April 30, 2025 | Car Accidents
When law enforcement responds to a car accident in Illinois, they will complete an accident report. Requesting a copy of your accident report later may be important after notifying your insurance company. The report will contain important information that may help show you caused your crash.
Here’s what you should know about car accident reports in Illinois, including when to file a police report for car damage, legal deadlines for reporting a crash, and getting a copy of the report later.
What Does a Crash Report Include?
An accident report in Illinois includes detailed information about the accident, including:
- Location of the accident
- Diagram of the crash
- Names and contact information for drivers and other parties involved
- Each party’s insurance information
- Information about the vehicles and visible damage
- Details about obvious or suspected injuries
- Names of witnesses
- Road and weather conditions
- Any citations that were issued
The report will also include a brief narrative of what happened based on the officer’s investigation. It may have the officer’s determination of fault.
How Long Do You Have To Report an Accident in Illinois?
After your collision, call law enforcement to respond to the accident. The responding officers will complete a written accident report, which must typically be submitted within ten days of investigating the crash. What happens if police do not respond, or you are unable to contact police immediately?
If police don’t respond, you must report the crash as soon as possible to the local police department (in a municipality), the nearest sheriff’s office, or the closest Illinois State Police office if:
- Anyone has been injured or killed,
- There is property damage of more than $1,500 (or more than $500 if an uninsured motorist is involved),
- A school bus was involved in an injury or any amount of damage, or
- The accident happened within 50 feet of a school bus with injury of any severity.
If a driver is incapable of giving notice of the accident right away, this duty falls on any occupant who is capable of doing so.
How Long Do You Have To Report a Car Accident to Your Insurance Company?
Legally, you don’t need an accident report to file a car insurance claim, but it does speed up the process. Without a report made to the police, the insurance company may deny your claim without sufficient other evidence.
There is no legal deadline to notify your insurance company about the accident, but your insurance contract likely requires notice within a certain amount of time. You should generally report the accident as soon as possible.
How Do I Report an Accident in Illinois?
When a crash results in substantial damage, injury, or death, you are required to stay at the scene and contact police unless it’s unsafe to do so. You can report the accident by calling 911. Sometimes, reporting an accident to the police after the fact is necessary.
If the accident happened on an Interstate, U.S. Route, or Illinois State Roadway, it should be reported to the Illinois State Police. You can report single-vehicle, property damage-only crashes online. Otherwise, you must report the accident in person.
A Desk Report can be made in person within ten days of the accident. You can also report a hit-and-run accident this way. A trooper can take a desk report at several local police departments.
Accidents that happen in a municipality should be reported to the local police department or sheriff’s office as soon as possible.
How Do I Get a Copy of My Accident Report?
If the Illinois State Police responded to the accident, you can request a copy of the report online or by mail. A copy of the redacted report will cost $5. An unredacted copy requires a subpoena or a signed order from a judge.
For other accidents, you can request the crash report from the responding department. For example, you can get a copy of the report online from the Chicago Police Department. You can also visit in person by going to the Records Customer Service Section at 3510 South Michigan Avenue.
Contact our Car Accident Law Firm at Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Chicago, IL, don’t navigate the legal process alone. Our dedicated team is here to provide the expert guidance you need to secure the compensation you deserve. Contact our experienced attorneys at Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers for a free consultation.
We serve Cook County and its surrounding areas:
Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers
875 N Dearborn St 4th Floor
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 635-5400
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