Why These Records Matter
The accident date is more than a detail. It helps your lawyer (and the insurance process) match the right police report, confirm where the crash happened, and line up medical care and vehicle damage records with the incident.
In North Carolina, the date can also affect legal deadlines. For many injury cases, the lawsuit deadline is commonly three years from the date the claim accrues, so pinning down the correct date early helps avoid preventable problems.
What to Request
- North Carolina crash report (DMV-349): If an officer investigated a reportable crash, a written report is typically created and forwarded through the DMV system.
- Law enforcement records copy: Sometimes the investigating agency can provide a copy of the crash report or confirm the date if you give enough identifying information (kept general here).
- Insurance claim documents: The claim opening date and loss date are often recorded when the claim is reported.
- Tow/repair paperwork: Towing receipts, body shop estimates, and repair invoices often show the intake date and may reference the crash date.
- Medical paperwork you already have: Discharge papers, visit summaries, or billing statements often list “date of injury” or the incident date you reported at the time.
- Phone/location history (if available to you): Calendar entries, text messages, photos metadata, or location history can help narrow the day and time.
How to Request Them (General Steps)
- Start with what you know: Even an approximate week, time of day, and general location (city/county) can help locate the correct crash report.
- Request the crash report through the right channel: In North Carolina, crash reports investigated by law enforcement are typically forwarded to the DMV, and you can also request a copy from the investigating agency in many situations.
- Use consistent identifiers: Provide the driver name(s), vehicle owner name (if different), vehicle tag number (if known), and the general crash location. Consistency helps avoid pulling the wrong report.
- Document your requests: Keep a simple log of who you contacted, when, and what they said. This helps if you need to follow up or correct a mismatch.
What to Do If Records Are Delayed, Missing, or Incorrect
- If you can’t find a crash report: Not every collision results in a formal report. If the crash was not investigated or not considered “reportable,” you may need to rely more heavily on insurance, towing, repair, and medical records to confirm the date.
- If the date is “close but not exact”: Cross-check at least two independent sources (for example, a repair intake date plus an insurance loss date) before you finalize it.
- If the report has an error: Ask your attorney about the best way to document the discrepancy. In many cases, the practical fix is to gather supporting records that confirm the correct date and keep the file consistent going forward.
- If you’re working with a law firm: Your lawyer can often coordinate requests and verify you are matching the correct report to the correct incident, especially when there are multiple similar dates or locations.
How This Applies
Apply to your situation: Because you don’t remember the exact date, the fastest path is usually to narrow the timeframe (approximate week and general location) and then request the DMV-349 crash report using the driver/vehicle identifiers you do know. While you check your own records, your law firm can also try to locate the report through DMV or the investigating agency using that narrowed timeframe and basic identifiers.
What the Statutes Say (Optional)
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-166.1 (Crash reports) – Describes when law enforcement must investigate a reportable crash and prepare a written report, and notes that law enforcement crash reports are public records.
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52 (Three-year limitations period) – Provides a three-year limitations period that commonly applies to personal injury claims.
Conclusion
If you don’t remember the exact crash date, you can usually confirm it by matching at least one official record (often the DMV-349 crash report) with a second time-stamped source like an insurance claim record, tow receipt, repair invoice, or medical paperwork. The key is narrowing the timeframe and keeping your identifiers consistent so you pull the correct report. Your next step is to gather any documents you already have and share the best estimated date range with a licensed North Carolina attorney.
