New York Police Accident Report

Anyone in need of insurance claims or legal claims almost always needs to acquire a police report. Acquiring this nifty little piece of evidence is almost always straightforward despite differences in procedure across different states.

That said, the fact that it is different across states means that you need to be familiar with the process wherever you need your report if you want to be able to get it in time. New York State has multiple means of acquiring police reports, and we’re here to discuss each one.

If you’re in New York State, the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm is here to help you with getting your police report. But if that’s not enough and you need legal help for your accident claim, call us at (516) 689-1132.

What Is a Police Accident Report?

First up, let’s go through the basics of what a police accident report is and what it is used for. Officially known as MV-104A (in New York State), a police accident report is an official law enforcement document that details a motor vehicle accident.

The MV-104A form is used across the state except for in New York City itself. Within city limits, the police will use form MV-104AN. Other variations of the police report are used for various specific functions.

• MV-104S: This form is called the “truck and bus supplemental police accident report” and is used when a crash involves large commercial vehicles such as trucks and buses.
• MV-104D: In the event that a crash leads to a fatality, the authorities will file the “police report for fatal motor vehicle accidents.”
• MV-104L: This form is used when a crash involves the owner or operator of a law enforcement vehicle.

Reports are filed by police officers at the scene of the accident after they arrive and are processed and filed at whichever precinct has jurisdiction over the area where the accident occurred. The document is not to be confused with MV-104, which is the accident report form filed by drivers involved in an accident and is submitted to the New York DMV when property damage exceeds $1,000 or if any party has sustained injuries.

What Does a Police Report Contain?

A New York police accident report is divided into different parts, each dedicated to specific types of information:

• Driver: The first section of the report details personal identifying information regarding the person in control of the car (or other vehicle) when the accident occurred. Notably, this section specifies the number of people the driver was transporting.
• Registrant: This section identifies the person and/or organization that owns the vehicle.
• Vehicle Damage: In this section, you will find descriptions of the damage each vehicle involved sustained. There is also a selection of diagrams depicting different types of collisions, including rear-ends, sideswipes, etc, along with a blank space where the officer can draw a diagram of their own.
• Accident Location: This shows the place where the accident occurred in New York State, identified by any permanent landmarks, street names, and intersections. This section also includes a narrative portion where the police officer will describe how the accident occurred.
• All Involved: Here, you will find the names of all people involved in the accident as well as basic information about them. The section will also identify which vehicle the person occupied at the time of the accident and their position in said vehicle, plus any safety equipment in use.
  • If any injuries were sustained by an individual, they will be listed and described here.
  • If a person is deceased, the date of death will be noted.
• Insurance: This part contains all insurance-related and identifies damaged property outside of the vehicle itself.

Most – and ideally all – the information on a police accident report is collected immediately at the scene of the accident. Police officers will likely investigate facts and causes on the spot and are legally required to do so if the accident resulted in an injury to a party (Sections 600-604 of the New York VAT Laws).

The law also states that law enforcement is responsible for asking motor vehicle operators to exchange information required for the police report. They are required to facilitate the exchange of information between the parties involved.

Getting a Report From the New York State Police

The New York State Police has jurisdiction over car accidents that happen anywhere outside the boundaries of New York City’s five boroughs. The organization has ten troops across the state, including the NYC Troop.

The NYSP also has jurisdiction over state-maintained highways that run through New York City itself. This means if you get in an accident on I-95 in the Bronx, it will be the NYSP to respond and not the NYPD.

The NYSP does not have a portal of its own where you can apply for a police report. However, when you visit their website, they will direct you to one of several other pages, depending on the location of the accident.

Thruway Accidents

New York State Police Troop T handles accidents that occur on the NYS Thruway (I-87 South of Albany, I-90 West of Albany, Berkshire Spur East of Albany, I-190, and Westchester County arterials to the Thruway I-287 and I-95).

If your accident occurred in these locations, you can request a report at the New York State Thruway Authority using the form TA-W4310.

All Other Roads

For state roads under NYSP jurisdiction besides those in the Thruway, NYSP directs people to the DMV. The form to use for this is MV-198C, found on the DMV’s website.

