If you were involved in a car accident in Lexington, Kentucky, getting a copy of the official police collision report can be an important step when dealing with an insurance claim, vehicle damage, or a personal injury case.
If the Lexington Police Department investigated the crash, you can request the collision report online, in person, or by mail. The requirements below are based on current guidance from the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) and Kentucky law.
Quick Facts — Lexington, KY Accident Reports
- Agency: Lexington Police Department
- Availability: Collision reports on open cases may be received five days after the report is filed
- Online fee: $10
- In-person fee: $10
- Mail fee: $5
- In-person location: Lexington Police Headquarters, 150 E. Main St., Lexington, KY 40507
- Central Records hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Central Records phone: 859-258-3568
- Online portal: BuyCrash
Who Can Request a Kentucky Collision Report?
Kentucky does not treat vehicle accident reports like ordinary public records that anyone can automatically obtain.
Under KRS 189.635, accident reports are confidential and are made available to certain authorized people and entities, including:
- Parties to the accident
- A parent or guardian of a minor who was a party to the accident
- An insurer, or its written designee, handling insurance business involving a party named in the report
- An attorney representing a party to the accident
- Certain parties to litigation who submit the documentation required by the statute
- Law enforcement agencies, subject to statutory limitations
- Certain news-gathering organizations under separate provisions of the law
For most drivers and passengers looking for their own report, the important point is that you should be prepared to show that you were involved in the collision or otherwise qualify to receive the report.
Kentucky law specifically provides that accident reports are confidential and exempt from general disclosure under the Kentucky Open Records Act except as permitted by KRS 189.635.
Step-by-Step: How to Get Your Lexington Accident Report
Step 1 — Gather the Information You’ll Need
The information required depends on how you request the report.
For an Online Request
Lexington Police instructs users to provide:
- The last name of the vehicle owner or driver
- The report date
You will also need one of the following:
- Case number
- Reporting officer’s badge number
- Driver’s license number of a person involved in the collision
When searching online, use Lexington Police Department as the jurisdiction.
For an In-Person or Mail Request
Be prepared to provide:
- Case number
- Name of the driver or vehicle owner
- Location of the collision
- Date of the collision
- Photo ID
Having as much identifying information as possible can make it easier to locate the correct report.
Step 2 — Choose How You Want to Request the Report
Lexington Police provides three primary methods for obtaining a collision report.
Option A: Request the Report Online
Lexington Police currently directs online collision report requests through BuyCrash.
Search for a Lexington collision report through BuyCrash
- Fee: $10 per report
- Jurisdiction to select: Lexington Police Department
- Best for: Drivers and other authorized parties who want to obtain the report without visiting police headquarters
The report must be available in the online system before it can be purchased.
Option B: Request the Report in Person
Collision reports can be requested at:
Lexington Police Headquarters
Central Records
150 E. Main St.
Lexington, KY 40507
- Fee: $10 per report
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Bring: The required crash information and a photo ID
If you have questions before making the trip, call Central Records at 859-258-3568.
Option C: Request the Report by Mail
You can also request a collision report by mail.
Include:
- Case number
- Name of the driver or owner
- Location of the collision
- Date of the collision
- Photo ID
- The $5 report fee
- A self-addressed stamped envelope
Mail the request to:
Lexington Police Department
Central Records
150 E. Main St.
Lexington, KY 40507
Mail requests may take longer than obtaining the report online or in person.
Step 3 — What if the Report Is Not Available Yet?
Lexington Police states that collision reports on open cases may be received five days after the report is filed.
If your report does not appear in the online system immediately after the crash:
- Give the investigating officer time to complete and file the report
- Search the online system again after several days
- Confirm that you entered the correct driver name and report date
- Contact Central Records at 859-258-3568 if you still cannot locate it
The five-day period runs from when the report is filed, which may not always be the same date as the collision itself.
What if Kentucky State Police Investigated the Crash?
Not every collision in Fayette County is investigated by the Lexington Police Department.
The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Post 12 serves Fayette County along with Anderson, Franklin, Scott, Shelby, Spencer, and Woodford counties.
If a KSP trooper investigated your collision, you should obtain the report through the Kentucky State Police rather than Lexington Police.
KSP states that accident reports may be obtained through BuyCrash. KSP also allows eligible requesters to submit a written records request to the agency’s Official Custodian of Records.
KSP Post 12 is located at:
Kentucky State Police Post 12
1250 Louisville Road
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: 502-227-2221
For records requests, follow the current instructions on the Kentucky State Police Open Records Requests page.
Why an Accident Report Matters
A police collision report can provide important information about a Lexington car accident, including details about the vehicles and people involved, the crash location, the investigating officer, and other information documented during the investigation.
The report can be useful when:
- Reporting the collision to an insurance company
- Handling a vehicle damage claim
- Identifying the parties and vehicles involved
- Confirming the accident date, location, and report number
- Investigating a personal injury claim
- Handling a rideshare, commercial vehicle, or truck accident claim
If you were injured, keep a copy of the report with the other documents related to your accident, including photographs, medical records, repair estimates, insurance correspondence, and receipts.
Injured in a Lexington Car Accident?
Obtaining the police report is only one part of documenting what happened after a serious collision.
If another driver caused your injuries, a Lexington personal injury and accident attorney from Morrin Law Office can review the circumstances of the accident, help identify available insurance coverage, and explain your options during a free case evaluation.
Related Morrin Law Resources
- Lexington Rideshare Accident Attorney
- Kentucky Rideshare Vehicle Accidents
- Kentucky Uber Accident Lawyer
- Kentucky Lyft Accident Lawyer
- Lexington Personal Injury & Accident Attorney
- Kentucky Car Accident Guide
- Kentucky Truck Crash Watch
Sources
- Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government — Traffic Collision Reports:
https://www.lexingtonky.gov/government/departments-programs/public-safety/police/traffic-collision-reports - Kentucky Revised Statutes — KRS 189.635, Vehicle Accident Reports:
https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=54793 - Kentucky State Police — Post 12:
https://www.kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov/post12 - Kentucky State Police — Open Records Requests:
https://www.kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov/open-records-requests
0 Comments