How To File An Accident Report In Scranton, PA

Motor vehicle accidents remain a serious concern for residents of Scranton and the surrounding areas of Lackawanna County. According to the 2024 Pennsylvania Crash Facts & Statistics published by PennDOT, Lackawanna County, with a population of 216,859, recorded 2,259 total crashes in one year alone. These accidents included 16 fatal injury crashes, 1,018 injury crashes, and 1,225 property-damage-only crashes. Each accident, collision, or wreck creates a paper trail that often starts with a police accident report, which becomes a key record 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 documentation is used effectively to protect your rights.

When police do not respond to the scene, or when documentation is needed after the fact, knowing how to file a police report near me in the Scranton area 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.

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

If police do not investigate the collision at the scene, drivers may still need to search for how to file an accident report near me to create an official record for insurance and legal purposes.

PennDOT also requires drivers to submit a Driver’s Accident Report (AA-600) when an accident involves injury, death, or when a vehicle must be towed. This report is separate from a police accident report but often supports insurance claims.

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.

When online filing is not an option for accidents other than hit and runs or non-injury accidents, a police accident report may be filed by mail by completing an AA600 form offered by PennDOT. There is no information on the Scranton Police Department page about filing an accident report through the mail.

How To File A Scranton Police Report by Mail

To file a Scranton accident report by mail, download and fill out the AA600 form. 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. Way. 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:

Scranton Police Department

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.

Can You File A Police Report Days After An Accident In Scranton

Pennsylvania law allows accident reports in Scranton to be filed after the accident occurs when police do not respond at the scene. Under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3746, drivers are still responsible for reporting motor vehicle accidents even if days have passed.

If there are no apparent injuries, fatalities, or property damage is less than $1,000, then you can delay filing a police report for an accident. However, you are still required to file a Scranton accident report within a certain amount of time.

Many people delay filing a Scranton accident report if the accident is seemingly minor and no visible injuries are present. However, they can still file a Scranton police report when injuries appear days after a collision or when insurance companies request formal documentation. While late reporting does not automatically invalidate the accident record, delays can complicate insurance and liability matters.

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

Pennsylvania law sets a clear deadline for reporting motor vehicle accidents, which also applies to those in Scranton. Drivers typically have 24 hours to report accidents to their local police department. However, when a crash results in injury, death, or damage requiring a vehicle to be towed, drivers are required to at least report the accident to PennDOT by submitting a Driver’s Accident Report (Form AA-600). The time limit for filing this report is within five days of the accident, as required by 75 Pa.C.S. § 3746 and PennDOT reporting regulations.

This five-day timeframe even applies to accidents where law enforcement responded to the scene and completed a police accident report. The driver’s responsibility to report the accident to PennDOT is separate from the police reporting timeline requirements and is required when the statutory reporting thresholds are met. Failing to file a Scranton police accident report within the required time frame can create complications with insurance claims and accident records.

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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