Detailed answer

If you were involved in a motor vehicle crash in Minnesota, you can generally obtain a copy of the basic police crash report (sometimes called a traffic/accident report) prepared by the responding law enforcement agency. Minnesota law requires reporting and investigation of many traffic collisions (see Minn. Stat. § 169.09: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/169.09), and crash records are government data governed by the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (see Minn. Stat. ch. 13: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/13).

Practical points to know:

• The quickest source is usually the law enforcement agency that responded (city police, county sheriff, or state patrol). Many agencies will provide a copy in person, by mail, or via an online records portal.
• The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) also maintains statewide crash data and can direct you to records or provide copies in some situations. See the DPS crash information pages: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ots/Pages/crash-reports.aspx.
• If you are a party to the crash (driver, passenger, owner of a vehicle involved), you typically have a clear path to obtain the report. Non-parties may also request reports under public access rules, but some personal data will be redacted.

What you can expect to receive

The standard crash report usually contains:

• Date, time, and location of the crash
• Names of drivers and passengers (subject to redaction rules)
• Vehicle descriptions and license plate numbers
• Brief narrative of the officer’s observations
• Diagram of the collision, contributing factors, weather/road conditions
• Officer name and agency, and report number

What might be withheld or redacted

Minnesota’s data-practices laws protect certain personal and investigative data. A law enforcement agency may redact or withhold information such as:

• Medical records and some injury details if they are confidential
• Driver license numbers, Social Security numbers, or other sensitive identifiers
• Active investigative details or witness statements if releasing them would compromise an investigation

Any redaction should be justified under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (Minn. Stat. ch. 13). If you receive a redacted report, the agency should identify the legal basis for the redaction.

How to request a copy — step by step

1. Identify the responding agency. Check the citation you got at the scene, your insurance correspondence, or contact the city police, county sheriff, or Minnesota State Patrol to locate the report.
2. Find the report number and the crash date/location. This speeds the search and helps avoid fees for repeated searches.
3. Contact the records unit of that agency. Many agencies publish instructions and online portals for crash report requests.
4. Provide the required information: your name, relationship to the crash (driver/owner/insurance claim), date/time/location of the crash, and a copy of your ID if requested.
5. Pay any reasonable copying or processing fee. Fees vary by agency.
6. If you need photos, dash-cam or body-cam footage, or a more detailed investigative file, request those specifically — they may be treated differently and could be subject to additional redaction or statutory limits.

Requesting photos, video, and investigatory files

A standard crash report is often separate from the full investigatory file, which can include scene photographs, video, witness statements, and officer notes. Those materials may be:

• Released in whole or in part depending on whether they are investigatory data, private data on individuals, or otherwise protected under Minn. Stat. ch. 13.
• Available after the investigation closes, though agencies vary on timing.
• Available only to parties, their attorneys, or by a formal public records request in some circumstances.

If a request is denied or you get an unsatisfactory response

If an agency refuses access or improperly withholds records, you can:

• Ask the agency to put the denial in writing and cite the specific statute or rule relied upon.
• Request an internal review or ask for contact information for the agency’s data practices compliance officer.
• Consult an attorney experienced in Minnesota civil litigation or data-practices matters if you believe disclosure was wrongly denied and you need the material for an insurance claim or lawsuit.

How a crash report helps your claim

A crash report provides an independent record of the collision, helps establish facts (who, where, and when), and often documents the officer’s opinion about contributing factors. Insurers and attorneys commonly use the report as part of the claim file, but keep in mind that an officer’s observations are one piece of evidence and are not dispositive of legal fault.

Helpful Hints

• Start with the responding agency: they usually have the quickest turnaround.
• Keep a record of the report number and the name of the officer who took the report.
• Ask whether photos and video exist and whether you must request them separately.
• Be prepared to pay a small fee; check the agency’s website for exact amounts and online ordering options.
• If the report is redacted, ask the agency for the legal reason for each redaction (the agency should cite Minnesota law).
• If you need records for an insurance claim or lawsuit, request copies early — gathering all evidence can take time.
• When in doubt, a consultation with a Minnesota personal injury attorney can help you understand what parts of the file you need and how to challenge an improper denial.