Colorado Accident Report

Which agency has your Colorado crash report

The report is held by the agency whose officer responded: Colorado State Patrol, a city police department, or a county sheriff. The agency name and case number are usually on the card or form the officer hands you at the scene. If you did not get one, call the non-emergency line for the area where the crash happened and ask which agency took the report.

Colorado State Patrol says that to get a copy of a crash it investigated, you need the driver's name, the date of the crash, the case report number, and the crash location, and that all requests must go through its Records Request Portal. CSP notes that reports "are not available immediately following a crash" and that processing "may take up to 10 working days."

For Denver Police crashes, the Denver Police Records Unit says crash reports "typically take 5-7 days to become available after they are closed," and crashes still being investigated can take longer. Crashes involving a fatality or serious bodily injury, a juvenile, a city vehicle, an active investigation, or a sealed record must be requested from DPD's Civil Liability Section instead, which lists production times of 6-8 weeks.

What the basic report includes, and what it leaves out

The standard copy is a summary. Colorado State Patrol describes its Basic Crash Report as "a synopsis of the crash" that "does not include any witness statements, digital media or any other aspect of the crash investigation." The complete case file, photographs, dash camera and body-worn camera video, and dispatch audio are separate requests. Denver Police similarly describes its Investigation Report as one that "often includes officer and witness statements, the detective's notes, and scanned images."

Police crash records are criminal justice records, so release is governed by the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act (C.R.S. § 24-72-301 and following), not the general open records law. Agencies can redact information, and CSP says it will not release records unless the requester signs a statement that they will not be used to directly solicit business.

Not every crash produces an officer's report. Under C.R.S. § 42-4-1606, an officer generally need not investigate or file a report when no one is hurt and property damage to any one person appears to be no more than $1,000, unless a participant asks for one or cannot show proof of insurance. CSP says reports filed through Colorado's Online Crash Reporting System go to the Department of Revenue, and that CSP cannot provide copies of them.

How do I get a copy of my Colorado accident report?

Find out which agency took the report, then request it from that agency. For Colorado State Patrol crashes, CSP asks for the driver's name, crash date, case report number, and location through its Records Request Portal. Denver Police crash reports are ordered through the DPD Records Unit, online or by mail. Other police departments and sheriff's offices have their own records units.

How long does it take for a crash report to be available in Colorado?

It varies by agency. Colorado State Patrol says processing may take up to 10 working days after the investigation is complete. Denver Police says crash reports typically take 5-7 days to become available after they are closed, and serious or actively investigated crashes can take weeks.

Does the crash report include photos, video, and witness statements?

Usually not. The basic report is a summary of the crash. Photos, dash camera and body camera video, dispatch audio, and witness statements are typically separate requests, and some agencies need to confirm availability and payment first. Ask early, because the request process can take weeks.

What if the police did not write a report about my crash?

Colorado law does not require an officer to file a report for every crash, especially minor property-damage-only collisions. You can still file a report through Colorado's Online Crash Reporting System, and you can make an insurance claim with your own photos, witness information, and medical records. Copies of online-filed reports come from the Department of Revenue, not the State Patrol.

Should I wait for the crash report before talking to a lawyer?

No. The report can take days or weeks, while insurance notice requirements and video retention can move faster. Under C.R.S. § 13-80-101(1)(n), motor vehicle injury lawsuits generally must be filed within three years. Conduit Law can request the report and related records for you. The consultation is free, and there are no fees unless we win. Call (720) 432-7032.