Getting a Report From the NYPD

If an accident you are involved in occurred within the limits of the Big Apple itself, you’re going to have to go through the New York Police Department for your police report. The procedure is largely the same, with the only major difference being the forms used.

If your accident occurred in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, or Staten Island (The five boroughs of the city), you would have to find the precinct in charge of the location where the accident happened and get your report directly from there.

There are three main ways to claim a report from the NYPD:

1. Online Requests: The NYPD maintains an online portal where you can file requests for police reports. If you choose this route, you will have to provide details identifying the accident, such as the time and location, plus the police report number provided by the responding officer.
2. In-person Requests: In order to claim an accident report in person, you will have to identify the exact precinct that serves the area where the accident occurred. We have provided a list of dedicated pages below where you can learn how to get your police report from the right precinct.
3. Mail Requests: If you want to receive your report by mail, you will have to send a written request containing – once again – the identifying information regarding the accident. Include your payment and a self-addressed and stamped envelope so the department can mail the report to you.
   1. If you choose to send your request via mail, do not, under any circumstances, send payment in the form of money; use a check or money order instead in order to mitigate security risks. The NYPD is not accountable for money lost in mishandled or stolen mail.

List of Precincts

●     Manhattan

• 1st Precinct: 212-334-0611, 16 Ericsson Place
• 5th Precinct: 212-334-0711, 19 Elizabeth Street
• 6th Precinct: 212-741-4811, 233 West 10 Street
• 7th Precinct: 212-477-7311, 19 1/2 Pitt Street
• 9th Precinct: 212-477-7811, 321 East 5 Street
• 10th Precinct: 212-741-8211, 230 West 20th Street
• 13th Precinct: 212-477-7411, 230 East 21st Street
• Midtown South Precinct: 212-239-9811, 357 West 35th Street
• 17th Precinct: 212-826-3211, 167 East 51st Street
• Midtown North Precinct: 212-767-8400, 306 West 54th Street
• 19th Precinct: 212-452-0600, 153 East 67th Street
• 20th Precinct: 212-580-6411, 120 West 82nd Street
• Central Park Precinct: 212-570-4820, 86th St & Transverse Road
• 23rd Precinct: 212-860-6411, 164 East 102nd Street
• 24th Precinct: 212-678-1811, 151 West 100th Street
• 25th Precinct: 212-860-6511, 120 East 119th Street
• 26th Precinct: 212-678-1311, 520 West 126th Street
• 28th Precinct: 212-678-1611, 2271-89 8th Avenue
• 30th Precinct: 212-690-8811, 451 West 151st Street
• 32nd Precinct: 212-690-6311, 250 West 135th Street
• 33rd Precinct: 212-927-3200, 2207 Amsterdam Avenue
• 34th Precinct: 212-927-9711, 4295 Broadway

●     Bronx

• 40th Precinct: 718-402-2270, 257 Alexander Avenue
• 41st Precinct: 718-542-4771, 1035 Longwood Avenue
• 42nd Precinct: 718-402-3887, 830 Washington Avenue
• 43rd Precinct: 718-542-0888, 900 Fteley Avenue
• 44th Precinct: 718-590-5511, 2 East 169th Street
• 45th Precinct: 718-822-5411, 2877 Barkley Avenue
• 46th Precinct: 718-220-5211, 2120 Ryer Avenue
• 47th Precinct: 718-920-1211, 4111 Laconia Avenue
• 48th Precinct: 718-299-3900, 450 Cross Bronx Expressway
• 49th Precinct: 718-918-2000, 2121 Eastchester Road
• 50th Precinct: 718-543-5700, 3450 Kingsbridge Avenue
• 52nd Precinct: 718-220-5811, 3016 Webster Avenue

