to ten business days of the crash. The responding officer can usually tell you when to expect it.

What if no police officer came to the crash?

Indiana requires a driver in a crash involving injury, death, or apparent damage of $1,000 or more to report it. If no officer responded, file a driver’s crash report with the Indiana BMV within ten days. We can help you do that.

The report says something that is wrong. Can it be changed?

Officers can file supplemental reports. A correction is most likely when you can point to something objective: a photo, a witness, video, or a factual error like the wrong street. Contact the records division of the responding agency and ask for the officer, or let us handle it.

Is BuyCrash a legitimate site?

Yes. BuyCrash is a private vendor (LexisNexis Risk Solutions) that law enforcement agencies across Indiana use to distribute crash reports online. It is not a government site, but it is the official channel for most Indiana agencies.

Do I have to hire you to get the free report?

No. The report is a courtesy for people hurt in crashes that were not their fault. Many people do go on to ask us about their case, and the consultation is free, but there is no obligation.

The free crash report is a courtesy for people injured in collisions that were not their fault. It is not conditioned on hiring the firm, and nothing on this page is a promise about the outcome of any claim. Vendor fees and agency practices change; verify current information with the agency or vendor.