What is In an Arizona Crash Report?

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If you are involved in a collision in Arizona,  whether it is serious or minor, make sure to contact the police and have an accident report created right away. Law enforcement must prepare a written accident report if the crash resulted in more than $2,000 in property damage, injury, death, or they issued a citation. They will file this report with the agency in their jurisdiction and submit a copy to the Arizona Department of Transportation within 24 hours of the accident.

You should obtain a copy of your report after the crash. Whether you need to file an insurance claim or lawsuit, it will be a vital document when dealing with your own insurance company or the other party’s insurer.

What is an accident report? 

An Arizona accident report contains details relevant to the collision. The law enforcement official is an impartial party who focuses on the facts and completes each section of the report accurately. To do so, they may:

  • Take photos of the accident scene
  • Speak to witnesses about what they saw and write down their names and phone numbers
  • Thoroughly inspect vehicle and property damage
  • Obtain auto insurance information from all parties involved
  • Attempt to recreate the incident for a detailed description and diagram of the crash
  • Talk to all drivers involved to determine who was at fault
  • Take note of the weather, light conditions, roadway surface, surrounding traffic control devices, and other factors that could contribute to an accident

Upon completion of the investigation, the officer will prepare an official crash report. They will file it with their specific agency and send a copy to the Department of Transportation. For example, if a state trooper investigated an accident on the interstate, they would file their report with the Department Records Unit at the Arizona Department of Public Safety. An officer who investigated a collision on a town, city, or county road would file the report with their local police department or sheriff’s office.

Form 01-2704A R/00 is the standard form law enforcement will use when they investigate an accident. The different sections are discussed in the next section. 

Elements of an Accident Report

Identification and General Information

This section involves the following basic details that an officer must include on the report when they initially get to the scene:

  • Date and time the crash occurred
  • NCIC number associated with the agency completing the form
  • Police officer’s ID number
  • Agency report number and the total number of sheets in the report
  • Total number of traffic units in the accident (pedestrians, riders on animals, vehicles)
  • Total number of people injured and classification of the injuries
  • Number of fatalities
  • Whether estimated property damage is above $2,000
  • Location of the accident, including street name, city or town, county, whether it happened at an intersection, and whether it happened inside or outside city limits

Drivers

This section includes the following detailed information about all drivers, pedestrians, and pedal cyclists involved in the accident:

  • Full name
  • Sex
  • Date of birth
  • Address
  • Telephone number
  • Driver’s license number, state, and class
  • Severity of injury

Vehicles:

This section is for all vehicles involved in the crash:

  • License plate number
  • State of registration and expiration year
  • Owner’s full name and street address
  • Body style
  • Year, make, model, and color
  • VIN
  • Whether safety restraints were used
  • If airbag deployed
  • Name of the individual or company that removed the vehicle and where it was taken
  • Name of individual who ordered the removal
  • Estimated speed before events leading to crash, and the posted speed limit
  • Auto insurance company, telephone number, and policy number

Passengers:

This section includes the occupants of each vehicle other than the driver:

  • Full name
  • Age
  • Sex
  • Severity of injury
  • Address
  • Seat position
  • Whether safety restraints were used

Other Property Damage:

This section includes information about damaged property other than the vehicles that were involved in the collision. If known, the officer will write in the name, address, and phone number of the owner.

Witness Information:

This section is for individuals who witnessed the crash:

  • Full name
  • Address
  • Telephone number
  • Age

Investigation:

This section is where the official will indicate the following information about their investigation of the accident scene:

  • Whether photos were taken
  • Name, agency, and ID number of the person taking photos
  • Date and start time of the investigation
  • If investigation took place at the scene
  • Name, ID number, and signature of the officer writing the report
  • Month, day, and year of the completed report

 

Damage:

This section describes the crash and damage to each vehicle:

  • If any vehicle went off the road before the accident
  • Manner of collision (i.e., single-vehicle, sideswipe, rear-end, etc.)
  • Light condition
  • Weather conditions
  • Type of road surface
  • Whether the accident was in an intersection or associated with an intersection
  • Special location indicated, such as crosswalk or bridge
  • Unusual road conditions, such as construction or standing water
  • Traffic control devices in the area
  • Road characteristics (i.e., striped centerline, raised median, concrete barrier, etc.)
  • Road grade
  • Road surface condition
  • If there were special conditions that affected the driver, such as physical impairment or driving under the influence
  • Violations made by any individual involved in the crash, such as speeding, running a stop sign, or failure to yield
  • Condition of the vehicle prior to the incident
  • Actions of each person before the accident or that directly affected the accident
  • Whether either driver’s vision was obscured by an object
  • Compass direction each vehicle was traveling just before the collision

Diagram:

This section is for the officer to recreate the accident with a diagram, which may include the following:

  • Location of each vehicle and travel direction prior to the crash
  • Position of vehicles at impact
  • Where each vehicle ended up after the collision
  • Features, such as traffic signals, fixed objects, and signs
  • If any car rolled over and how many times
  • Features of the intersection
  • Lane markings and street width
  • Pedestrians, vehicles, and pedal cyclists not directly involved
  • Accident measurements
  • If any vehicle skidded from an evasive move or braking before the accident
  • Issued citations
  • Additional information the officer believes is relevant

Description of the Crash:

This section is where the law enforcement official can describe the incident in detail, including:

  • What each person was doing
  • The direction each vehicle was traveling
  • Part of the vehicle where the impact occurred
  • Each vehicle’s resting position after the accident
  • Which emergency service transported injured individuals, and to what medical center
  • Officer’s opinion of who might be at fault

Fatal Supplement:

This is a separate form the investigating officer must complete if there were any fatalities. There must be a form for each person that died.

Supplemental Bus/Truck Accident:

This is another separate form for accidents involving a commercial truck or bus.

If you’ve been involved in a collision anywhere in Arizona, don’t hesitate to get your official state-certified copy of your accident report. As you can see, this document will be a crucial item to have as you navigate the steps after a crash. Whether you’re dealing with insurance companies, or if you need to take legal action to hold the other driver accountable for their recklessness, your crash report is the FIRST thing you should get. 

Order your official Arizona crash report for FREE now!