New York Crash Reports
Find Your Crash Report Online
A New York accident or crash report is officially titled as “MV-104A” or Police Accident Report. It is used by law enforcement to record the details relating to an accident involving any type of vehicle. The details in the report are recorded by the officer who attended the scene of the accident. If an officer did not attend your accident, you may need to file a “MV-104 Report of a Motor Vehicle Accident”, also referred to as a Civilian Accident Report, with the New York Department of Motor Vehicles.
The “MV-104A” Police Accident Report
A New York accident or crash report is officially titled as an ‘MV-104A’ or ‘Police Accident Report’. It is used by law enforcement to record the details relating to an accident involving any type of vehicle. The details in the report are recorded by the officer who attended the scene of the accident. If a police officer did not attend your accident you may be required to file your own report with the state provided form titled ‘MV-104’ or ‘Report of a Motor Vehicle Accident’ through the New York Department of Motor Vehicles. The report can be pretty complicated due to the fact that there are often 1000’s of circumstances and facts that are recorded about the accident details, drivers, occupants and vehicles involved. If you are looking for a very detailed explanation of the information, codes and terminology used in the MV-104A Police Accident Report, the following documents can help provide a comprehensive guide:
| Title | |
|---|---|
| Report of Motor Vehicle Accident | |
| New York Police Accident Report Codes MV-104COV | |
| Police Accident Report Manual |
2 Ways to Get A Copy Of Your Report On-Line In New York
1. Order Online Through New York Department of Motor Vehicles
To request your accident report online from the New York Department of Motor Vehicles, or DMV, you will need to provide information about the accident and specific driver or vehicle involved in the crash. First, do a ‘Free’ limited search to see if the DMV has your report yet. Secondly, do a ‘Paid’ search for your report. Next, order your reports through the search portal. After your pay, you will be able to download your report directly as a PDF. You will then have access to your report for seven calendar days. You can also request a copy of your accident report via mail through the DMV.
2. Other Data Sites like LexisNexis or CrashDocs
These can be a good reliable source of data. However the sites can be difficult to use and do not have all the Police Agencies in New York. (sometimes less than 50%)
New York Accident Reports - FAQ
When do I need to file an accident report in New York state?If the property damage of any person is $1,000 or more, all the involved drivers are required by the NY State Vehicle and Traffic Law to file a Report of Motor Vehicle Accident (PDF) (MV-104). |
How long do I have to file an accident report in New York?The report must be filed within 10 days of the accident. File form MV-104 with the DMV no more than 10 days after the accident. The DMV can suspend your driver license if you fail to report an accident. |
What do I do if there was a fatality involved in the accident?If a person is injured or killed, you are required by the NY State Vehicle and Traffic Law to immediately notify the police. All the involved drivers and the police must file an accident report with the DMV. It is a crime to leave the scene of an accident that causes personal injury or death. |
Do accident reports go on my driving record in New York?The accident appears on the records of all the involved drivers. An accident listed on your driver record does not indicate that you were at fault. The DMV does not try to determine fault in an accident. |
What is a traffic collision?A traffic collision occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other stationary obstruction, such as a tree, pole or building. Traffic collisions often result in injury, death, and property damage. |
How many people get hurt in traffic collisions?In the United States, 5 people are injured in a traffic collision every minute and somebody dies every 14 minutes! |