Accident Reports

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office will respond to and investigate all traffic accidents that occur on a public highway or premises open to the public, when such accident involves injury or death to any person. A police report and a DMV Law Enforcement Accident Report will be completed by the investigating deputy.

Additionally, a deputy may respond to and investigate a non-injury collision, depending on the circumstances (road blockage, hazardous conditions, etc.) and current call volume. In this case, a police report and DMV Law Enforcement Accident Report are generally not completed by the deputy.

Accident Report Copies

Copies of most police reports can be obtained from our Records Division during normal business hours. See our fee schedule page for additional information.

If needed, DMV accident report forms can be obtained from our Records Division during normal business hours.

Reporting an Accident to the DMV

Motorists need to be aware of the requirements listed in ORS 811.720 to report an accident to DMV:

811.720 When Accident Must Be Reported

  • Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, any accident occurring on a highway or upon premises open to the public resulting in injury or death to any person is subject to the reporting requirements under the following sections:
    • The reporting requirements for drivers under ORS 811.725.
    • The reporting requirements for occupants of vehicles in accidents under ORS 811.735.
    • The reporting requirements for owners of vehicles under ORS 811.730.
  • Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, an accident occurring on a highway or upon premises open to the public resulting in damage to the property of any person in excess of $1,500 is subject to the following reporting requirements:
    • The driver of a vehicle that has more than $1,500 damage must report the accident in the manner specified under ORS 811.725.
    • The owner of a vehicle that has more than $1,500 damage must report the accident in the manner specified in ORS 811.730 and under the circumstances specified in ORS 811.730.
    • If the property damage is to property other than a vehicle involved in the accident, each driver involved in the accident must report the accident in the manner specified under ORS 811.725 and each owner of a vehicle involved in the accident must report the accident in the manner specified in ORS 811.730 and under the circumstances specified in ORS 811.730.
    • If a vehicle involved in the accident is damaged to the extent that the vehicle must be towed from the scene of the accident, each driver involved in the accident must report the accident in the manner specified under ORS 811.725 and each owner of a vehicle involved in the accident must report the accident in the manner specified in ORS 811.730 and under the circumstances specified in ORS 811.730.
  • The dollar amount specified in subsection (2) of this section may be increased every five years by the Department of Transportation based upon any increase in the Portland-Salem Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for All Items as prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor or its successor during the preceding 12-month period. The amount determined under this subsection shall be rounded to the nearest $100.
  • The following are exempt from the reporting requirements of this section:
    • Operators of snowmobiles, Class I all-terrain vehicles or Class III all-terrain vehicles.
    • A law enforcement official acting in the course of official duty if the accident involved a law enforcement official performing a lawful intervention technique or a law enforcement official and a person acting during the commission of a criminal offense. As used in this paragraph:
    • "Law enforcement official" means a person who is responsible for enforcing the criminal laws of this state or a political subdivision of this state and who is employed or volunteers:
      • As a peace officer commissioned by a city, port, school district, mass transit district, county or county service district authorized to provide law enforcement services under ORS 451.010
      • With the Department of State Police or the Criminal Justice Division of the Department of Justice
      • As an investigator of a district attorney's office, if the investigator is certified as a peace officer in this state
    • "Lawful intervention technique" means a method by which one motor vehicle causes, or attempts to cause, another motor vehicle to stop. [1983 c.338 Section 576; 1987 c.258 Section 11; 1993 c.614 Section 1; 1997 c.279 Section 1; 2001 c.827 Section 7; 2003 c.531 Section 1; 2005 c.405 Section 1]
  • Note: Section 2, chapter 531, Oregon Laws 2003, provides:
    Section 2. The amendments to ORS 811.720 by section 1 of this 2003 Act apply to accidents occurring on or after the effective date of this 2003 Act [January 1, 2004]. [2003 c.531 Section 2]