How To File An Accident Report In Scranton, PA

When police do not respond to the scene, or when documentation is needed after the fact, knowing how to file a police report in Scranton, PA becomes especially important. The Pearce Law Firm, Personal Injury and Car Accident Lawyers regularly assist crash victims who need help obtaining accident records and using them to pursue compensation under Pennsylvania law. Here’s how to file a police report in Scranton after an accident. Each accident, collision, or wreck creates a paper trail that often starts with a police accident report. That report becomes a key document for insurance claims and personal injury cases. If you have been involved in a collision, consulting with experienced car accident lawyers in Scranton, PA can help ensure that this report is used effectively to protect your rights.

How to File a Scranton Police Accident Report Online

The City of Scranton allows online police report filing for only two types of accidents, which are hit-and-run and non-injury vehicle accidents. Accidents involving injuries cannot be filed online, and they must be handled by law enforcement as state regulations require.

To file an eligible accident report online, follow these steps:

1. Go to the City of Scranton website
   • Locate the blue menu bar at the top of the page
   • Hover over the option labeled “Your Government.”
   • Select Scranton Police Department from the drop-down menu
2. On the Scranton Police Department page, find the blue bar labeled Page Sections
   • Click the arrow on the right side of the Page Sections bar to open the menu
   • Select File a Police Report
3. This will take you to a new tab, where you will need to review the available report types and locate Hit and Run or Non-Injury Vehicle Accident
   • Read all information provided in the on-screen boxes carefully
   • Select the appropriate accident type
   • Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Continue
4. Respond to the three required prompts, confirming:
   • The accident occurred within Scranton city limits
   • The crash occurred on private or public property
   • Information for the other involved party is available
   • Click Continue to proceed
5. Follow the remaining prompts and enter all requested information related to the accident, crash, collision, or wreck.
6. Review the submitted information carefully and file the report accurately and truthfully.

When you file a Scranton police report online, it allows eligible accidents to be documented when police did not respond to the scene. When injuries are involved or the accident does not qualify for online reporting, a Scranton police accident report must be obtained through other available methods.

How To File A State Accident Report by Mail (PennDOT Form AA-600)

If your accident involved an injury, death, or towing, it cannot be filed online through the Scranton Police portal. And, if the police did not respond to the scene of a severe crash (injury, death, or towing), you must report the accident directly to PennDOT by mail. You do this by downloading and completing a Driver’s Accident Report (Form AA-600) offered by PennDOT. You will be required to provide written documentation of the collision that includes:

• The date, time, and location of the crash
• Vehicle information
• Description of how the accident occurred
• Insurance information of the vehicles involved
• Other important information

Accuracy and completing the form matter, as the submitted information becomes part of the official record. It is also very important to remember that lying when filing the police report is considered filing a false police report and comes with hefty criminal penalties.

When you have completed the form, you can mail it to:

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
BOO – Crash Unit
P.O. Box 2047
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105-2047

How to File a Scranton Police Accident Report by Phone

It is possible to file a Scranton police report by phone in two ways. If this is an emergency, or there is significant property damage or any injuries, you need to call 911 immediately to report the accident. If the crash involves only minor property damage, you can call the non-emergency number to report the accident. The dispatcher will direct you on whether they are dispatching a law enforcement officer to the scene, or provide instructions on how to file a police report or another form. You can call their non-emergency number at 570-348-4134, which allows drivers to notify law enforcement of an accident when in-person reporting is not possible. This option is commonly used to document collisions that were not investigated at the scene.

During a phone report, you will be requested to provide details about the accident, vehicles involved, and any known injuries or damage. Law enforcement involvement determines whether additional documentation or follow-up reporting is required.

How to Self-Report a Car Accident in Person

Accidents that occur in Scranton may be reported in person either at the scene or after the fact, depending on the circumstances. When an accident involves injuries, a hit and run, significant vehicle damage, or safety concerns, drivers should contact 911 or Scranton Police dispatch from the scene, and they will determine if an officer will respond to the scene. If an officer responds to investigate the accident, you can file a Scranton Police report on site.

When there are no injuries and police do not respond to the scene, drivers may report the accident later by going directly to the Scranton Police Department to file a report in person. This option is commonly used for non-injury collisions, minor wrecks, or situations where documentation is needed for insurance purposes.

In-person accident reports are handled at the Scranton Police Department, which is located at 100 South Washington Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503.

The police department is open for in-person filing Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm. Filing a Scranton police report in person allows drivers to provide identification, explain how the accident occurred, and complete the necessary documentation to create an official accident record. It also helps establish a clear record of the crash, collision, or wreck when police were not called to the scene and supports insurance and legal documentation moving forward.

How Long Do You Have to File a Police Report After an Incident?

Under Pennsylvania law (75 Pa.C.S. § 3747), if an accident causes injury, death, or requires a vehicle to be towed, and the police did not respond to the scene to investigate, you have 5 days to submit a Driver’s Accident Report (Form AA-600) to PennDOT. However, if the Scranton Police (or other law enforcement) did respond to the scene and complete an official accident report, you don’t have to fill out Form AA-600 because the police will submit that to PennDOT on your behalf. Failing to file a Scranton police accident report within the required time frame can create complications with insurance claims and accident records.

Pennsylvania Law on Accident Reporting

Pennsylvania law sets clear rules on reporting an accident. Under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3746, drivers involved in a crash must report the accident to the respective law enforcement agency when it results in:

• Any type of injury
• Death
• Significant property damage that the vehicle has to be towed

If police do not investigate the collision at the scene, drivers may still need to search for how to file an accident report near them to create an official record for insurance and legal purposes. If the police do not investigate the collision at the scene, PennDOT requires drivers to submit a Driver’s Accident Report (AA-600) if the accident involved injury, death, or a vehicle being towed. If the police did investigate, they will file the state report for you.

What Does the Scranton Accident Report Include?

The Scranton Police Department webpage does not offer official information outlining every detail included in a police accident report that is filed through them. A Scranton accident report may vary depending on the officer and the circumstances of the accident. However, Scranton accident reports typically include the following information:

• Date, time, and location of the accident
• Names and contact information of the drivers involved
• Witness statements and their contact information
• Vehicle details such as make, model, license plate number, and registration
• Insurance information for all vehicles involved in the accident
• A written description of how the accident occurred
• Diagrams or sketches showing vehicle positions, weather, and points of impact
• Roadway, traffic, and weather conditions at the time of the accident
• Statements from all involved parties, including passengers and witnesses
• Documentation of any injuries or medical response
• Citations or violations issued by a responding police officer

While not every Scranton accident report includes all of these details, they typically provide a structured record of the crash that can be reviewed by insurance companies or used in legal matters.

Need Help Filing a Scranton Police Report?

If you were involved in an accident in Scranton or the surrounding area and are trying to understand how to file a police report in Scranton or how that report affects your insurance claim, our team at The Pearce Law Firm, Personal Injury and Car Accident Lawyers can help. Scranton accident reports often become a key part of proving what happened after a crash, especially when injuries or disputes are involved, which is why filing a Scranton police report is so important.

Our team of Scranton car accident attorneys works with crash victims throughout Scranton and Lackawanna County to review accident documentation, identify next steps, and pursue compensation when negligence resulted in injuries or significant property damage. We can also ensure that by filing a report after an accident in Scranton, you are following all the legal requirements set forth by statutory regulations, as well as PennDOT accident reporting requirements. Reaching out to our team early can help protect your interests while paperwork and insurance issues are still unfolding.

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