Need A Police Report After A Michigan Car Accident? Here’s What To Do.
Last updated on June 15, 2026
When pursuing a personal injury claim, every piece of evidence you can gather is vital to your case. This is especially the case for police reports.
Obtaining a police report can seem tricky at first, but the following information should help. At Bahrie Law, PLLC, we have an experienced legal team that can assist Lansing and Detroit injury victims at every stage of a car accident claim.
Why You Need A Police Report After A Car Accident
As mentioned, a legal case will stand or fall based on the evidence that is presented. There are few pieces of evidence more detailed than a police report. Once you have obtained this report, you can present it to insurance companies and the courts if necessary.
Details contained within a police report include:
- Contact information of those involved in the crash
- Witness details
- An in-depth analysis of the crash
- Road and weather conditions
- Types of injuries suffered
- An officer’s opinion on what caused the accident
All of this information could be pivotal to your personal injury claim.
In Michigan, individuals are required to file a police report if the accident resulted in property damage of $1,000 or more, if the crash resulted in an injury, or if the crash resulted in a death.
How Do You Obtain A Police Report After A Michigan Car Accident?
The precise form that you need is called a UD-10 Traffic Crash Report. Generally, there are two ways that you can request this:
- The first way is to contact your local police department. The records clerk should be able to inform you about Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) policies and the steps you need to take to obtain a crash report.
- The second is to go online and purchase a traffic crash report through the Michigan State Police website. You’ll need to register for this service and pay a $15 administration fee. A personal injury lawyer in Michigan can help with these processes.
How To Get Your Police Report In Lansing (Ingham County)
If your crash happened in Lansing, visit the Lansing Police Department Records Division at 120 W Michigan Avenue during regular business hours. Bring your driver’s license and the crash date.
You can also submit a written FOIA request by mail or email. Include your full name, the crash date, the location and the names of everyone involved. Under the Michigan FOIA, the department must respond within five business days.
How To Get Your Police Report In Livonia (Wayne County)
Livonia crashes fall under the Livonia Police Department. Request your UD-10 form in person at 15050 Farmington Road, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Online requests are available through Livonia’s citizen portal. Most reports arrive via email within 48 hours.
What If You’re Not The At-Fault Driver, But The Police Report Says You Are?
A police report is not the final word. Officers arrive after the crash and, sometimes, miss critical details such as brake marks or signal malfunctions. If the UD-10 form lists you as the at-fault party but you know the other driver ran a red light or was distracted, you can fight back.
$1,000,000+ Settlement
Our firm recently secured a $1,000,000-plus settlement for a pedestrian struck in a crosswalk. The initial police report placed partial blame on our client. We hired an accident reconstructionist, obtained nearby traffic camera footage, and deposed the responding officer. The evidence proved the driver never braked and was texting at impact. The insurance company reversed its denial within 30 days.
Frequently Asked Questions About Police Reports
If you’re concerned about what’s in your crash report or how it affects your claim, these answers can help.
Q: Can a police report be changed if it is wrong or contains errors?
A: Officers rarely alter their main narrative once the UD-10 form is filed. However, an experienced attorney can submit a supplemental statement, attach independent evidence such as dashcam video and depose the officer to expose missing context.
Q: Does an insurance company have the final say if the police report blames me?
A: No. Insurance adjusters make initial fault determinations based on the UD-10 form, but those decisions are not binding. A lawyer can file a lawsuit and present independent evidence, including black box data, traffic camera footage or cellphone records, to overturn their decision. We’ve done it dozens of times in Wayne County and Ingham County courts.
If the police report doesn’t tell your side of the story, upload it to our secure case review portal. Our team will analyze every line and show you how we’ll build a stronger case.
Call Us Today To Start Your Personal Injury Claim
Obtaining a police report is one of the first steps in a personal injury claim. The personal injury attorneys at Bahrie Law, PLLC, have several years of experience in this area.
Call us today at 888-473-1289 or reach out to us online to schedule a consultation.