The adjuster has asked for your car accident report in Las Vegas, and all you have is the small card the officer handed you at the scene. The card doesn’t specify which office maintains the report, what it costs, or how long processing takes, and the adjuster is already evaluating fault for the crash.
Request the report online or in person from the agency that responded. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) calls it a traffic collision report and charges $13. Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) sells it as a crash report for $10, and most reports are ready within 7 to 14 days.
Las Vegas has no single records office. NHP writes the report for a crash on I-15, even though Las Vegas Boulevard, just east of it, belongs to Metro, as locals call LVMPD. The agency name on the officer’s card tells you which one has yours.
Our Las Vegas car accident lawyers, led by founding attorney Patrick W. Kang, request the report, review it with you, and use it to build your injury claim.
Key Takeaways
- Find the agency that took the report, using the agency name on the officer’s card.
- Gather your photo ID, the event or crash number, the crash date, and the location.
- Request the report online or in person for $10 to $13 at most agencies, or by mail from LVMPD or North Las Vegas.
- Expect LVMPD reports within 10 business days, NHP reports in 7 to 14 days, and Henderson reports after the case closes.
- File a DMV SR-1 form within 10 days if the crash caused injury, death, or $750 or more in damage and no officer’s report recorded each driver’s insurance.
- Review the report for errors before you share it with an insurance adjuster.
Which Agency Has Your Las Vegas Car Accident Report?
The agency that responded to your crash holds your car accident report. LVMPD keeps reports for Las Vegas and unincorporated Clark County, Nevada Highway Patrol keeps freeway reports, and Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City, and Mesquite police keep their own independent records.
Each agency releases only its own reports, and the crash location points you to the right one:
| Where the Crash Happened | Agency That Holds the Report |
|---|---|
| City of Las Vegas streets | Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) |
| Unincorporated Clark County, including the Strip, Paradise, Spring Valley, Enterprise, and Sunrise Manor | LVMPD |
| I-15, US-95, I-11, and the 215 Beltway | Nevada Highway Patrol (Nevada State Police) |
| City of Henderson | Henderson Police Department |
| City of North Las Vegas | North Las Vegas Police Department |
| Boulder City or Mesquite | Boulder City or Mesquite Police Department |
| Clark County School District property | CCSD Police |
Your report number is the fastest search key. Look for it on the card or slip the officer gave you, on a traffic citation, or on a tow receipt. NHP crash numbers start with “NHP” followed by digits, such as NHP123456789, and Henderson numbers look like 25-12345.
A Las Vegas police report lookup still works without the number. Most records units search by the crash date, time, location, and the names of the drivers involved. A crash nobody reported has no report to request yet, and our guide on how to file a police report in Las Vegas walks you through filing one.
How to Request a Las Vegas Police Report Online, in Person, or by Mail
Request a Las Vegas police report online, in person, or by mail from LVMPD and North Las Vegas, and expect to pay $10 to $13 per copy at most agencies. Fees and wait times differ by agency:
| Agency | How to Request | Fee | Ready In |
|---|---|---|---|
| LVMPD | Online, in person, or by mail | $13 | Up to 10 business days |
| Nevada Highway Patrol | Online at CRASHDOCS.org | $10 | 7 to 14 days |
| Henderson Police | Online or at the East Police Station | $10 | After the case closes |
| North Las Vegas Police | Online through LexisNexis BuyCrash, or the Records Division | Shown at BuyCrash checkout | When uploaded to BuyCrash |
LVMPD Police and Traffic Collision Reports
Request an LVMPD police report for a traffic collision from LVMPD’s Records and Fingerprint Bureau. The fee is $13 per report, non-refundable, and LVMPD allows up to 10 business days after a report is filed before it’s available. The current rules are on LVMPD’s report copies page.
Have this information ready before you start:
- Your LVMPD event number.
- Your full name, date of birth, phone number, and email.
- Names of the people involved.
- Date, time, and location of the crash.
- License plate number of a vehicle involved.
LVMPD offers three ways to request a copy:
- Online: Request your Las Vegas police report online through LVMPD’s website and pay by credit or bank-issued debit card. Most traffic collision reports arrive by email as a secure link.
- In person: Request a copy at LVMPD headquarters, 400 S. Martin Luther King Blvd., Building C. Headquarters is open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, and LVMPD’s online scheduler books traffic accident report pickups. Collect an in-person report within 30 days.
- By mail: Print LVMPD’s mail-in request form and mail it in. If you request online but want the copy mailed to you, include a notarized letter and a copy of your valid photo ID.
Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) Crash Reports
NHP, now part of the Nevada State Police, sells crash reports on CRASHDOCS.org for $10 each. Request an NHP crash report with the crash number, the last name of someone involved, and the crash date. Reports are published to the portal 7 to 14 days after the crash, as per NHP’s crash report page.
Crash photos cost $5 and come from NHP’s regional offices, which handle fatal crash reports. Southern Nevada’s office is Southern Command, 6830 Bermuda Rd., Las Vegas, at (702) 668-4100, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
Henderson Police Accident Reports
Henderson Police release a traffic accident report only after the investigation closes, and each report costs $10. Request it through the city’s online records portal or at the Records Section in the East Police Station, 223 Lead St., open Monday through Wednesday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Thursday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Records Section accepts credit cards except American Express, personal checks, cash, and money orders. Call (702) 267-4700 to confirm a report is ready before you make the trip.
North Las Vegas Police Accident Reports
North Las Vegas Police sell crash report copies online through LexisNexis BuyCrash, and the department’s Records Division handles in-person and mail requests at (702) 633-1715. BuyCrash finds a report by its report number, or by your last name with the crash date or street.
Boulder City, Mesquite, and School District Police Reports
Smaller agencies handle crash reports at their own records counters. Mesquite Police take requests at the police station, 695 Mayan Circle. Call Mesquite at (702) 346-5262 or Boulder City’s records unit for current fees and wait times.
Clark County School District Police release a report only to the people named in it or their legal representatives, with photo ID. Juvenile information in those reports is protected by law.
What If Your Crash Report Is Delayed or Was Never Written?
A delayed report usually means the investigation is still open, and the agency releases it once the case closes. If no officer investigated, there is no report to request, so you may need to file one yourself.
Fatal crashes and hit-and-runs take the longest, since LVMPD and Henderson release reports based on case status. Hit-and-run cases stay open while police search for the driver, and our Las Vegas hit-and-run accident attorney can start gathering evidence before the report is released.
What to Do When No Officer Wrote a Report
An officer doesn’t come to every crash. When no one is hurt and the cars can be moved safely out of traffic, drivers often leave with no report. Take these steps instead:
- Call 911 right away if someone is hurt or a driver appears impaired.
- Report the crash to the police. Nevada law requires you to report the crash right away to the nearest police office or NHP if anyone was hurt or killed, or if the crash happened on a public road. LVMPD and North Las Vegas don’t accept traffic collisions online. In LVMPD’s area, file in person at any area command, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or at headquarters, and ask for a case number for your insurer.
- You may also need to file an SR-1 with the DMV within 10 days. It’s required when the crash caused injury, death, or $750 or more in damage, unless an officer’s report recorded each driver’s insurer, policy number, and coverage dates. Mail the SR-1 form to 555 Wright Way, Carson City, NV 89711, with the repair estimate NRS 484E.070 requires, your proof of insurance, and a doctor’s statement for anyone hurt in your vehicle.
- Keep your own records. Save photos of both cars, the scene, and the other driver’s plate and insurance card, plus witness phone numbers and every medical record from your treatment. These can fill the gap left by a missing report.
Other Crash Records to Request: 911 Calls, Body Cam Footage, and Photos
The report isn’t the only record from your crash. Ask for these when the report leaves gaps:
- 911 and 311 call recordings, dispatch records, and body-worn camera video through LVMPD’s public records request process.
- Crash photos from Nevada Highway Patrol’s regional office, for $5.
- Body-camera and 911 records from Henderson, through the city’s Contact Henderson portal.
How Do You Get a Car Accident Report for an Injured or Deceased Family Member?
To get an injured family member’s report from LVMPD, bring their signed, notarized Authorization Form and a copy of their photo ID. A parent requesting a child’s report brings an original or certified birth certificate or Family Court guardianship papers. Reports from fatal crashes need extra documentation and can take longer to release.
NHP releases fatal reports only through its regional offices. For either agency, call the records unit first and ask which documents your situation requires.
When a fatal crash takes someone you love, the report becomes one piece of a larger case. Our Las Vegas wrongful death attorney can request it for you and correspond directly with the agencies while your family grieves.
How to Read Your Car Accident Report
A Nevada accident report lists the people, vehicles, insurers, and witnesses involved, along with the officer’s account of the crash. The officer’s fault opinion and any citation are one view of the crash, not a final ruling on who pays.
