The aftermath of a crash in Long Beach rarely feels orderly. One moment, you are dealing with traffic near Ocean Boulevard, Pacific Coast Highway, or a neighborhood intersection.
Next, you are juggling repairs, medical appointments, insurance calls, and a growing list of paperwork.
One of the most useful documents to get early is your Long Beach accident report. It can help confirm the basic facts of the collision, identify the people involved, and give you a stronger foundation for your claim.
If you need an accident report, the process is manageable once you know where to start. Below, we explain how to request the report, what information you may need, how much it costs, and why the report matters after a crash.
Why Is an Accident Report Important?
A police report is often the first official record of the crash. It typically identifies the date, location, vehicles, parties involved, and the responding officer.
That information can be useful right away, especially if you need to give your insurer the correct report reference or confirm key details about the collision.
The report can also help your lawyer evaluate the early facts of the case and spot gaps that may need to be filled with photos, witness statements, medical records, or additional investigation.
It is an important document, but it is not the entire case. Think of it as a strong starting point rather than the final word on what happened.
How Do You Request a Long Beach Police Report?
If you need a collision report, the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) directs people to use its report request form. Once downloaded and completed, you submit it either by mail or in person.
Can You Get a Long Beach Police Report Online?
Not in the way many people expect. While the process is straightforward, it is neither fast nor modern. There is no public Long Beach police report lookup online system that lets you search, pay, and immediately download your collision report.
Instead, the City provides the request form online. From there, you fill it out and submit it by mail or hand-deliver the completed request in person.
If you do not want to print the form yourself, you can also call the department and request that it mail you an application.
Where Can You Request the Report in Person?
If you prefer to handle the request face-to-face, you can bring the completed form to:
Long Beach Police Department
Information Management Division
400 West Broadway
Long Beach, CA 90802
Blank copies of the form are also available in the Public Safety Building lobby and at police substations. That can be helpful if you do not have access to a printer or want to review the form in person before submitting it.
For some people, going in person makes the process feel more concrete. After a crash, even a small step that gets one thing off your plate can feel like a win.
How Much Does a Long Beach Accident Report Cost?
The LBPD charges a $29 non-refundable processing fee for each police report request, including collision reports. That same fee applies to incident, arrest, and information-only reports. Crime victims are exempt from the fee.
Payment options depend on how you submit the request. In person, the department accepts cash, checks, money orders, and most credit or debit cards, except Discover and American Express. By mail, payment is limited to checks or money orders.
What Information Should You Have Ready?
Details about both the incident and the person are required when requesting the report. Before filling it out, it helps to gather as much of the following information as possible:
- Departmental Report number, if you have it;
- Date the incident was reported;
- Call number or officer information, if known;
- Location of the collision;
- Type of incident;
- Name of the person or business involved;
- Your role in the incident, such as driver, passenger, pedestrian, witness, or registered owner; and
- Your contact information and signature.
Having these details ready makes the request easier to complete and reduces the risk of delays due to missing information.
Who Can Request the Report?
Not everyone can request a copy of a crash report. Access generally depends on your legal connection to the incident. Authorized individuals include:
- The injured person,
- Registered vehicle owner,
- Witness,
- Parent of the injured under 18,
- Pedestrian,
- Driver,
- Passenger,
- Attorney, and
- Insurance company representative.
You must certify under penalty of perjury that your information is true and correct. Attorneys must have a signed authorization from the represented individual. Insurance companies must include a policy or claim number.
For traffic collision reports, only certain parties may receive a copy. The LBPD Collision Investigation Detail will initially review the report for collisions involving death, a felony hit-and-run, or city property damage.
How Long Does It Take?
Processing times vary by incident and may take up to six months. That does not mean every report will take that long, but it does mean you should not assume the report will be ready quickly.
Cases involving review by the Collision Investigation Detail can also delay the release of the report.
If you want to check on the status of your request, the department instructs members of the public, law firms, and insurance companies to email PD-RequestStatus@longbeach.gov.
We Can Help You Obtain Your Long Beach Accident Report
A police report is just one part of building a strong case.
At the Law Offices of Steers & Associates, we understand your claim is about more than just paperwork. We offer clear guidance, quick responses, and practical support backed by decades of combined experience.
Our Long Beach personal injury lawyers guide you to the right evidence and helps you talk with insurers. We help you see how the crash affects your treatment, income, repairs, and what to do next.
Let’s discuss your case today.
