How To File a Police Accident Report in Philadelphia

Injured in a car accident in Philadelphia and need to file an accident report? Contact our Philadelphia car accident lawyers: Call Us 24/7 – (215) 557-8686 or Email Us Here …or read on for instructions on filing your own Philadelphia accident report

Filing a police report is an important process for various reasons, serving both financial and legal purposes. Many insurance companies require their clients to file a police report in Philadelphia in order to start the claims. Providing an official account of an accident recorded by the police ensures that the details are accurately documented, which is what insurance companies require to process claims. Filing a police report in Philadelphia after being in certain types of car accidents is also a legal requirement. Pennsylvania law mandates that the police must be immediately notified of an accident involving injury, death, or damage to any vehicle severe enough to require towing (meaning it cannot be driven safely under its own power). If the police do not respond to investigate, drivers are legally required to file a written report, called the Driver’s Accident Report (Form AA-600), with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) within 5 days. Failure to report such an accident could result in legal penalties. Typically, when these types of car accidents occur, law enforcement is called to the scene, initiating an investigation and creating an official police report. This report not only assists in determining fault and assessing damages but also ensures compliance with Pennsylvania law.

We understand that life can get hectic, and in minor accidents, those involved tend to exchange information and go on with their day, whether it be heading to work or running errands. However, when it comes to filing an insurance claim, filing a police report in Philadelphia is a common requirement. This step ensures that the details of the accident are officially recorded, making the insurance claim credible.

Understanding how to file a police report in Philadelphia is important after being involved in a car accident, no matter how small it is. At The Pearce Law Firm, we are not only committed to advocating for our clients’ rights but also to educating them about crucial aspects of Philadelphia car accidents, like filing police reports. We aim to provide our community with accurate and truthful information to assist individuals with the insurance and legal processes confidently and effectively.

We also have information on how long you have to file a police report in Philadelphia, how to file a police report in PA, how long do you have to report an accident in Pennsylvania, how you can get a Philadelphia car accident report, West Chester police report, and how to get Pennsylvania car accident reports.

If you’re at the scene of a serious accident, involving injuries, aggressive individuals, and/or serious property damage, call 911 immediately so that emergency personnel and law enforcement can respond to the scene immediately. It is imperative that you call 911 in emergency situations so that injured persons can get the medical attention they need immediately.

Can You File an Accident Report Online in Philadelphia?

No. Currently, neither the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) nor the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) provides an online portal for civilian drivers to file an accident report. (While you can request and purchase a copy of an already-filed crash report online, you cannot submit or file a new report through an online portal.)

To report a serious accident (injury, death, and/or a vehicle requiring towing) to the police, call 911 immediately.

If the police did not respond to the scene of your accident, you must report the crash using one of the following manual methods:

• If it was a minor, property-damage-only accident: You can file an official local police report by visiting a Philadelphia Police district station.
• If the accident was serious (injuries, death, or towing required) but police did not respond (and you did not file an in-person report at a district station): You must self-report the crash directly to the state by downloading, printing, and mailing PennDOT’s physical AA-600 form (Driver’s Accident Report).

How to File a PennDOT Driver’s Accident Report (Form AA-600) by Mail

You cannot file an official Philadelphia Police Department report by mail. However, if the police were not called to investigate a serious crash (meaning it involved injuries, death, or a vehicle that required towing), Pennsylvania law requires drivers to self-report the accident to the state by filling out the PennDOT Driver’s Accident Report (Form AA-600) and mailing it to Harrisburg within five days.

Note: Do not confuse the AA-600 with a police report. Police officers do not use this form. When police investigate an accident, they write their own extensive report (traditionally called an AA-500) and submit it directly to the state. The AA-600 is strictly a self-reporting document for citizens when no police report exists.

Filling out this form accurately and honestly is vital for protecting your rights and complying with state law. Before filling out the form, you must download the Form AA-600 PDF from the PennDOT website. The form requires essential details such as:

• Date, time, and location of the accident.
• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of all vehicles involved in the crash.
• Names and contact information of all drivers, passengers, and witnesses involved.
• Where the vehicle was hit when the crash occurred.
• Types of injuries sustained by any individuals involved in the crash.
• Detailed description of the accident and how it occurred.
• Driver’s License information of all involved parties.
• Insurance information for each vehicle involved.

The form should be mailed to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation at:

PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
BUREAU OF OPERATIONS
P.O. Box 2047
HARRISBURG, PA 17105-2047

How to File a Philadelphia Police Accident Report by Phone

For emergency situations or crashes involving injuries and/or damage to a vehicle that means it needs to be towed, always dial 9-1-1 immediately so emergency responders can be dispatched.