Most reports contain these sections:
- Driver and owner details, including names, addresses, and license numbers.
- Insurance companies and policy numbers for each vehicle.
- Vehicle descriptions, plates, and points of impact.
- Witness names and contact information.
- A diagram and the officer’s written narrative.
- Contributing factors and any citations issued.
- Road, light, and weather conditions.
A report that blames you doesn’t end your claim. Nevada uses a 51% bar: you recover damages when your share of fault is 50% or less, reduced by your percentage. Our guide to Nevada’s modified comparative negligence standard shows how the math works.
How to Correct Mistakes in a Police Report
Factual errors are the easiest to fix. Contact the agency’s records unit or the reporting officer about a wrong plate number, a misspelled name, or a missing insurer, and bring proof such as your registration or insurance card. The officer’s opinion is harder to change, so ask whether the agency accepts a supplemental statement with your account and your evidence.
How Do Insurance Companies Use Your Police Report?
Insurance companies use your car accident report to identify the drivers, confirm coverage, and preliminarily assign fault. Adjusters weigh the narrative and any citations against the photos, statements, and medical records in the claim.
Nevada is an at-fault state, so the other driver’s insurer pays when its driver is found at fault. Our guide on how insurance works in Las Vegas car accident claims explains each policy involved.
Review the report before you send it to the other driver’s adjuster. Adjusters can quote their errors and the officer’s opinion back to you in negotiations, and a review catches both first. Our post on whether to talk to the insurance company after a crash covers when to speak with an adjuster.
Frequently Asked Questions on Getting a Las Vegas Car Accident Report
Is a Car Accident Report a Public Record in Nevada?
Yes, an officer’s car accident report is a public record in Nevada, though agencies limit who can get a copy. NRS 484E.110 says these reports aren’t privileged or confidential. Agencies still redact personal details, and the SR-1 a driver files with the DMV stays confidential.
Can a Passenger, Pedestrian, or Cyclist Get a Copy of the Crash Report?
Yes, a passenger, pedestrian, or cyclist can get a copy of the crash report as an involved person. Bring a government photo ID. Give records staff your event number or the crash date and location so they can match you to the report.
Can a Lawyer Get My Car Accident Report for Me?
Yes, a lawyer you hire can get your car accident report for you. Your attorney requests it with the event number, crash date, and names you’d use, plus any proof of representation the agency asks for. An early request gives the agency time to correct factual errors.
I Was Visiting Las Vegas and Already Flew Home. How Do I Get My Report?
You can get your Las Vegas crash report online after you fly home. LVMPD emails most reports as a secure link, and NHP sells reports on CRASHDOCS.org. LVMPD asks for a notarized letter and a copy of your photo ID when you choose mail delivery.
Can I Get My Report for a Hit-and-Run If the Driver Was Never Found?
Yes, you can get your hit-and-run report even if the driver was never found. If your policy includes uninsured motorist coverage, it can apply when the other vehicle made contact and you promptly reported the crash to the police. Our Las Vegas uninsured motorist accident lawyer uses your report as proof.
Can I Make an Insurance Claim If Police Never Wrote a Report?
Yes, you can make an insurance claim when police never wrote a report. Photos, witness statements, repair estimates, and medical records support it. Hit-and-run claims are the exception: uninsured motorist coverage requires that you promptly reported the crash to police. Our evidence needed for a car accident claim guide lists the rest.
Can a Police Report Be Used as Evidence in a Nevada Injury Lawsuit?
Yes, parts of a police report can be used as evidence in a Nevada injury lawsuit. Its factual findings can come in unless their sources seem untrustworthy, and judges rule on disputed portions case by case. A driver’s SR-1 isn’t trial evidence, though the DMV can certify it was filed.
Next Steps: Let Us Request Your Report and Review Your Claim
Getting the report is one of the first tasks after a crash, and you don’t have to handle it alone. You can hand it to Patrick W. Kang and our team, who request the report and the records behind it, and turn them into evidence for your claim. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you, though you may still be liable for the opposing party’s fees and costs.
Time matters here. Nevada gives you 2 years from the crash to file an injury lawsuit under NRS 11.190(4)(e), and our post on the statute of limitations for car accident claims covers the exceptions.
We help injured drivers across Clark County and the rest of the state through our Nevada car accident lawyer team.
Call Ace Law Group at (702) 333-4223 or contact us online for a free case review, and we’ll tell you which agency has your report and what it means for your claim.
Related: What to Do After a Car Accident in Las Vegas
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