The Alabama accident report from the State Troopers plays a crucial role in your auto accident claim.
For example, the crash report can show how the crash happened and why you are not at fault. This directly affects whether an insurance company accepts liability in your case.
Fortunately, the Alabama state trooper’s–aka the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)–makes it easy for you to obtain a copy of an accident report in Alabama.
You can obtain Alabama accident reports in two ways:
- by downloading the accident report online from ALEA’s website, and
- by requesing the accident report through the mail.
In this article, the Alabama car accident attorneys at Fob James Law Firm will go over the details on how to obtain crash reports in Alabama.
If you have questions, please contact us to schedule a free consultation.
Who Can Get An Accident Report In Alabama?
Not everyone can obtain a crash report from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency [ALEA]. You need to be an interested party or have some form of nexus to the crash.
Under Alabama Code § 32-10-7, the following groups of people and businesses can obtain a copy of an Alabama accident report:
- An individual involved in the crash, i.e., driver, passenger, pedestrian, etc.
- A property owner involved in the crash.
- A utility company involved in the crash.
- A parent or guardian of a minor involved in the crash.
- An insurer or its written designee of a person involved in the crash.
- An owner or lienholder of an automobile involved in the crash.
- An heir (next of kin), personal representative, executor, or another legal representative of the estate of a deceased person involved in the crash.
- A legal representative of a party involved in the crash.
- A news organization or individual qualified to report on the crash.
- An interested party that does not meet any of the above listed reasons.
These groups of people and businesses are connected to the crash or the involved parties and property.
Of course, if you were in a crash, then you can absolutely obtain your crash report.
Alternatively, an attorney can get a copy of your accident report if you give the attorney written consent.
How to Get Your Alabama Accident Report Online
The Alabama Department of Public Safety offers a Uniform Traffic Accident Report through ALEA’s website.
Go to ALEA’s crash reports page and then follow the steps below to download your Alabama Crash Report.
1. Enter Your Contact Information and the Reason For Your Request
Enter your contact information and select the reason you are authorized to purchase your report.
If you were involved in the crash you should check the first bubble: “An individual involved in the crash, i.e., driver, passenger, pedestrian, etc.”
2. Search for Your Alabama Accident Report
On the next screen you are asked to select the method to search for your crash report. You can search for your Alabama accident report in one of three different ways:
- Crash Report Number – This is the seven digit crash. If you do not know your crash report number you can request it by emailing highway.patrol@alea.gov.
- Driver License Number– You can search for the accident report by entering the driver license number of a driver.
- Name – Or you can enter the first and last name of a driver involved in the crash.
Click on one of the three choices and enter in the requested information.
3. Select and Pay for Your Crash Report with a Debit or Credit Card
After you select the accident report you wish to purchase, click on the blue “Next” button to go to the payment screen. You can pay for your accident report by credit card.
The cost to download an Alabama accident report online in 2025, including credit card fees, is $17.50.
Keep in mind that it takes up to 10 business days from the date of the crash for accident reports to be available online.
How to Get Your Alabama Accident Report By Mail
To get your accident report by mail, you may mail a certified check or a money order to the Alabama Department of Public Safety along with a Crash Report Request Form which you must fill out.
Make sure to include the names of drivers involved, the location/date of the accident, and the driver’s license number of each driver.
Print the form and send it to the following address:
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
Crash Reports
P.O. Box 1471
Montgomery, AL 36102-1472
Accident reports via mail from the ALEA cost $15.00 per copy.
Why Getting Your Alabama Accident Report Is Important
After a car accident, the insurance carriers conduct a liability investigation. This is where they determine who was at-fault.
Alabama follows a contributory negligence standard, which means if a driver contributed in causing the crash, the insurance carrier may deny liability coverage for that person.
As a result, proving liability after a car accident in Alabama is very important. In many cases, the accident report provides crucial information that helps you and your lawyer show that the other driver was at-fault.
Here are examples of important information you can glean from an Alabama accident report to bolster your claim:
- Identity of the other driver(s) and their insurance information
- Identity of passegners and any witnesses
- What hospital injured parties were taken to by EMS/Ambulance
- Where the involved vehicles were towed from the scene
- The location of the black box data from the involved vehicles
- Where and when the crash occured
- A diagram and narrative of how the crash occured
- Statements made to the investigating officer after the crash
- The positioning of the vehicles after the crash
- The location of property damage to the vehicles after the crash
As you can see, there are alot of factors to consider when reading an accident report.
Since the burden of proof is on the claimant, your claim may be denied if the accident report is wrong or if evidence is not preserved. This is why you should consult with an Alabama injury lawyer if you are injured.
The personal injury attorneys at Fob James Law Firm have years of experience investigating car wrecks and preserving crucial information.
Give us a call for a free consultation. An added bonus is that we will get your Alabama accident report for you.
Need Help? Fob James Law Firm Will Get Your Accident Report For Free
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer at Fob James Law Firm for Help
If you suffered injuries in a car accident, you need an attorney that aggressively fights for you. Below are some of the awards and recognition we are honored to have received:
At the Fob James Law Firm, our Alabama car accident attorneys provide the attention your case deserves. Since we take fewer cases, we have more time to focus on you. Read our five star reviews by our former satisfied clients.
If you need help obtaining your Alabama accident report or would like a free consultation, give us a call at 205-407-6009 or contact us online.
Fob James
Fob James obtained a B.S., in software engineering from Auburn University and then continued his education by getting his J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law. After working for a large regional firm for several years where he obtained awards for both individual and corporate clients, Fob found that his passion was fighting for individuals who have been seriously injured or wronged by others. Fob believes that the jury is the great equalizer to the power and influence that large corporations have in society.