Get Your Charlotte Crash Report and Protect Your Injury Claim
If you were hurt in a Charlotte-Mecklenburg crash, you can request your official CMPD crash report in person at police headquarters, through the LexisNexis online portal, or by ordering a certified copy from the North Carolina DMV. That report is one of the most important documents in your case. At Bradford Law, our Charlotte car accident team helps injured clients obtain their reports, correct errors, and use the findings to build a strong claim across Mecklenburg County.
How to Request a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Crash Report
A crash report is the official record of what happened, and it often shapes how an insurer values your case. Most Charlotte collisions are investigated by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, so your report is usually a CMPD record. CMPD makes your crash report available a few different ways once the investigating officer files it.
Follow these steps to request your copy:
- Confirm you are eligible. CMPD releases crash reports to the drivers, the registered vehicle owners, and the passengers involved in the collision. Federal privacy law also requires you to certify that you are entitled to the report.
- Complete the request form. Fill out CMPD’s Request for Motor Vehicle Crash Report form and certify that you have permission to receive the information. The form is available on the CMPD Records Division’s crash report page and at division offices.
- Choose in person or online. Bring a valid, government-issued photo ID to the records desk at police headquarters, 601 E. Trade Street, or to any CMPD division office. You can also order the report through the LexisNexis online portal.
- Have your crash details ready. The date, the location, and the names of the drivers involved help staff locate your report quickly.
If you are not sure whether your report has been filed yet, call the Records Division at 704-336-2848 before making a trip downtown. Our team reviews every report closely, because one mistake can affect fault and the value of your personal injury claim.
Ordering Your Report From the North Carolina DMV
Every reportable North Carolina crash is also filed with the state as a DMV-349, and you can request that certified copy from the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles. Individuals involved in a crash can request the state copy two ways:
- By mail. Send a completed Crash Report Request (TR-67A) form with payment to the DMV Traffic Records Branch in Raleigh. The DMV asks that you allow ten business days from the date it receives your request.
- In person. Submit the TR-67A form and payment at a license plate agency, including the Huntersville License Plate Agency here in Mecklenburg County. Requests for five or fewer records are usually filled on the spot.
The current fee is $6.50 for a certified copy, and the DMV releases only a redacted version to individuals to protect the privacy of others involved. You can review the full process on the North Carolina DMV’s crash report request page.
Ordering Your Report Online From Lexis Nexis
You can obtain a CMPD crash report online through LexisNexis BuyCrash. Use the link below, select North Carolina and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, and search using either the crash report number or the last name and date of the accident; you can also search by the last name and crash location. There is currently a $9.00 convenience fee for obtaining the report online.
CMPD Crash Report Search – LexisNexis BuyCrash
Injured Clients Across Charlotte Trust Bradford Law
Getting the report is only the first step, and turning it into fair compensation takes local experience and steady communication. Here is why injured people throughout Mecklenburg County choose our firm:
- No recovery, no fee. You pay nothing up front, and no attorney fee unless we recover for you.
- Direct access to your attorney. Founding attorney Jeremy Bradford personally handles every client call.
- More than 15 years of North Carolina experience. We concentrate on injury and workers’ compensation claims across the state.
- We come to you. When your injuries make travel difficult, we meet you where you are.
- A team of trusted experts. We consult trauma doctors, engineers, and collision reconstructionists to prove what your report shows.
That combination of personal attention and preparation has helped our clients recover millions of dollars in damages.
What to Do if Your Crash Report Has an Error
Crash reports are written quickly at a chaotic scene, so mistakes happen. An incorrect vehicle position, a wrong insurance code, or a misstated direction of travel can change how fault is assigned. Because of how North Carolina handles fault, accuracy is especially important.
If you spot an error, contact CMPD as soon as possible. Factual corrections, such as a misspelled name, a wrong license plate, or an incorrect date, can often be fixed by the investigating officer or the Records Division with supporting documentation. Disputes about who caused the crash are harder to change, because officers are cautious about revising their conclusions.
A lawyer can help by gathering photos, witness statements, and other evidence to support the correction. Even a small error can give an insurer a reason to reduce or deny an otherwise strong claim.
Talk With a Charlotte Car Accident Lawyer Before Time Runs Out
You do not have unlimited time to act. In North Carolina, the deadline to file most injury lawsuits is generally three years from the date of the crash, and evidence can fade long before then. The sooner you have your report and a lawyer reviewing it, the stronger your position.
Contact us today for a no-cost consultation. Contact Bradford Law for a free case review. It costs nothing to learn where you stand and no fee if there is no recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get a CMPD crash report?
Reports are generally available a short time after the investigating officer files them, but CMPD does not publish a guaranteed turnaround, so timing can vary. The most reliable way to know is to call the Records Division at 704-336-2848 and ask. If you order the certified copy by mail from the North Carolina DMV instead, the state asks you to allow ten business days from when it receives your request.
Can I get a CMPD crash report online?
Yes. CMPD makes crash reports available through the LexisNexis online portal, in addition to in-person pickup at police headquarters or a division office. The North Carolina DMV works differently. Individuals involved in a crash must request the state DMV-349 copy in person or by mail, while businesses such as insurers and law offices may order it online.
How much does a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police report cost?
CMPD’s crash report page does not list a fee to pick up your report in person at the records desk. Ordering through the LexisNexis portal adds a convenience fee set by that service, so check the portal for the current amount. The statewide certified copy from the North Carolina DMV currently costs $6.50 per report.
