HomeCrash reportsWest Virginia

How to get a West Virginia crash report

Copies come from West Virginia State Police, Traffic Records Section (for crashes investigated by the State Police). Request one at wvsp.gov. The fee is not stated on the official page.

Checked against the official pages on October 2, 2026

The statewide copy

Who has itWest Virginia State Police, Traffic Records Section (for crashes investigated by the State Police)
Where to request itwvsp.gov
CoversState Police crash reports only; city police and sheriffs keep their own reports (investigating officers send reports to the Division of Highways under W. Va. Code 17C-4-7)
What you needWVSP Form 141 Criminal and Crash Report Request Form: date of crash, location, driver(s) and crash report number, with payment and a self-addressed envelope; request under the WV Freedom of Information Act
Who can get a copyAny requester under the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act (WVSP Form 141 is a FOIA request form; no involvement requirement stated)
By mailWVSP Form 141 with certified check, business check or money order payable to 'Superintendent, West Virginia State Police' (no cash or personal checks) to West Virginia State Police, Traffic Records Section, 701 Jefferson Road, South Charleston, WV 25309; phone (304) 746-2128, fax (304) 746-2206, email wvsp.crashreports@wvsp.gov

Reports taken by city police or a sheriff

Crashes investigated by a city police department are requested from that department's records unit: for example the Charleston Police Department Records Division is 'the repository for incident and crash reports generated by the Charleston Police Department' (304-348-6400).

The form

Officers in West Virginia write crash reports on the West Virginia Uniform Traffic Crash Report (officer's report to the Division of Highways). Most boxes on it hold numeric codes for things like contributing factors, injuries and road conditions.

After you have the report

West Virginia gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit (W. Va. Code § 55-2-12(b)). Every West Virginia deadline and fault rule.

West Virginia is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the injuries and damage.

1,331 people died in crashes in West Virginia 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 West Virginia. Both take under a minute.

Check my deadline Estimate my claim

Questions

Are West Virginia crash reports public?

Any requester under the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act (WVSP Form 141 is a FOIA request form; no involvement requirement stated)

Sources

  1. Statewide crash reports: www.wvsp.gov/departments/trafficsafety/Documents/Criminal%20and%20Crash%20Report
    For information or to obtain a Vehicle Crash Report, please call (304) 746-2128. | Crime or Vehicle Crash Report Mail $20.00; Certified Vehicle Crash Report $25.00; Vehicle Crash Report ONLY - Fax $25.00; Reconstructed Report: $500.00; Reconstructed Report Certified: $505.00. These fees are for reports of 50 pages or less in length. An additional copy fee of $1.00 per sheet will apply after 50 pages. | Criminal and Crash Report Request Form. Pursuant to the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act §29B-1 et seq. (WVSP Form 141, Revised 1/2024) | NON-REFUNDABLE FEE FOR ACTUAL REPORT
  2. Request portal: www.wvsp.gov/departments/trafficsafety/Pages/default.aspx
  3. Local police and sheriff reports: charlestonwvpolice.org/records.html
  4. Driver report duty (W. Va. Code 17C-4-7(a)-(c)): code.wvlegislature.gov/17C-4-7/
    (a) Every law-enforcement officer who, in the regular course of duty, investigates a motor vehicle crash occurring on the public streets or highways of this state resulting in bodily injury to, or death of, any person or total property damage to an apparent extent of $1,000 or more shall ... within 24 hours after completing such investigation, prepare a report of such crash either electronically or in writing.
  5. When to call police (W. Va. Code 17C-4-6): code.wvlegislature.gov/17C-4-6/
    The driver of a vehicle involved in a crash resulting in injury to or death of any person or total property damage to an apparent extent of $1,000 or more shall immediately by the quickest means of communication, give notice of such crash to the local police department if such crash occurs within a municipality, otherwise to the office of the county sheriff or the nearest office of the West Virginia State Police.

Read October 2, 2026. Laws and fees change; the linked page is the authority.