Lawrence Police Department - If you are Involved in an Auto Accident

If you are Involved in an Auto Accident

Your Responsibilities in an Accident

If you have a traffic accident or collision, you must:
Stop at once. Stop at the accident scene or as close as possible without needlessly blocking or endangering other traffic. Leaving the scene is a serious crime.

Render aid
Give any reasonable aid to injured persons. Remember, injured people should never be moved carelessly. In many cases, they should not be moved at all until it is possible to get an ambulance or someone trained in first aid to the scene.

Exchange information
Give to the other driver, passengers in the vehicle or any injured pedestrian, your name, address, driver license number, license number of your vehicle, and your insurance information.

Reporting crashes

Within five days of the accident, you will need to file a Commonwealth of Massachusetts Operator's Accident Report when the accident:

results in personal injury or death,
when property damage exceeds $1,000,
when one of the vehicles involved has fled the scene, or
when you have any doubt as to the above.

An Operator's Report can be picked up at the Lawrence Police Department, or you may download one here.

Upon completion, you must send a copy of your Operator's Report to:

Records Division
Lawrence Police Department
90 Lowell Street
Lawrence, MA 01840

and

Crash Records
Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles
P.O. Box 199100
Boston, MA 01229-9100

Your insurance company may also want a copy of the report.

Keep one copy for yourself.

All information on the report must be filled out to the best of your knowledge. Please make sure that you sign your report before mailing it.

Obtaining a Copy of the Police Officer's Accident Report

To get a copy of the police officer's report of an accident, you must first fill out a Commonwealth of Massachusetts Operator's Accident Report. Once the Police Department has received your Operator's Report, you can have a copy of the police officer's report. You must pick up the report in person at the Lawrence Police Department. Bring a photographic identification.

If you have been injured in the accident, are incapacitated, or otherwise cannot come to the police department personally, call the Records Division at 978-794-5900 ext. 611 to make other arrangements to receive the report.