How to Obtain an Accident Report in Colorado

You were in a crash. You're sore, stressed, and an insurance adjuster is already calling. If you haven't already, review our checklist of what to do after a car accident to make sure you haven't missed any critical steps. The first thing you need — before you return that call, before you post anything online, before you do much of anything — is a copy of your accident report. It's the single most important document in any personal injury claim, and getting it is easier than most people think. Here's how to obtain an accident report in Colorado, step by step.

Why Your Accident Report Matters

A police accident report — officially called a traffic crash report in Colorado — is the closest thing you'll get to an objective, third-party account of what happened. The responding officer documents the date, time, location, weather conditions, driver and witness information, a narrative of the crash, and often a preliminary determination of fault. Insurance companies treat this document as the starting point for every claim evaluation. Without it, you're building your case on quicksand.

Under Colorado's modified comparative negligence rule (C.R.S. § 13-21-111), you can't recover a dime if you're found more than 50% at fault. That officer's narrative and diagram can make or break your liability argument. If you're unsure whether your situation warrants legal help, our guide on whether you should get a lawyer after a car accident can help you decide. And with a three-year statute of limitations on personal injury claims (C.R.S. § 13-80-101), you don't want to waste months chasing paperwork you could have grabbed in the first week.

Step 1: Know Who Has Your Report

Where your accident report lives depends on which agency responded to the crash:

• City police — If the crash happened within city limits, the local police department has it. Denver PD, Aurora PD, Colorado Springs PD — each maintains their own records.
• County sheriff — For crashes on county roads or in unincorporated areas, contact the county sheriff's office.
• Colorado State Patrol (CSP) — Highway crashes and interstate accidents are typically handled by CSP.

If you're not sure which agency responded, check the card or case number the officer gave you at the scene. The agency name is printed on it. No card? Call the non-emergency dispatch number for the jurisdiction where the crash occurred — they can point you in the right direction.

Step 2: Request Your Report

Colorado gives you several ways to get your hands on a crash report. Pick whichever works best for your situation.

Online Through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI)

The fastest route for most people. The CBI maintains a statewide database of traffic crash reports submitted by law enforcement agencies across Colorado.

1. Visit the CBI's official crash report portal.
2. Search by your name, the crash date, or the case number.
3. Pay the fee (currently around $6 per report).
4. Download your report immediately as a PDF.

Reports typically appear in the CBI system within 5-10 business days after the crash. If your accident just happened, you may need to wait before the report is available online.

Directly From the Responding Agency

You can also request your report straight from the police department, sheriff's office, or CSP office that handled the crash. This works well if:

• The report isn't showing up in the CBI system yet
• You want to ask questions about the report's contents
• You need a certified copy for court proceedings

Most agencies allow in-person requests at their records division. Some also accept requests by mail, phone, or through their own online portals. Denver PD, for example, offers online crash report requests through their records bureau. Fees vary by agency but are generally comparable to the CBI's pricing.

Through Your Insurance Company

Here's something most people don't realize: your insurance company can often pull the report for you. When you file a claim, the adjuster will typically obtain the crash report as part of their investigation. You can request a copy from them. Just know that you should get your own copy independently — don't rely solely on what the insurance company shares with you. They're not on your team.

Through Your Attorney

If you've hired a personal injury lawyer, they'll obtain the accident report as one of the very first steps in building your case. At Conduit Law, we pull the crash report within 48 hours of taking a case. It's foundational to everything that follows — from the demand letter to settlement negotiations.

Step 3: Review Your Report Carefully

Once you have your accident report, don't just file it away. Read every line. Here's what to look for:

• Accuracy of your information — Name, address, vehicle details, insurance info. Errors happen more often than you'd think.
• The officer's narrative — This is where the responding officer describes what they believe happened. It's not gospel, but it carries weight with insurance adjusters and juries.
• Fault determination — Some reports include a field for contributing factors or citations. If the other driver was cited for running a red light or following too closely, that's powerful evidence for your claim.
• Witness information — Names and contact details of witnesses are gold. If they're listed, your attorney should reach out before memories fade. For guidance on this process, see our guide on how to write a witness statement.
• Diagram — Most reports include a diagram of the crash scene. Check that it matches your recollection of what happened.

What If There's No Police Report?

Sometimes the police aren't called to an accident scene — especially in minor fender-benders where both drivers seem fine. Colorado law (C.R.S. § 42-4-1606) requires drivers to report accidents that involve injury, death, or property damage exceeding $1,000 to law enforcement. But in practice, some crashes slip through without a report.

