Detailed answer: who has the report, what it contains, and how to get it

If law enforcement responded to your Alabama crash, the investigating agency usually completes a Uniform Traffic Accident/Crash Report (often called a crash report or police report). That report typically includes date, time, location, parties and vehicles involved, obvious injuries, diagram or crash type, contributing factors observed by the officer, and contact information for the reporting officer. Some agencies also keep investigative notes, photographs, or audio/video recordings.

Who holds the report?

• City or municipal police department — for crashes inside city limits.
• County sheriff’s office — for crashes investigated by the sheriff’s deputies.
• Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) — for crashes investigated by state troopers on state highways and interstates.

Is the crash report public?

Crash reports are public records in Alabama, so you can generally request a copy. Agencies may redact certain personal information for privacy or safety, and certain investigatory materials may be withheld under public-records exemptions. The agency that created the report decides what is released and whether to redact or withhold parts of the file.

How to get the crash report — step-by-step

1. Identify the investigating agency. Check the crash report number if you have it, the police report number on any paperwork, or where the collision occurred (city, county, state highway).
2. Contact that agency’s Records Division or Records Clerk. For state trooper reports, contact ALEA Records (see link below). For city or county crashes, contact the police department or sheriff’s records office where the crash occurred.
3. Provide identifying information: date/time/location of crash, names of drivers, vehicle registration, or report number if you have it. This helps the records office find the file quickly.
4. Ask whether the report is a public copy, an accident report with narrative, or whether additional items (photos, diagrams, officer notes, CAD logs) exist and whether those items can be released.
5. Ask about fees and how the agency will deliver the document (email, mail, in-person pickup). Agencies commonly charge reasonable copying or processing fees for public records requests.
6. If the agency denies part or all of your request, ask for the reason in writing and whether you can appeal or request the record through another process (for example, via subpoena during litigation).

State trooper crash reports (ALEA)

If Alabama state troopers investigated the crash, ALEA (Alabama Law Enforcement Agency) handles those reports. ALEA provides instructions for requesting copies of reports and commonly supplies a certified crash report for insurance or court use. Start at ALEA’s website: https://www.alea.gov

What if you need a more detailed report for a claim?

• Insurance companies routinely obtain the crash report directly from the investigating agency and can share it with you. You may sign an authorization so your insurer can request the record.
• If available records are limited or redacted, a lawyer can obtain additional material through legal discovery or by issuing subpoenas if you file a lawsuit. Discovery can compel production of photographs, unredacted notes, and other investigative records not released in a standard public-records request.
• You may hire a private investigator or accident reconstructionist to gather additional evidence (vehicle measurements, scene photos, witness statements) if the agency’s report lacks detail needed for your claim.

Fees, redactions, and timelines

Expect reasonable search and copying fees. Agencies must follow Alabama public-records rules and often respond promptly, but processing times vary by agency — from a few days to a few weeks. Certain personal information (Social Security numbers, medical details) and some investigatory materials may be redacted or withheld. If you need withheld material for a legal claim, you will likely need to request it through counsel and, if necessary, a court process.

If you do not know which agency responded, check your own insurance paperwork, any tow-company paperwork, or medical paperwork from emergency responders — those documents often list the investigating agency and report number.

Helpful official resources

• ALEA (Alabama Law Enforcement Agency) — https://www.alea.gov — for state trooper crash reports and Records/Identification/Crash Records information.
• Alabama Legislature / Code of Alabama — https://www.legislature.state.al.us — for statutes on public records and related rules (search the Code for “public records” or relevant titles if you want the statutory text).

Helpful hints

• When requesting a report, be prepared with the crash date, time, exact location, the full names of drivers, and the report number if you have it.
• Ask whether the agency can provide a certified copy if you need the report for court or insurance.
• Keep originals or copies of your own photos, medical bills, repair estimates, witness names and contact info — crash reports often omit useful detail. Preserve digital photos and metadata.
• If the investigating officer won’t give you a copy, request the records division’s public-records request process and put your request in writing (email or letter).
• Expect redactions of sensitive personal data. If redaction prevents you from getting what you need for your claim, consult an attorney about subpoena or discovery options.
• Insurance adjusters can obtain the report, but you should still request your own copy and keep it in your claim file.
• If the crash involved a commercial vehicle or serious injury, request any additional reports (DOT forms or company incident reports) separately from the carrier or employer.
• Act promptly. Evidence and witness memory fade. If you anticipate litigation, consult an attorney early so they can preserve evidence and obtain records through legal procedures if necessary.