How to Read Your Ohio Accident Report
In the event of an Ohio car accident, it is critical for injury victims to provide their insurance providers with the most accurate and detailed information. But obtaining and understanding accident report HSY 7001, typically filed by law enforcement officials, can be difficult and confusing. The information below provides accident victims with a step-by-step guide to understanding your Ohio car accident report.
Top of Page 1
Officers record when and where your crash occurred, including city, date, time and severity.
Middle of Page 1
Officers will document the personal information of motorists, non-motorists and occupants involved in the crash (name, address, date of birth, and home phone number). Additionally, the vehicle and insurance information of all parties involved will be documented.
Bottom of Page 1
Officers responding to the crash write how they believe the crash occurred. To the right, officers also have a chance to draw a pictorial diagram of the crash. Review this information carefully. It is critical for the responding officer to accurately describe the accident in detail.
Top of Page 2
Responding officers will use checkboxes to document the details of your accident: such as the damage area, pre-crash actions, sequence of events, posted speed and other factors regarding your accident.
Middle to Bottom of Page 2
Officers will check off the contributing circumstances, direction in which vehicles were traveling, the type of vehicles involved, type of intersection and condition of drivers.
Carefully review this information. It may be used by an insurance company or another driver to determine fault in an accident and compensation owed to parties involved.
Top/Middle of Page 3
Officers will use the narrative section to write a summary of how the accident happened. Additionally, officers will use the boxes below to check off the manner and conditions in which the accident occurred. To the right, officers will draw a diagram of how the accident happened.
Bottom of Page 3
If a truck or bus was involved in the accident, officers will document the details. Otherwise, actions taken by responding police officers will be recorded at the bottom of the page.
Top/Middle of Page 4
Officers will use the occupant addendum to document all vehicle occupants involved in the crash and if they were removed from the accident scene by EMS, police or by any other means. Occupant details include names, addresses and phone numbers.
Bottom of Page 4
Responding officers will use the boxes to check off occupants' seating position, use of safety equipment, air bag deployment, whether the air bag was switched on or off, if occupants were ejected from the vehicle, if anyone was trapped in the vehicle, and the severity of occupant injuries.
Page 5
Officers will use the entire space to draw a narrative diagram of the accident if they weren't able to finish it on page 4.
Top/Middle of Page 6
Officers will use this space to document statements made by witnesses.
Bottom of Page 6
The address, phone number and signature of the witness will be found at the bottom of this page.