If you were in a crash in Durham, the police accident report is one of the first documents you will want in hand. Insurance adjusters lean on it, and any attorney reviewing your claim will read it before almost anything else. Getting a copy is simple once you know which agency wrote it and which office to contact.
Where to Request Your Durham Police Accident Report
Your report is held by the agency whose officer worked the crash. The card or slip the officer gave you at the scene should list the agency and a report number. If you did not get one, think about who responded:
• Durham Police Department: crashes inside city limits.
• Durham County Sheriff’s Office: many crashes in unincorporated parts of the county.
• North Carolina State Highway Patrol: interstates and many state highways.
• Campus police: crashes on campus property. Duke University Police, for example, releases traffic accident reports to involved parties through its Records Division.
Not sure who responded? Crash reports investigated by North Carolina law enforcement agencies are forwarded to the state Division of Motor Vehicles, so the DMV route below works no matter which agency wrote yours.
It also helps to know that a report almost certainly exists if anyone was hurt. According to the Durham Police Department’s own FAQ, a police report is mandatory when someone is injured or the damage is more than $1,000.
How to Get Your Police Accident Report From the Durham Police Department
For crashes handled by Durham PD, the city’s FAQ directs you to the Records Unit at Police Headquarters, 602 East Main Street, Durham, NC 27701. Reports are available on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. You can also call the Records Unit at 919-560-4423 and ask for a copy to be faxed to you.
Officers need time to finish and file a crash report, so give it a few business days before you go in. A quick call to the Records Unit first can save you a wasted trip. Bring:
• The report number, if the officer gave you one
• The date, time, and location of the crash
• The names of the drivers involved
• A photo ID
How to Get Your Crash Report From the NC DMV
The NC Division of Motor Vehicles is the other route, and the better one if a Highway Patrol trooper or another agency handled your crash. Here is how it works:
- Print and complete the Crash Report Request form (TR-67A). The form is not fillable, so it has to be printed. Include the crash date and the county where it happened.
- Mail it with payment to the address on the form. Make your check or money order payable to NCDMV and sign it, since an unsigned payment can get the request returned. DMV asks you to allow about 10 business days once it receives your request.
- Or deliver it in person. DMV accepts requests at the Vehicle Registration office at 4121 New Bern Ave. in Raleigh (use the door marked Vehicle Registration, not Driver License). Requests for five records or fewer can be handled on the spot.
If you have questions, the DMV Crash Reports Unit can be reached at 919-861-3068. Federal privacy law limits who can receive a crash report, because it contains personal information about everyone involved. If you were personally involved in the crash, you can order a redacted certified copy. The fee is listed on the DMV’s crash reports page and is a small per-copy charge.
What to Check Once You Have Your Durham Accident Report
Do not just file the report away. Read it closely, because in North Carolina the details carry extra weight. Our state follows contributory negligence, which means that if an insurance company can pin even one percent of the fault on you, it can deny your claim outright. A vague narrative or a misplaced code can become the starting point for that argument.
Look at these parts first:
• The officer’s narrative. Does it match what happened, including who failed to yield, stop, or keep a lookout?
• Contributing circumstances and codes. These small entries signal how the officer saw the crash, and adjusters pay attention to them.
• The diagram and point of impact. Compare them with your own memory and photos.
• Witness names and contact details. Witnesses are easiest to reach early.
• Basic facts. Names, plate numbers, insurance information, road and weather conditions, and the time of the crash.
If something is factually wrong, contact the agency that wrote the report and ask how to submit a correction or supplement. The officer’s view of fault is not a final legal determination, and it does not decide your claim by itself. But if it points toward you, that is worth talking through with a lawyer before you speak with an adjuster. North Carolina’s last clear chance doctrine can still keep a claim alive in narrow situations, and it turns on evidence that disappears quickly.
Do You Need a Lawyer to Get Your Accident Report?
No, you can request the report yourself using the steps above. But if you were injured, having an attorney involved early means someone is reading the report with your claim in mind, collecting what the officer did not, and handling the insurance company so you are not left to do it alone. North Carolina generally gives injured people three years to file a personal injury lawsuit, but video footage, vehicle data, and witness memories fade much faster than that.
Our Durham car accident lawyers can obtain your report, explain what it means for your claim, and tell you what to do next.
Frequently Asked Questions About Durham Accident Reports
How long does it take to get a police accident report in Durham?
The officer has to complete and file the report first, so expect to wait a few business days before it is available at the Durham PD Records Unit. A request mailed to the NC DMV generally takes about 10 business days from the date the DMV receives it.
How much does a Durham accident report cost?
Durham PD’s published guidance does not list a fee for crash reports, so ask the Records Unit when you call at 919-560-4423. The NC DMV charges a small per-copy fee for a certified crash report, and the current amount is posted on its crash reports page.
Can I get my Durham accident report online?
Durham PD’s own FAQ points people to the Records Unit in person or by phone. The department’s Police-to-Citizen portal is built for certain types of incident reports, so call the Records Unit to confirm whether your crash report is available there. The DMV page also lists current ordering options.
Can my lawyer or insurance company request my accident report for me?
Often, yes. DMV releases unredacted crash reports only for permissible uses under federal privacy law, and those uses are listed on the TR-67A form. Insurers handling a claim and attorneys acting for a client commonly fall within them. Check the form or call the DMV Crash Reports Unit if you are unsure.
Talk to a Durham Car Accident Lawyer
If you were hurt in a crash, the sooner someone reviews your accident report, the more options you keep. Call Constantinou & Burkert Accident Injury Lawyers at (919) 683-1302 or schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation. Our office is at 120 E Parrish St, Suite 300, in downtown Durham.
This article is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. For guidance specific to your situation, consult a licensed North Carolina attorney.
