Pennsylvania Crash Reports: State Police, AA-600 and Tort Rules
Who has your crash report, what drivers must report, insurance rules and traffic deaths in Pennsylvania.
But once you get off the Turnpike, figuring out which agency handles a crash depends on where it happened. Some areas have their own local police departments, while others rely on the State Police. So, if you have just been in a crash, the location and the officers who responded will determine which agency has your report and where you need to go to get a copy.
Who Has Your Pennsylvania Crash Report
The Pennsylvania State Police provide full-time police coverage to 1,325 municipalities and part-time coverage to 408 more, the Pennsylvania Capital-Star reported in August 2026. A dedicated State Police troop patrols the Turnpike, so a Turnpike crash report is a State Police report. Cities and boroughs with their own departments handle crashes on their streets. If an officer gave you a card or report number at the scene, it names the agency.
State Police reports cost $22 and become available 15 days after the crash. Online, search the State Police crash report request site by case number, or by last name and crash date, then fill out the application. The State Police approve or deny requests within seven business days, and the approval email carries a link to pay.
By mail, send form SP 7-0015 with a $22 money order or certified check payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to the PA State Police, Crash Reports Unit, 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110. Copies go to people involved in the crash, their attorneys or insurers, and government agencies involved.
Don’t want to deal with the forms, or not sure which agency took your report? We can get a copy of your report for you at no cost.
Police Reports From Pennsylvania Cities and Towns
Local departments release their own crash reports, so the records office of the department that responded is the place to start. A few examples of how departments handle it:
| Department | How to request | Fee |
| Philadelphia Police | City public safety reports website, or the Department of Records, City Hall Room 170, in person or by mail; allow 2 to 3 weeks | $25 |
| Pittsburgh Bureau of Police | Central Records and Reporting Unit, 660 First Ave., 3rd floor, in person or by mail | $15 |
| Bethlehem Police | CrashDocs online, with the crash date, your last name and the report number | $15 |
| Scranton Police | CopLogic online request, or the police Records Division in person or by mail with the fee and a stamped return envelope | $15 |
Philadelphia’s records office takes cash, money orders, business checks and certified checks, and does not accept personal checks or cards. Pittsburgh asks mail requests to include the report number, the type of incident, a copy of your ID, and a stamped return envelope.
What Pennsylvania Drivers Must Report
Under Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 75 (75 Pa.C.S.) section 3746, a driver in a crash that injures or kills anyone, or leaves a vehicle too damaged to drive so it has to be towed, must notify the nearest police department right away by the quickest means available. If the driver cannot, a passenger who is able must make the call.
When no police officer investigates a crash like that, each driver must send a written report to PennDOT within five days under 75 Pa.C.S. section 3747. That report is the Driver’s Accident Report, form AA-600, mailed to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, BOO Crash Unit, P.O. Box 2047, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2047. If an officer did investigate, you do not file one.
Pennsylvania Insurance Rules After a Crash
Pennsylvania policies must carry at least $5,000 in medical benefits, $15,000 for injury to one person, $30,000 for injuries per crash, and $5,000 for property damage, according to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. Medical benefits pay your medical bills and those of others covered by your policy no matter who caused the crash.
Your tort choice decides what else you can recover. Full tort keeps your right to sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering. Limited tort costs less, but you can sue for pain and suffering only for a serious injury, which state law defines as death, serious impairment of a body function, or permanent serious disfigurement under 75 Pa.C.S. section 1702. If you never chose limited tort in writing, your policy is full tort.
Limited tort does not apply in some crashes under 75 Pa.C.S. section 1705: when the at-fault driver is convicted of DUI or accepts ARD for it, was driving a vehicle registered in another state, had no insurance, or caused the injury on purpose, or when you were riding in a vehicle other than a private passenger vehicle. Insurers must offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, and you can turn it down only by signing a rejection form under 75 Pa.C.S. section 1731.
