Understanding the Problem

If you were hurt in a North Carolina car crash and you lost the police report you were handed, can you get another copy, and who do you ask to re-issue it? This question usually comes up when you need the report number and the officer’s findings to share with an insurance adjuster or to document what happened, especially when you were transported by EMS after the wreck.

Apply the Law

North Carolina treats law-enforcement crash reports for reportable crashes as public records, and the DMV must provide a certified copy to a member of the public who requests it and pays the required fee. Practically, that means you can request the crash report through the DMV even if you no longer have the copy you received at the scene. Depending on the agency and the situation, you may also be able to request a copy directly from the police department, sheriff’s office, or the State Highway Patrol that investigated the crash.

Key Requirements

• Identify the correct report: You typically need the crash date, location (road/city), and at least one driver’s name (or the report number if you have it).
• Request the right document: Ask for the law-enforcement crash report (commonly the DMV-349), not medical records or 911 audio.
• Use the right office: The DMV is the statewide source for certified copies; the investigating law enforcement agency may provide an uncertified copy depending on circumstances.
• Pay the required fee if you want a certified copy: North Carolina sets a specific fee for a certified crash report from the DMV.
• Expect some redactions in certain situations: Some information may be limited by law (for example, certain minor-identifying information in specific types of crashes).

What the Statutes Say

• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-166.1 (Crash reports; public record status; distribution) - Requires law enforcement to prepare a written crash report for a reportable crash and states that law-enforcement crash reports are public records; the DMV must provide a certified copy upon request and payment of the fee.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-42 (DMV certified copies; crash report fee) - Authorizes the DMV to provide certified copies of DMV documents and sets a specific fee for a certified accident report.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 132-1 (Public records definition) - Defines public records and reflects North Carolina’s general policy of public access unless a law provides otherwise.

Analysis

Apply the Rule to the Facts: Because you were involved in a motor vehicle crash in North Carolina and you need the report again after losing your copy, the key issue is getting the correct law-enforcement crash report tied to your wreck. North Carolina law generally treats the officer’s crash report as a public record and allows you to request a certified copy through the DMV by identifying the crash and paying the required fee. That replacement report can be important when you are documenting injuries and treatment after EMS transport and an ER visit.

Process & Timing

1. Who files: You (a driver, passenger, or other member of the public) or your attorney. Where: North Carolina DMV (for a certified copy) or the investigating law enforcement agency (for an agency copy, if available). What: A request for the crash report (often referred to as the DMV-349). When: As soon as you realize you need it; the officer is required to complete the report quickly after a reportable crash, and agencies then forward it to the DMV.
2. Provide identifiers: Give the crash date, location, and at least one involved person’s name; if you know the report number, include it to avoid delays.
3. Receive the report: The DMV can provide a certified copy once processed; timing can vary based on how quickly the report was submitted and entered.

Exceptions & Pitfalls

• “Police report” can mean different things: For crashes, you usually want the law-enforcement crash report (DMV-349). A separate incident report or investigative file may be treated differently under North Carolina public records rules.
• Certified vs. uncertified copies: Insurance companies and courts sometimes prefer a certified copy. North Carolina sets a specific fee for a certified crash report from the DMV.
• Delays from missing details: If you do not have the report number, use the exact crash date and location and correct spelling of names to reduce back-and-forth.
• Redactions/limits in special cases: Some information may be restricted by law in certain situations (for example, limited disclosure of certain minor-identifying information in specific types of crashes).

Conclusion

In North Carolina, if you lost your crash police report, you can usually replace it by requesting a certified copy of the law-enforcement crash report from the DMV and paying the required fee. The report is generally treated as a public record, and the DMV is the statewide source for certified copies. Next step: submit a crash report request to the North Carolina DMV as soon as possible, using the crash date, location, and an involved driver’s name (or the report number if you have it).