How to Get Your Louisiana Accident Report: Which Agency Has It, What It Costs and How to Fix Mistakes

In most cases, you get your Louisiana accident report from the agency that worked the crash: city police, the parish sheriff or Louisiana State Police. Baton Rouge Police reports cost $7.50 and are ready about 10 working days after the crash. State Police reports can be bought online or at a Troop office.

Which agency has your accident report?

Generally, the agency whose officer came to the scene has your crash record. Inside city limits, that's usually the city police. On parish roads outside a city, it's often the sheriff's office. On interstates like I-10, I-12 and I-49, and on many state highways, Louisiana State Police often handle the crash.

Not sure who came? Here are quick ways to find out:

• Check the slip or card the officer gave you, which often shows the agency name and a case number.
• Look at the officer's uniform or patrol car in any photos you took at the scene.
• Call the non-emergency line for the city police or sheriff where the crash happened and ask.
• Ask your insurance company, since adjusters often already know which agency filed it.

This table sums up who usually responds and where to start:

What do you need before you ask for a copy?

Usually, you need the case number, the crash date and place, and a photo ID. It also helps to have the other driver's name and plate number. Agencies use these details to find the right record and confirm you're allowed to have it.

Louisiana limits who can get a copy. Under La. R.S. 32:398, crash reports are confidential, meaning they aren't open to the general public. They go to the people involved, their insurers, their attorneys and certain others the law names. Be ready to show how you're connected to the crash.

The same law requires drivers to report crashes involving injury, death or property damage of more than $500. If no officer came to your car wreck, there may be no police record on file. In that case, ask the local police or sheriff how to file one.

How do you get your accident report, step by step?

In most cases, you contact the agency that handled the crash, give your case details and pay its fee. Here's how that works for the agencies people ask about most, plus what to do for everyone else.

1. 01. Wait until the copy is ready. The City of Baton Rouge says BRPD crash reports are available 10 working days after the accident. Other agencies may take more or less time, so call before you make a trip.
2. 02. For a Baton Rouge Police crash, the copy costs $7.50. Driver and witness statements cost $1 each. To order by mail, send your request with the report number to 9000 Airline Hwy, Baton Rouge, LA 70815.
3. 03. For a State Police crash, go online to the Louisiana State Police crash report portal. You can search by case number, driver's license number, license plate number or an involved person's last name.
4. 04. Pay the State Police fee. According to the State Police Traffic Records Unit, it's $11.50 plus $2.50 and 2.5% in online fees, or $16.50 at a Troop office.
5. 05. For a fatal crash, plan to go in person. State Police copies of fatal crash reports can only be bought at the local Troop office.
6. 06. For a sheriff's office or another city's police, call the records office. Ask about the fee, the wait and whether they take mail or online requests.
7. 07. Save your copy as a PDF and on paper. You may need to send it to more than one insurer or billing office.

A note on fees: La. R.S. 32:398 also limits what agencies can charge for copies. Some lookup sites charge far more than the agency does. One lists a BRPD copy at $75, while the city's own page says $7.50.

How do you read your Louisiana crash report?

Start with the basics: names, dates, vehicles and insurance. Then read the officer's narrative and diagram, which show how the officer thinks the crash happened. If a code or box doesn't make sense, call the agency and ask what it means.

Check these parts closely:

• Driver and owner names, addresses, license numbers and plate numbers
• Insurance company and policy number for every vehicle
• Date, time and exact location, such as the right exit or cross street
• The diagram and the written narrative
• Any tickets the officer issued
• Witness names and contact details
• Injuries the officer noted

Keep in mind that the report is one officer's view. It isn't the final word on fault. Insurers read it closely, but fault in a Louisiana auto accident claim generally depends on all the facts.

Do I Have A Case?Answer a few quick questions about your accident.Check My Case →

Fault matters more now. Under Act 15 of 2025, a person found 51% or more at fault for a crash on or after January 1, 2026, generally recovers nothing. For crashes before that date, your share of fault generally reduces what you may recover instead.

How do you fix mistakes in your accident report?

Usually, you contact the agency that wrote it, point out the error and ask whether the officer can add a correction or supplement (an add-on page that updates the record). Agencies are generally more open to fixing clear factual errors, like a wrong plate or insurer, than to changing the officer's opinion.

1. 01. List each error and the correct fact next to it.
2. 02. Gather proof, such as your insurance card, registration, license or scene photos.
3. 03. Call or write to the records office or the officer. Ask how they handle corrections.
4. 04. Keep copies of what you send, and note who you spoke with and when.
5. 05. Ask for an updated copy once a change is made.

If the agency won't change something you disagree with, ask whether you can add your own written statement. Either way, tell your insurer about the error in writing. Insurers often pull their own copy, so flag mistakes as early as you can.

What should you avoid when getting your report?

Avoid paying a middleman when the agency sells the copy for less. Also avoid assuming every detail is right, waiting too long and sharing the document carelessly.

• Don't pay a lookup site that charges far more than the official fee.
• Don't show up before the copy is ready, or you may waste a trip.
• Don't assume the details are correct just because an officer wrote them.
• Don't post the report online, since it holds personal information.
• Don't lose track of time while you sort out paperwork.

That last point matters most. Prescription is Louisiana's word for a filing deadline. Under Civil Code Article 3493.1 (Act 423 of 2024), you generally have two years to file an injury lawsuit for injuries on or after July 1, 2024. The deadline is still one year for injuries before that date.

When should you get help with your accident report?

You can usually get your copy on your own. Help may make sense when the report has serious errors the agency won't fix, when it unfairly blames you, when someone was badly hurt, or when an insurer denies your claim because of it.

For example, say the narrative puts you in the wrong lane on I-12, and the officer won't change it. Or an adjuster cites the report to deny your car wreck claim. In cases like these, outcomes depend on the facts, and other proof such as photos, witnesses and video may matter.

Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys can talk with you about your options. This article is general information, not legal advice.

Questions about your auto accident in Louisiana? Contact Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys to talk it through.