Reading Your Connecticut Accident Report

Knowing what to do after a car or truck accident can be difficult. At Vishno Law Firm, we want to help you through the process. One important piece of an accident investigation is the report completed by the investigating officer. Insurance companies use the information on the Connecticut Uniform Police Crash Report in determining compensation for victims.

To obtain a copy of your Connecticut Uniform Police Crash Report, visit the State of Connecticut’s official Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection website.

As a special service, we have included sample pages of the form with our comments to help you understand your report. You can click here to download a printable version. Your report may include additional pages to record information about witnesses or any buses, commercial vehicles or bicyclists that were involved.

If you need help interpreting your report, call 888-222-1688. Attorney Jeremy Vishno will be happy to discuss your report free of charge. You can schedule a free case consultation at our Fairfield or New Haven office locations. We proudly serve clients throughout Fairfield County and all of Connecticut, including Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford, Danbury, Waterbury and Shelton.

Location Details

The top of your Connecticut Uniform Police Crash Report lists the time, date and location of your accident as documented by the investigating officer. In addition, law enforcement officials record the accident's case number, the number of vehicles involved in the accident and whether the accident resulted in injuries or fatalities.

Crash Severity

The investigating officer will note the crash severity in this section, marking either “Fatal,” “Injury” or “PDO.” (PDO means that there was property damage only and no one was injured.)

Crash Factors and Conditions

This section includes additional information about the crash, such as the manner of impact (for example, whether it was a sideswipe crash or front to rear). Other information includes weather conditions, road conditions, light conditions and whether the crash happened at an intersection. The officer will also note whether the accident involved a collision with a pedestrian, bicycle or fixed object. The bottom of this page includes a section to include information if the accident happened in a work zone.

Accident Diagram

The Accident Diagram section of your accident report allows the investigating officer to draw a pictorial diagram that details how and why your accident occurred. This includes direction of travel for all vehicles, distance to the nearest intersection, and possible contributory factors leading to the accident.

Accident Narrative

Below, officers record particular details in writing about your accident. Carefully review the diagram and narrative. Information about your accident recorded in this section may not be found elsewhere on the document, such as if a driver was drunk or admitted to being distracted at the time of the accident.

Rank and Signature of Investigating Officer

Rank and Signature of Investigating Officer and other details, such as the officer's identification number, police agency identification and report date, are recorded at the bottom of your accident report.

Driver Information

This section notes information for each driver involved in the accident, including:

• Name, address and phone number
• Driver's license number
• License class
• Gender
• Date of birth
• Injuries
• Whether the driver was taken to a medical facility

Driver Actions and Conditions

In these sections, the officer will note driver actions or conditions that contributed to the accident. These include:

• Speeding
• Running a red light
• Failing to yield
• Texting or using a cell phone
• The driver’s condition at the time of the crash (for example, asleep or under the influence of alcohol or drugs)
• The results of any tests given for alcohol or drugs
• Arrest information