North Carolina Police Report Codes [2024 Updated]

Whenever a motor vehicle accident happens in the state, resulting in significant property damage, bodily injury, or death, the drivers involved are required by state law to call 911 and notify the police of the accident. They must remain at the scene of the crash until responding officers arrive, and a police report will be generated. A North Carolina attorney can help an accident victim secure a copy of a police report and assist in their recovery from the accident.

Understanding Police Report Codes

A police report from any accident in the state includes dozens of sections that the responding officer must fill out, detailing the accident with various codes. Each section pertains to a different aspect of the accident, from the condition of the road on which the accident occurred to the time of day, amount of ambient light, weather conditions, and more.

The latter sections of the police report pertain to the officer’s findings regarding the parties involved in the crash. In these sections, they will note whether a driver suffered injuries, whether they appeared to be intoxicated, and the officer’s assessment of any contributing factors that may have helped cause the accident. The officer will also record anything stated by the drivers involved in the crash and a diagram of the scene of the crash.

Make Certain You Obtain a Copy of the Police Report of Your Accident

You may not fully understand all the elements of a police report from your accident, but it is still vital that you obtain a copy for your records and your recovery efforts. Your attorney can help assess the most important details from the report, including whether a responding officer may have made mistakes in filling out the report. Proving fault is an essential step in your recovery from the motor vehicle accident.

Proving Liability for a Motor Vehicle Accident

Your North Carolina attorney can assist you in determining the optimal path to recovering your losses following an accident. For most drivers, this process involves an auto insurance claim followed by a personal injury suit when insurance alone cannot compensate them for their losses. However, before seeking any compensation for your accident, you must prove that another driver is entirely to blame.

Under the state’s contributory negligence rule, you cannot seek compensation from another driver if you contributed to causing your accident. If you secure a copy of the police report and the responding officer includes any codes that indicate you share fault, these issues could create significant problems for you in your recovery efforts.

An attorney is an invaluable asset after any car accident. They can help secure a copy of the police report from the accident, address any discrepancies in the report that conflict with your recollection of events, and assist you in determining your most viable recovery options. Christina Rivenbark & Associates can provide comprehensive representation for all aspects of your car accident case.

FAQs About North Carolina Police Report Codes

How Do You Read an Accident Report?

The formal report from your recent accident is crucial for your recovery efforts, both for an auto insurance claim as well as a personal injury suit against the at-fault driver. Once you obtain a copy of the police report from your accident, the report will include the responding officer’s findings and their opinion as to what caused the accident. The report will include various special codes that your North Carolina attorney can explain.

Do You Need a Police Report to File an Auto Insurance Claim?

Every insurance carrier has different requirements for filing a claim. The insurance company, in your case, may not strictly require a police report, but having a copy available to submit to an insurance carrier is always a good idea. The police report adds credence to your claim and helps minimize the chance of the insurer pushing back against the claim. Your attorney can help obtain a police report and any other support documentation you need.

How Do I Get a Police Report?

The Police Records Division handles all requests for police reports in North Carolina. You will need to contact the Police Records Division and provide them with a description of your accident, including the time at which it occurred and the location. They will assist you in securing a copy of the police report for your records. You can contact the Police Records Division by phone or email.

Is There a Penalty if You Do Not Report an Accident?

North Carolina law requires a driver to report any accident that results in property damage, injury, or death. The report needs to be filed within 48 hours of the accident; otherwise, the driver could face fines and other penalties for failure to report the accident. If a driver causes an accident and flees the scene, they face criminal prosecution for hit and run. The penalties for conviction of hit and run depend on the severity of the harm the at-fault driver caused.

What Is a Nonreportable Accident?

A fender bender is a minor vehicle accident that does not result in harm beyond cosmetic damage to the vehicles involved. If property damage is estimated to be $1,000 or more, the drivers should report the accident to the police. If there is any doubt as to whether you need to report an accident, it is always advisable to err on the side of caution and file a report. It is better to file a report when you do not need to than to fail to report an accident that you should have reported.

Call Us Today For A Free Case Review

The team at Christina Rivenbark & Associates has extensive experience resolving all types of motor vehicle accident claims, and we can apply this experience to your impending case. You have a limited time in which to pursue your recovery, and you can count on your North Carolina attorney to help meet the prerequisites for filing your claim. Contact us today and schedule a consultation to learn how we can assist you.