●     Brooklyn

• 60th Precinct: 718-946-3311, 2951 West 8th Street
• 61st Precinct: 718-627-6611, 2575 Coney Island Avenue
• 62nd Precinct: 718-236-2611, 1925 Bath Avenue
• 63rd Precinct: 718-258-4411, 1844 Brooklyn Avenue
• 66th Precinct: 718-851-5611, 5822 16th Avenue
• 67th Precinct: 718-287-3211, 2820 Snyder Avenue
• 68th Precinct: 718-439-4211, 333 65th Street
• 69th Precinct: 718-257-6211, 9720 Foster Avenue
• 70th Precinct: 718-851-5511, 154 Lawrence Avenue
• 71st Precinct: 718-735-0511, 421 Empire Boulevard
• 72nd Precinct: 718-965-6311, 830 4th Avenue
• 73rd Precinct: 718-495-5411, 1470 East New York Avenue
• 75th Precinct: 718-827-3511, 1000 Sutter Avenue
• 76th Precinct: 718-834-3211, 191 Union Street
• 77th Precinct: 718-735-0611, 127 Utica Avenue
• 78th Precinct: 718-636-6411, 65 6th Avenue
• 79th Precinct: 718-636-6611, 263 Tompkins Avenue
• 81st Precinct: 718-574-0411, 30 Ralph Avenue
• 83rd Precinct: 718-574-1605, 480 Knickerbocker Avenue
• 84th Precinct: 718-875-6811, 301 Gold Street
• 88th Precinct: 718-636-6511, 298 Classon Avenue
• 90th Precinct: 718-963-5311, 211 Union Avenue
• 94th Precinct: 718-383-3879, 100 Meserole Avenue

●     Queens

• 100th Precinct: 718-318-4200, 92-24 Rockaway Beach Boulevard
• 101st Precinct: 718-868-3400, 16-12 Mott Avenue
• 102nd Precinct: 718-805-3200, 87-34 118th Street
• 103rd Precinct: 718-657-8181, 168-02 P.O Edward Byrne Ave.
• 104th Precinct: 718-386-3004, 64-2 Catalpa Avenue
• 105th Precinct: 718-776-9090, 92-08 222nd Street
• 106th Precinct: 718-845-2211, 103-53 101st Street
• 107th Precinct: 718-969-5100, 71-01 Parsons Boulevard
• 108th Precinct: 718-784-5411, 5-47 50th Avenue
• 109th Precinct: 718-321-2250, 37-05 Union Street
• 110th Precinct: 718-476-9311, 94-41 43rd Avenue
• 111th Precinct: 718-279-5200, 45-06 215th Street
• 112th Precinct: 718-520-9311, 68-40 Austin Street
• 113th Precinct: 718-712-7733, 167-02 Baisley Boulevard
• 114th Precinct: 718-626-9311, 34-16 Astoria Boulevard
• 115th Precinct: 718-533-2002, 92-15 Northern Boulevard

●     Staten Island

• 120th Precinct: 718-876-8500, 78 Richmond Terrace
• 121st Precinct: 718-697-8700, 970 Richmond Avenue
• 122nd Precinct: 718-667-2211, 2320 Hylan Boulevard
• 123rd Precinct: 718-948-9311, 116 Main Street

Getting a Report From the DMV

Because the Department of Motor Vehicles maintains records for all traffic-related incidents in the state, you will have to visit their website to claim a report for accidents on most other roads outside the five boroughs of NYC. The DMV outlines a four-step process to order and claim reports.

Step 1: Limited Search

The first step is to use the DMV’s Limited Search feature, which displays a list of crashes by county on selected dates. Vehicle information is visible on Limited Search, allowing you to quickly identify the event you are looking for if it is already in the system.

Limited Search is used specifically to find out if your report is ready. It does not allow you to download or access the report for use.

Step 2: Paid Search

The second step, Paid Search, allows you to search for the specific report by – in their own words – “Plate Number, License Number, or DMV Accident Case Number.”

A word of caution when using the Paid Search function: each search incurs a fee of $7 regardless of whether or not you find the report you are looking for. This means if you accidentally search for a different report or if the search returns no results, you will essentially have wasted money, so be sure you have the specific details of your case entered correctly to avoid excess costs.

Step 3: Ordering a Report

Place the order for your report and pay the associated fee. Each report costs $15.

Keep in mind that some accidents may have more than one report filed in the system, typically due to one of the following reasons:

• Property damage exceeds $1,000
• The accident led to death and/or injury

If you need to access motorist reports or additional reports pertaining to these scenarios, they will also cost a separate $15 fee.

Step 4: Accessing Reports

Once you have paid for the reports, you will be given seven days of access to the content. During this time, you will be able to freely download the reports you need, print them, forward them to your email, etc.