If there's no police report, you can still file a claim — but you'll need to work harder to build your evidence package. Photographs, witness statements, medical records, and your own detailed account of the crash become your substitute documentation. We break this down in detail in our post on making an insurance claim without a police report.

You can also file a self-report with the Colorado Department of Revenue using the DR 2447 form (Driver/Pedestrian Traffic Crash Report) if the crash wasn't reported by police. This creates an official record, even if it's not as strong as a police-generated report.

What If the Report Contains Errors?

Crash reports are written by humans, and humans make mistakes. If you spot factual errors — a wrong street name, an incorrect vehicle description, or a misidentified driver — you can request a correction.

Contact the agency that produced the report and ask about their amendment process. Most departments will correct objective factual errors (wrong license plate number, misspelled name) relatively easily. Changing the officer's narrative or fault assessment is a different story — that's their professional judgment, and agencies generally won't alter it based on a party's request.

If you disagree with the officer's conclusions about fault, that's where your attorney earns their keep. A skilled personal injury lawyer — and knowing how to choose the right one matters — can build a case that tells a different story than the one in the report — using independent evidence, accident reconstruction experts, and witness testimony to establish the truth.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Report?

Here's a realistic timeline:

Method	Typical Turnaround	Cost
CBI online portal	5-10 business days after crash	~$6
Local agency (in person)	3-7 business days	Varies ($5-$15)
Local agency (mail)	1-3 weeks	Varies + postage
Through your attorney	1-3 business days	Included in representation

Complex crashes — multi-vehicle pileups, hit-and-runs, crashes involving fatalities — can take longer. Officers need more time to investigate, interview witnesses, and reconstruct the scene before finalizing the report.

Pro Tip: Take a photo of the officer's business card and the case number at the scene. Text it to yourself so you have a backup — this one detail will save you days of phone calls when you request your report later.

Pro Tips for Getting Your Report Faster

• Write down the case number at the scene. This is the single most useful piece of information for tracking down your report. Keep it in your phone.
• Ask the officer when the report will be ready. They can usually give you a ballpark. Mark it on your calendar.
• Check the CBI portal first. It's available 24/7 and covers reports from agencies statewide. Save yourself a trip to the station.
• Don't wait. The sooner you have your report, the sooner your attorney can start building your case. Time matters — Colorado's three-year statute of limitations (C.R.S. § 13-80-101) sounds generous until you factor in investigation, treatment, and negotiation timelines.

What Happens After You Get Your Report

Once you have the accident report in hand, the real work begins. Your attorney will use it to:

1. Evaluate liability — Who was at fault, and can we prove it?
2. Identify all parties and insurers — Every driver, every policy, every potential source of recovery.
3. Build the demand package — The crash report anchors the narrative that goes to the insurance company alongside your medical records, bills, and evidence of lost wages.
4. Prepare for negotiation or litigation — If the insurer lowballs you — and they will try — the report supports your position in mediation or at trial.

For a deeper look at the full claims process, check out our guide on the car accident injury claim process.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get an accident report in Colorado?

Most accident reports are available within 5–10 business days through the CBI online portal. If you visit the responding agency in person, you may get it in as few as 3–7 business days. Complex crashes involving fatalities or multiple vehicles can take several weeks.

Does an accident report determine fault?

An accident report often includes the officer's assessment of contributing factors and may note citations, but it does not make a final legal determination of fault. Insurance companies and courts use the report as strong evidence, but fault can be challenged with independent evidence, witness testimony, and expert analysis.

Can I get a copy of the accident report if I wasn't the driver?

Yes. In Colorado, accident reports are generally public records. Passengers, parents of minor drivers, attorneys, and insurance companies can all request copies through the CBI portal or directly from the responding agency. You'll need basic details like the crash date and location or a case number.

How much does a copy of an accident report cost in Colorado?

Through the CBI online portal, a crash report costs approximately $6. Fees at local police departments and sheriff's offices vary but typically range from $5 to $15. If you've hired an attorney, the cost is usually included as part of your representation.

What if the other driver didn't file a report?

The other driver's failure to file a report doesn't prevent you from pursuing a claim. If police responded to the scene, the officer's report exists regardless of whether either driver filed separately. If no police report was generated, you can file a self-report using Colorado's DR 2447 form and build your case with photos, witness statements, and medical records.

Bottom Line

Getting your accident report isn't complicated, but it's critical. Whether you pull it from the CBI portal, walk into the police station, or let your attorney handle it — just make sure you have it. It's the foundation of your claim, and everything else builds from there.

If you've been in a crash in Colorado and need help navigating the claims process, call Conduit Law at (720) 432-7032 for a free consultation. We'll pull your crash report, review your case, and tell you exactly where you stand — no pressure, no runaround.