What Is In My Rhode Island Accident Report?

What To Know About Your Rhode Island Accident Report

After you’re involved in a collision in the Ocean State, any police officer who responds to the scene is required to report their findings in an accident report. This document, known as a State of Rhode Island Uniform Crash Report, could be a deciding factor when your insurance company determines the amount of compensation you receive and your future monthly rates.

While attorneys and law enforcement officials can understand this type of document easily, it can be challenging for those seeing one for the first time to make sense of it. That’s why we’ve broken down the form into its sections to help you better understand your accident report and the claims process.

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Your Rhode Island Crash Report Explained

The official Rhode Island Crash Report comprises seven pages wherein the responding officer takes down all pertinent information they gather at the scene. Once the insurance company receives a copy of the report, they’ll use it as evidence in their investigation and adjust your settlement and rates accordingly.

Page One

The first page includes all of the essential information regarding the accident, including the time, date, and location where it occurred. It also contains pertinent information about the drivers and any eyewitnesses, whether anyone was transported to the hospital, and the responding officer’s information, as well as the make, model, and VINs of the vehicles.

Page Two

The second page of the crash report will describe the accident in greater detail, including what the scene looked like, whether it happened in a construction zone or involved a school bus, and whether any of the vehicles had certain special characteristics.

Page Three

Here, the responding officer will describe emergency response and the estimated cost of the damage involved. They will also note the “most harmful event” that resulted from the crash, and what the vehicles were doing immediately before colliding.

Page Four

On the fourth page, the officer selects from certain numerical codes to provide a “sequence of events,” state whether certain driver actions may have contributed to the crash, and the detail the results of any drug or alcohol tests that were administered.

Page Five

This section is where the officer presents a diagram and narrative of how the accident transpired. They use this portion to describe exactly what they believe took place and what the scene looked like upon their arrival.

Page Six

The sixth page is for details of other parties who may have been affected by the crash: passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, witnesses, etc. It also has a space for detailing any non-vehicle property damage that resulted from the accident.

Common Questions About a Rhode Island Crash Report

Is there a fee to obtain my crash report?

Obtaining your crash report may be done online or by mail for $15. But we can recover your official crash report without using a credit card and at no obligation to you! Click HERE to find out how!

Do I need a crash report to file my claim?

You’re not required to have an accident report to file a claim with your insurance company. However, if you can’t provide an official accident report, your rates could go up, and you might receive a lower-than-expected settlement.

What if the police didn’t respond to my accident?

If the police didn’t respond to the scene of your accident, you should attempt to contact them again. It’s imperative to have a law enforcement official at the scene of any crash so that they can file an official accident report with the Department of Motor Vehicles. Rhode Island requires that any accident resulting in injury, death, or more than $1,000 in property damage to any on person be reported to DMV within 21 days of the incident.

How long does it take to receive my accident report?

Once the police file their report, it’s typically made available within 72 hours of the filing.

Is my crash report a public record?

An official crash report can be obtained by anyone with a vested interest in your accident, including, but not limited to:

Any individual involved in the accident
Lawyers
Law enforcement officials
Judges
Insurance companies
Witnesses

Ready for Your FREE Crash Report?

Don’t let unnecessary processing fees keep you from your official Rhode Island Crash Report. Click HERE and fill out the brief questionnaire to request your FREE copy today!

We were founded on a mission to assist people who were involved in car wrecks in Rhode Island by providing giving them access to the resources they need. By providing free crash reports, helpful advice, and connection to legal and medical resources, we hope you can put your accident behind you once and for all.