For minor, property-damage-only accidents where the police did not respond to the scene, you cannot report the accident over the phone. Although Philadelphia Police Department Directive 9.6 historically outlined a process for calling a district’s administrative line to report minor property damage, the PPD’s current operational guidelines state that official police reports can no longer be initiated or completed over the phone. To file a local report for a minor, property-damage-only accident where police did not respond, you must visit a local police district station in person.

How to File a Philadelphia Police Accident Report in Person

To report a vehicle accident involving injury, fatality, or a vehicle that needs to be towed, you should try calling 9-1-1 immediately. If the quickest means of communication in those situations is to visit the Philadelphia Police District office nearest to where the crash occurred, be sure to bring your Driver’s License, vehicle registration, insurance information, the VINs of all vehicles involved, and the contact information of the drivers. Rather than filling out a paper form yourself, the desk officer will take your statement and input the details directly into their computer system (CAD/TraCS) to generate an official report and issue you a District Control Number (DC#).

To report a vehicle accident that did not involve injury, fatality, or a vehicle that needed to be towed, visiting the nearest police district is the standard way to file a walk-in police report.

Need Help Filing A Police Accident Report In Philadelphia?

If you require further information or legal guidance regarding how to file a police report in Philadelphia, know that our team of experienced car accident lawyers at The Pearce Law Firm is always here to assist you. Contact us. We understand that there may be confusion involved when filing a police report in the aftermath of a car accident and can provide the support and legal advice needed to ensure your rights are protected throughout the process. Whether you’re unsure about the necessary steps to take, need assistance with filling out the required AA-600 form, or have questions pertaining to your right to compensation, our dedicated team is ready to provide personalized legal guidance tailored to your specific situation. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions as we can provide you with peace of mind during this challenging time.

When Will Philadelphia Police Respond to a Car Crash?

You should know that according to Directive 9.6, Philadelphia Police will not be dispatched/respond to the scene of vehicle crashes that only result in property damage. There are a few exceptions to that policy where the Philadelphia Police will be dispatched to the scene of a car accident, including accidents involving personal injury, if the driver is suspected of a DUI, and some others mentioned in Directive 9.6.

What Options Do You Have to File a Police Report in Philadelphia if Police Didn’t Respond to the Scene?

According to Directive 9.6, if Police Radio has determined that the accident satisfies the criteria of a Property Damage Only Accident, the caller shall be informed that they have two (2) options:

1. The caller may go to the Police District of Occurrence or the nearest Police District and report the incident in person.

a. If a caller elects to go to a Police District, the call taker shall assist them by supplying the name, location and telephone number of the district of occurrence or the district closest to the caller. This incident shall be designated “ACINFO” (Accident Information Request) in the CAD system.

2. The caller may contact the District of Occurrence directly by telephone and report the details of the accident over the phone. [Important Note: While PPD Directive 9.6 historically outlined a phone-in option for property-damage-only accidents, current PPD public guidelines state that police reports can no longer be officially filed over the phone. You should plan to utilize the in-person option at the nearest district station.]

a. If the caller wishes to report the accident by telephone, the caller shall be provided with the appropriate Police District’s phone number and the incident shall be designated “ACINFO” (Accident Information Request) in the CAD system.

b. The reporting District shall contact the Administrative line at Police Radio and request “Walk-In” District Control Numbers (DC#s) be generated for the Event Type – “PDACC” (Property Damage Only Auto Accident).

Directive 9.6 has several definitions that may be helpful to know:

• TraCS System – Traffic and Criminal Software System. This is a software program that allows for the electronic creation of Crash Reports (both reportable and nonreportable), as well as traffic citations. The TraCS system communicates data between PPD servers, Municipal Traffic Court, and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).
• Crash Report – The vehicle crash report that is generated through the TraCS system. The crash report replaces the previously used “AA-500” and “75-48C” forms.

What’s a Reportable Car Accident in Philadelphia?

According to Directive 9.6, a Reportable Accident – (75 Pa. C.S. § 3746) vehicle crashes requiring an investigation by a police officer which involves: (PLEAC 4.1.1 a) 1. Injury to or death of any person; or 2. Damage to any vehicle involved to the extent that it cannot be driven under its own power in its customary manner and therefore requires towing (excluding flat tires).

What’s a Non-Reportable Accident in Philadelphia?

According to Directive 9.6, a Non-Reportable Accident is all other vehicle crashes in which death, injury, or towing does not occur.

Contact Us For Help

What to do in the aftermath of an accident can be confusing. Contact our experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers for a free consultation.

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