HomeCrash reportsRhode Island
How to get a Rhode Island crash report
Copies come from Rhode Island State Police (Accident Bureau), through BuyCrash.com; RI Department of Transportation is the accident data repository for police reports. Request one at buycrash.com. The fee is not stated on the official page.
Checked against the official pages on October 2, 2026
The statewide copy
| Who has it | Rhode Island State Police (Accident Bureau), through BuyCrash.com; RI Department of Transportation is the accident data repository for police reports |
|---|---|
| Where to request it | buycrash.com |
| Covers | State Police 'Statewide Uniform Crash Reports'; fatal crashes only through the State Police Accident Bureau; city and town police also use BuyCrash or their own records office |
| What you need | Accident report number given by the trooper at the scene; for mail requests include driver's name, date of accident and report number |
| Who can get a copy | State Police page sets no limit; by law personal information in accident reports is privileged except for an involved party or their legal representative, an insurance company or insurance-support organization (31-26-9(e)) |
| By mail | Stamped, self-addressed envelope plus $15 check or money order to Rhode Island State Police: Accident Bureau, 311 Danielson Pike, North Scituate, RI 02857 |
Reports taken by city police or a sheriff
City and town police take most reports and handle their own requests: the Providence Police Records Department takes requests and sells crash/accident reports online through LexisNexis Police Reports; North Providence Police sell reports on a website for $15 or $0.15 per page at headquarters.
The form
Officers in Rhode Island write crash reports on the State of Rhode Island Uniform Crash Report. Most boxes on it hold numeric codes for things like contributing factors, injuries and road conditions.
After you have the report
Rhode Island gives you three years to file a personal injury lawsuit (R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b)). Every Rhode Island deadline and fault rule.
Rhode Island is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the injuries and damage.
305 people died in crashes in Rhode Island from 2020 to 2024 (NHTSA FARS). See the record for your county.
Check your deadline and a rough claim range
A filing date and a rough value range for Rhode Island. Both take under a minute.
Questions
Are Rhode Island crash reports public?
State Police page sets no limit; by law personal information in accident reports is privileged except for an involved party or their legal representative, an insurance company or insurance-support organization (31-26-9(e))
Sources
- Statewide crash reports: risp.ri.gov/safety-education/motor-vehicle-safety-information/if-you-are-involve
Accident reports can be obtained by going to www.BuyCrash.com, which provides online access to crash reports. The trooper handling your accident will give you an accident report number before you leave the scene of the crash. In most cases, crash reports are available 72 hours after the report was taken, with the exception of crashes that remain under investigation (which cannot be released until the investigation is completed) and fatal crashes (which must be obtained through the Rhode Island State Police Accident Bureau). | You may also request a copy of your accident report by U.S. Mail by …
- Request portal: www.buycrash.com/
- Local police and sheriff reports: ppd.providenceri.gov/obtain-a-traffic-report/
- Driver report duty (R.I. Gen. Laws 31-26-6; 31-26-9(c)-(d)): webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE31/31-26/31-26-6.htm
The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person or in which the damage to property of any one person, including himself or herself, in excess of one thousand dollars ($1000) is sustained, shall, within twenty-one (21) days after the accident, forward a written report of the accident to the division of motor vehicles, on forms provided by the division of motor vehicles.
- When to call police (R.I. Gen. Laws 31-26-3(a); 31-26-4; 31-26-5): webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE31/31-26/31-26-3.htm
The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in the striking of, the injury to, or death of any person or damage to any vehicle which is driven or attended by any person shall, upon request, give his or her name ... The driver shall render to any person injured or struck in an accident reasonable assistance, and shall immediately, by the quickest means of communication known to the driver or which should have reasonably been known to the driver to be available in the locality, give notice of the accident to a nearby office of local or state police.
Read October 2, 2026. Laws and fees change; the linked page is the authority.