Ohio
Accident Reports

The crash report must be filed within six months of the accident, and the accident must have caused personal injuries or property damage in excess of $400.

It can take up to seven days from the date of the crash for the report to be filed. Also, please be aware some crashes require additional investigation beyond the initial report.

Additional information resulting from these investigations may not be available until such investigations are complete.

Ohio accidents can stay on your record for anywhere from three to 13 years, depending on the type of accident.

For example, minor fender benders may receive forgiveness or remain for up to three years. The same goes for traffic tickets. On the other hand, DUIs may stay on your record for up to 13 years, with hit-and-runs coming in at 10 years.

This matters because your insurer will examine your driving history. You will pay more for your insurance if you have a long Ohio accident record.

Generally, Ohio accident reports aren’t a matter of public record because they contain personal details. If a record is authorized for public disclosure, it may come with all personal details redacted.

However, some records are accessible to members of the public. Authorized parties may include involved parties, your insurance company, and law enforcement agencies.

To access your accident report in Ohio, you can request it online, by phone, snail mail, or even in person at the relevant investigating agency. Note that a small administrative fee may apply regardless of your chosen method.

In Ohio, drivers are required to carry liability car insurance that helps pay for any injuries or property damage as a result of a car accident. It is against the law to drive a motor vehicle of any sort without the necessary insurance or proof of financial responsibility. Ohio requires drivers to purchase a policy that meets the state mandated minimum amount of insurance. This includes:

• $25,000 per person injured in any one accident
• $50,000 for all persons injured in any one accident
• $25,000 for property damages of others in one accident

No, Ohio is an at-fault state, meaning that in the event of an accident, the driver responsible or their insurance company will be responsible for any compensation. Blame may be apportioned to each side in some legal cases, which can reduce your total award.

Factors can include weather conditions, driving conditions, citations, positions of the vehicles, and driving under the influence.

However, due to Ohio being an at-fault state, more cases tend to go to court as each side fights their respective corners.

Ohio accident reports reveal that the number of traffic deaths within Ohio counties is rising. The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) database reveals that 1,360 deaths occurred on Ohio’s roads. 2021 saw the most traffic accident facilities since 2002 when 1,417 people died in crashes across the state.

Comprehensive figures from the Ohio crash system show that the Buckeye State’s roads are more dangerous than ever. Fatal crashes have increased for the third consecutive year, which also takes the COVID-19 pandemic into account.

The numbers from the Ohio crash ordering system have increased so much, indicating a gradual increase, showing that the increase in injuries is not related to a select few incidents.

If you want to obtain an Ohio traffic crash report, wait at least seven days from the date of the crash to obtain the report. Doing so ensures you will receive a completed initial report. Note that some Ohio crash reports online will take longer to obtain due to the need to complete an additional investigation.

According to the Ohio Department of Public Safety, receiving a report for your traffic collision will give you 72 hours to download or print your report. If you choose to receive photos from crash reports in Ohio, expect to wait four to six weeks for delivery. If you decide to receive electronic photographs from Ohio accident reports, you will get your photos within 24-48 hours.

All photographs delivered electronically will expire within 14 days.

Only information considered suitable for public reports will be included within your copy of police reports online. Information routinely redacted from Ohio traffic accident reports includes the following:

• Driver’s license number
• Public service worker residential and familial information
• Law enforcement investigatory records
• Telephone numbers from parties involved in the crash
• Personal information of any juveniles involved

In short, none of your confidential information will be revealed in Ohio Highway Patrol accident reports. Only information pertaining to the crash itself will be included.

Ohio’s traffic laws are notoriously lenient within the context of the broader country. In fact, Ohio ranked close to the bottom of the latest report released by Advocated for Highway and Auto Safety organization.

The report ranked states based on a list of 16 specific laws proven to reduce traffic facilities. Ohio had enacted just five of the recommended 16 laws designed to reduce fatalities on the road. Just four states were ranked lower than Ohio.

The figure from Ohio accident reports shows that the state has a long way to go regarding reducing the number of fatalities on the roads.