Is there any way I can look up an accident if I have the ID?

[50]

Hello,

I am planning on buying my first car and just got a vehicle carfax report. It was reported to have been in an accident, and I'm wondering if I can get the details of the accident. It occured in new york, but I couldn't find anything on NY's DMV site. Thanks

 

[CRXican]

no

 

[LTC8K6]

Traffic accident reports are public info as far as I know. However, you may need to go to the clerk of court and pay a fee for a copy.

In NC, you can often view them online if you have the report number or the names of the drivers.

Here is the site for the Raleigh NC PD:

http://rpd.carolinasimaging.com/index.htm

 

[pravi333]

ya, its a public info, anyone can ask for it. For my car accident it happened on a interstate, so state police got involved and so i had to write to them for that report. $5 +0.75/sheet + self addressed envelope. So knowing the place of accident might help or i dont know if there is a common entity for the whole state where you can request the info regardless of where the accident happen in that state.

 

[Titan]

good luck getting for the NY beauracracy.

 

[boomhower]

It also depends on who does the report. If troopers did it you will have to go through them. If some hole in the wall municipality did it, then you will need to go through them.

 

[Zedtom]

The records are public, but that doesn't mean that the government agencies won't force you to jump through hoops to get them. I have tried to access public records by conventional means, (going to the DMV and courts), and unconventionally, (Internet searches and records databases). When you finally track down what you are looking for, it's going to cost you time and money.

Most of the time they will charge you by the page for a copy. This amount varies...sometimes only a quarter a page up to four dollars.

The most intimidating place to get records is from the local police. They need your driver's license to get the process started. Then you sit and wait while they do a background check on you. If you have no outstanding parking tickets or warrants, then they will try to find what you are looking for. You might want to bring an hourglass to stare at while you wait.

 

[nerp]

You guys have some fucked up experiences. Accident reports are public record and held by the police dept that took the report. GO there and ask for it. It helps if you have an accident # but the last names of the involved parties should suffice. There should be no reason at all for them to ask for ID or do a background check and if they do, they're violating the law. The Open Records act supports your right to obtain public records.