How to Get a Police Report for a Car Accident in New Orleans

The first thing you should do? Call and ask if the report is ready.

After a car accident, there’s a lot to deal with—pain, paperwork, and people asking questions you’re not always ready to answer. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, especially when you’re just trying to get the facts straight.

One of the first things you’ll likely need is the New Orleans police report. It’s not just a formality. It’s the official record of what happened, and it can make a real difference when it comes to insurance, legal claims, or just protecting yourself from blame.

If you’re wondering how to get that report from the New Orleans Police Department, this guide breaks it down step by step—no fluff, no guesswork. Just what you need to know to get it done.

Understanding the Importance of a Police Report for a Car Accident in New Orleans

If you’ve been in a car accident in New Orleans, one of the most important documents you’ll need is the police report from the New Orleans Police Department. This report isn’t just a formality—it’s a key piece of evidence. It helps tell the story of what happened from a neutral source: the responding NOPD officer.

A police report filed usually includes:

• Vehicle information

• Property damage

• Names and contact info for the people involved

• Statements from drivers, passengers, and witnesses

• The officer’s conclusions about what happened

Whether you’re filing an insurance claim or speaking with an attorney, this report can help protect you. In many cases, it's the only official account of the crash. Always request it.

Contact the New Orleans Police Department First to Find Out If the Report Is Ready

Before you do anything else, contact the New Orleans Police Department Records and Identification Division to ask if your police report is ready. You can’t get the report until it’s been filed and reviewed, so save yourself a trip by calling first. Here’s how to reach them:

• Phone: 504-658-5455

• Location: 715 South Broad Street, first floor

When you call, have your Item Number ready. The officer who handled your accident should have given it to you at the scene. It’s a unique number that helps the department find your report in their system.

If you don’t have the item number, they can still search for your case using the date, time, and location of the incident—but having that number speeds things up.

Where to Go and What to Bring

If the report is ready, you’ll likely be asked to go in person to pick it up. All you have to do is to go to the New Orleans Police Department Records and Identification Division at the first floor, 715 South Broad Street. Don’t forget to bring a valid ID, your item number (if you have it), and cash or a credit card to pay the fee.

Submit a Request Online

If you can’t make it to the Records and Identification Division in person, you can submit a request online through the City of New Orleans’ public records portal: 👉 https://nola.nextrequest.com/requests/new

This site lets you request public records from city departments, including police reports filed by NOPD officers. It's available 24/7 and is often more convenient if you're unable to visit in person.

What You'll Need to Submit a Request

To help the New Orleans Police Department find your report, be ready to provide:

• Item Number: This is a case number given to you by police at the scene. It usually starts with the year (like 2025-XXXXX). If you didn’t get one, call NOPD and ask.

• Date and Location of the Accident: The more specific you are (like “May 10, 2025, 2400 block of Canal Street”), the easier it is to locate.

• Names of the People Involved: Include full names, if possible.

You don’t need to give personal opinions, what you think happened, or why you want the report. Just stick to the facts they need to find it.

Step-by-Step: How to Request a Police Report Online

Here’s how to walk through the City of New Orleans’ online request system:

1. Go to nola.nextrequest.com/requests/new

2. Enter your request in the large text box titled "Enter your request – please include all information that could help fulfill this request."

Example: I am requesting the initial police report and any supplemental reports related to a traffic accident that occurred on April 9, 2025, near the 3800 block of Magazine Street. Item Number: 2025-12345. Involved parties: John Doe and Jane Smith.

3. Upload any helpful documents (optional). You can attach a photo of your accident card or ticket if available.

   
   

   

   
   

4. Select Department. 

In the dropdown menu labeled “Department”, choose:

👉 New Orleans Police Department

5. Add your contact info. 

Fill in your name, email, phone number, and address. This is required to receive the report or any status updates.

6. Submit the request. 

You’ll receive an email confirmation with a request number. You can use this to track progress or communicate with the Records and Identification Division if needed.

⚠️ Keep in mind: Not all reports are immediately available online. If the report involves minor victims, sex offenses, undercover officers, or an open investigation, access may be limited.

What Law Governs This Process?

The right to request police reports is protected by Louisiana Public Records Law under La. Rev. Stat. § 44:1. This law defines what a public record is and makes clear that nearly all records created or held by government agencies—including police reports—must be made available to the public upon request, unless a specific exception applies. Here’s what the law says in plain English:

• Any document, photo, recording, or digital file made or kept by a public body (like the New Orleans Police Department) while doing government business is considered a public record.

• That includes vehicle information, incident reports, supplemental reports, and other data gathered by NOPD officers.

• These records must be made available for inspection, copying, or reproduction during regular office hours, unless the law or Constitution says otherwise.

The statute says:

§1. General definitions

A.(1) As used in this Chapter, the phrase "public body" means any branch, department, office, agency, board, commission, district, governing authority, political subdivision, or any committee, subcommittee, advisory board, or task force thereof, any other instrumentality of state, parish, or municipal government, including a public or quasi-public nonprofit corporation designated as an entity to perform a governmental or proprietary function, or an affiliate of a housing authority.

(2)(a) All books, records, writings, accounts, letters and letter books, maps, drawings, photographs, cards, tapes, recordings, memoranda, and papers, and all copies, duplicates, photographs, including microfilm, or other reproductions thereof, or any other documentary materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, including information contained in electronic data processing equipment, having been used, being in use, or prepared, possessed, or retained for use in the conduct, transaction, or performance of any business, transaction, work, duty, or function which was conducted, transacted, or performed by or under the authority of the constitution or laws of this state, or by or under the authority of any ordinance, regulation, mandate, or order of any public body or concerning the receipt or payment of any money received or paid by or under the authority of the constitution or the laws of this state, are "public records", except as otherwise provided in this Chapter or the Constitution of Louisiana.