After this seven-day access period, you will need to place the order again and pay the associated search and report fees for continued access.

DMV Request Navigator

The DMV also has an alternative method of ordering an accident report. The Record Request Navigator is normally used for documents such as driver histories or vehicle registrations, but it also keeps track of police accident reports as a backup method in case the standard method fails.

When using the Request Navigator, you will have to provide the same identifying information regarding the incident and pay a $10 search fee. As with the previous method, you will additionally have to pay $15 per report.

In the event no report is found, the DMV will send you a certified letter informing you as such.

Mail Order Requests

If the above methods fail, you may also make a mail order request by submitting the MV-198C form to the following address:

New York State DMV

MV-198C Processing

6 Empire State Plaza

Albany, NY 12228

Provide as much information as possible with your request and send the form together with a check or money order for the required payment for the search fee of $7.

Additional Information

There are some cases where acquiring a police accident report may require more time or effort than you may have initially thought. These difficulties can come in the form of delays or costs or losing previous copies of the report after having secured them.

Let’s take a look at some useful information that can help you avoid delays when looking to get a copy of your report.

Timeframe for Obtaining an Accident Report

For incidents in New York City, accident reports are usually available online a minimum of 14 days after the accident and available in printed format after a minimum of 30 days. If the accident occurred anywhere outside of New York City but within the state’s borders, the report enters the DMV system after a minimum of 60 days.

Note that the law requires police to process a report only if they are informed of the accident within five days of it happening. Reporting an accident to law enforcement five days or more after it occurred can hinder your ability to acquire a copy on time for a claim.

It is also possible to take longer if law enforcement needs more time to complete an investigation.

Fees

The typical car accident report in New York State costs between $5 and $25, varying with the method you choose to access the report as well as the agency in charge. In most cases, however, you should be able to acquire a copy of the police report for free if you make the request within a month.

There may be other fees in addition to the material cost of the report. Case in point, the search fees associated with the DMV Paid Search, for example.

Lost or Damaged Reports

In the event that you lose or damage your report, you should still be able to acquire another copy from the same department. That said, the same fees apply, and additional charges may be incurred when looking to acquire a duplicate copy.

Alternatively, your insurance provider may also have taken the initiative to request a copy of the report on your behalf for the purpose of their investigation into your claim. If this is the case, you may be able to secure a copy of your report from them.

New York stores accident reports for at least five years, so you can still request a copy even after a long period of time. That said, the further in the past a report is, the longer it may take to retrieve, so requests should ideally be made well in advance of needing them.

Further Assistance for Your Police Report

If you need further assistance with acquiring a police accident report, you can either contact the police department directly to ask questions or reach out to a legal expert from the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm.

Here are some resources you can check out.

New York State Police

• New York State Police Accident Report Request
• Phone: 1-800-775-9275

NYPD

• Manhattan: How to Get Your New York City Police Department (Precincts 1-34), Midtown North and South, and Central Park District Car Accident Police Report
• Bronx: How to Get Your New York City Police Department (Precincts 40-52) Car Accident Police Report
• Brooklyn: How to Get Your New York City Police Department (Precincts 60-94) Car Accident Police Report
• Queens: How to Get Your New York City Police Department (Precincts 100-115) Car Accident Police Report
• Staten Island: How to Get Your New York City Police Department (Precincts 120-123) Car Accident Police Report
• Queens County: How to Get Your Queens County Sheriff’s Office Car Accident Police Report
• Kings County: How to Get Your Kings County Sheriff’s Office Car Accident Police Report

Contact the CEO Lawyer for Expert Legal Assistance

Because police reports play such an important role in personal injury claims, you want to get your copy in your hands as soon as possible. But in the aftermath of a car accident, you might not always have the time and resources to get things done in time to make the most of your claim.

That’s why the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm is here. We aim to provide you with highly skilled, local New York car accident attorneys to support you, from securing your police report all the way to getting your settlement in your hands.

We are one of the fastest-growing law firms in the country, with a success rate of over 99% in obtaining fair compensation for those who choose to trust us with their case. Under the leadership of Attorney Ali Awad, we offer the injured in New York State the legal support and expertise needed to get life back in order after an accident and injury.

Call us today at (516) 689-1132 for a free consultation.