Pennsylvania Traffic Deaths by the Numbers
| Measure | Figure | Year | Source |
| People killed in traffic crashes | 1,042, down from 1,127 in 2024 | 2025 | PennDOT |
| Fatal crashes | 979, down from 1,060 | 2025 | PennDOT |
| Total reportable crashes | 109,515 | 2025 | PennDOT |
| Deaths in crashes with an impaired driver | 258, down from 342 | 2025 | PennDOT |
| Pedestrians killed | 173 | 2024 | NHTSA |
| Motorcyclists killed | 217 | 2024 | NHTSA |
PennDOT released the 2025 figures in April 2026 and called the death count the lowest since record-keeping began in 1928. NHTSA’s count for 2024 matches PennDOT’s at 1,127.
Pennsylvania Crash Guides by City and County
At Local Accident Reports, we keep track of crashes and accidents happening across the country. We cover everything from car crashes and motorcycle wrecks to commercial and residential fires, working our way county by county and city by city to keep people informed about what is happening in their communities.
Pennsylvania is no exception. With 67 counties and 2,560 municipalities, accidents happen every day across the state, and we are here to report on them. But our goal goes beyond simply telling drivers and commuters where and when a crash occurred. We also want to help people get familiar with the places they travel, from major roads and busy routes to dangerous intersections, so they know what to expect before getting behind the wheel.
Here, you can find the latest accident reports from communities throughout Pennsylvania, along with helpful guides to some of the state’s most important cities. Whether you are checking on a recent crash or learning more about the roads you travel, we aim to give you the information you need.
City crash guides: Scranton, PA
County accident news: Philadelphia County · York County · Berks County · Lancaster County · Allegheny County · Lehigh County · Northampton County · Monroe County
Compare nearby states: Northeast crash reports and car accident laws by state · No-fault states and insurance minimums in all 50 states
Questions about getting, reading or correcting a police report? See our accident report FAQ.
Road stretches and intersections flagged with 2017 to 2022 crash data are listed on our Pennsylvania dangerous intersections page.
Help After a Crash
- Local Accident Reports. After a crash, we can connect you with local help, from doctors and body shops to injury attorneys. Contact our team.
- MADD Free support for people hurt by drunk or drugged drivers and for families who lost someone. 24-hour help line: 877-MADD-HELP (877-623-3435).
- 911. Call 911 after a crash for support.
Pennsylvania Crash Questions
How do I get a Pennsylvania State Police crash report?
Request it on the State Police crash report site at pa.gov/psp/crash-reports, or mail form SP 7-0015 with a $22 money order or certified check to the Crash Reports Unit in Harrisburg. Reports are ready 15 days after the crash, and online requests are approved or denied within seven business days.
When do I have to file a PennDOT AA-600?
File the Driver’s Accident Report within five days when a crash injured or killed someone or left a vehicle needing a tow, and no police officer investigated. If police investigated the crash, the AA-600 is not required.
Is Pennsylvania a no-fault state?
In part. Your own medical benefits, at least $5,000, pay your medical bills, regardless of who caused the crash. Whether you can also sue the other driver for pain and suffering depends on whether your policy is full tort or limited tort.
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Pennsylvania?
Two years for injury and wrongful death claims under 42 Pa.C.S. section 5524. A claim against a city, township, county, or state agency also needs a written notice within six months of the crash under 42 Pa.C.S. section 5522, and a claim against a state agency goes to the Attorney General’s office as well.
Recent Pennsylvania Crash Coverage
Pedestrian Killed on Southbound Rte 100 in Pottstown, PA
Injuries Reported in Dump Truck vs SUV Crash on Lebanon Rd in Rapho Twp., PA
Pedestrian Struck at Lancaster Ave and Cherry St in Columbia Borough, PA
Multiple Injured in Multi-Vehicle Crash at Rte 183 and Old US Rte 22 in Upper Tulpehocken Twp, PA
One Hurt in Three-Vehicle Crash at Cherry Ln Rd and Rte 611 in Pocono Twp, PA
The full archive is at Pennsylvania accident news, and recent accident alerts follow new crashes nationwide as they are reported.
Local Accident Reports compiles this information from public agency sources and published reports for general reference. It is not legal advice and is not an official police record. Fees, forms and deadlines change, so confirm with the agency before you send a request. Last updated October 2026.