(b) Notwithstanding Subparagraph (a), any documentary material of a security feature of a public body's electronic data processing system, information technology system, telecommunications network, or electronic security system, including hardware or software security, password, or security procedure, process, configuration, software, and code is not a "public record".

(3) As used in this Chapter, the word "custodian" means the public official or head of any public body having custody or control of a public record, or a representative specifically authorized by him to respond to requests to inspect any such public records.

B. Electrical well surveys produced from wells drilled in search of oil and gas located in established units and which are filed with the assistant secretary of the office of conservation shall be placed in the open files of the office of conservation. Any party or firm shall have the right to examine or reproduce, or both, at their own expense, copies of said survey, by photography or other means not injurious to said records. All other electric logs and other electronic surveys, other than seismic data, produced from wells drilled in search of oil and gas which are filed with the assistant secretary of the office of conservation shall remain confidential upon the request of the owner so filing for periods as follows:

For wells shallower than fifteen thousand feet a period of one year, plus one additional year when evidence is submitted to the assistant secretary of the office of conservation that the owner of the log has a leasehold interest in the general area in which the well was drilled and the log produced; for wells fifteen thousand feet deep or deeper, a period of two years, plus two additional years when evidence is submitted to the assistant secretary of the office of conservation that the owner of the log has such an interest in the general area in which the well was drilled and the log produced; and for wells drilled in the offshore area, subsequent to July 1, 1977, regardless of depth, a period of two years from the filing of the log with the office of conservation, plus two additional years where evidence is submitted to the assistant secretary of the office of conservation that the owner of the log has such an interest in the general area in which the well was drilled and the log produced and has immediate plans to develop the said general area, unless a shorter period of confidentiality is specifically provided in the existing lease.

At the expiration of time in which any log or electronic surveys, other than seismic data, shall be held as confidential by the assistant secretary of the office of conservation as provided for above, said log or logs shall be placed in the open files of the office of conservation and any party or firm shall have the right to examine or reproduce, or both, at their own expense, copies of said log or electronic survey, other than seismic data, by photography or other means not injurious to said records.

However, there are exceptions. Reports may be withheld or redacted if they involve:

• Pending criminal investigations

• Sex offenses

• Minor victims

• Undercover officers

• Any information that could jeopardize public safety or cause unwarranted public disgrace

The law also defines the custodian as the public official or agency responsible for maintaining the record and responding to requests. In the case of police reports, the Records and Identification Division of the Orleans Police Department is the custodian.

So, while not every single police report will be handed over in full, you do have the legal right to request it, and the city is required to respond in line with the law.

Pay Any Applicable Fees

The New Orleans Police Department may charge a fee to provide a copy of your police report. The amount depends on several factors:

• Type of report requested

• Format (paper or electronic)

• Number of pages or records involved

Costs may apply depending on how you receive the report:

• Paper Copies: $0.50 per page

• Electronic Copies: $25 base fee for a CD copy

• Delivery/Postage: Added cost if mailed

• Additional Service Fees: Based on time and scope of your request

Fee schedule: NOPD Records Request Fee Info

To avoid surprises, ask about the total cost when you submit your request or call 504-658-5455.

Use the Report for Legal and Insurance Purposes

Once you get the police report, use it wisely. It’s one of the most important documents you’ll have after a crash. It provides an official account of the accident and can be used in:

• Insurance claims

• Personal injury lawsuits

• Vehicle repair disputes

• Traffic ticket defenses

What you’ll typically find in the report:

• Officer’s observations and conclusions

• Statements from witnesses

• Diagrams showing vehicle positions and impact points

• Time, location, weather, and road conditions

Also, ask if there are photos or body-worn camera footage. These are not automatically included in your report. You must submit a separate public records request for:

• Crash scene photos

• Body-worn camera footage from NOPD officers

This can further support your claim and provide evidence that words on paper might miss.

Relevant Statute: Utilization in Legal Proceedings

In Louisiana, police reports are not automatically considered admissible evidence in court, but they can still be extremely helpful. Police reports fall under the category of hearsay, which means they usually can’t be used to prove fault on their own in trial. However, they are routinely used during:

• Insurance negotiations

• Pre-litigation settlements

• Depositions or motions

Bottomline

Getting a police report for a car accident in New Orleans involves a few steps:

1. Contact the NOPD to check if the report is ready

2. Submit a public records request online or in person

3. Pay any applicable fees

4. Follow up until it’s complete

Call 504-658-5455 to check on the status of your report. Don’t wait for a call back—keep calling until someone tells you it’s ready. If it’s been more than 30 days, consider contacting the responding officer directly through their district. Find the NOPD district map and contact info here: https://portal-nolagis.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/nopd-police-districts/explore

This report is a critical document for legal and insurance purposes, providing essential information about the accident. By following these steps and understanding the relevant statutes, you can ensure you have the necessary documentation to support your personal injury claim.

Need Help After a Crash? You're Not Alone.

Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident in New Orleans is frustrating enough. Tracking down a police report shouldn’t add to the stress. If you're hitting roadblocks—or just tired of waiting for someone to pick up the phone at NOPD—we can help.

At Burnham Law Firm, we’ve worked with people in your exact situation: injured, overwhelmed, and trying to make sense of what comes next. We know how to get these reports, how to read between the lines, and how to use them to support your case if things go further.

If you’re not sure what to do—or if you’re just tired of the runaround—reach out. There’s no pressure, and the consultation is free. Sometimes, all it takes is a conversation to start moving in the right direction.

We’ll help you figure out what’s worth fighting for. And more importantly, how to do it.