In Chicago, you can download your official police traffic crash report (Illinois Form SR-1050) online for $6 through the Chicago Police Department (CPD) portal within 3 to 7 business days of the collision. However, if your crash occurred on a Chicago expressway (I-90/94 Dan Ryan, Kennedy, Edens, I-290 Eisenhower, or I-55 Stevenson), your report is held by the Illinois State Police (ISP), not CPD.
Chicago Crash Report Quick Reference
| Investigating Agency | Jurisdiction | Cost | Portal / Office Address | Turnaround Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Police (Online) | City streets & Lake Shore Dr (US-41) | $6 | crash.chicagopolice.org | 3–7 business days |
| Chicago Police (In Person) | City streets & Lake Shore Dr (US-41) | $6 (Cash/MO) | 3510 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60653 | 3–7 business days |
| Illinois State Police (ISP) | Expressways (I-90, I-94, I-290, I-55) | $5 (+agency fee) | isp.illinois.gov/CrashReports | 5–10 business days |
| Cook County Sheriff | Unincorporated Cook County | $5 | LexisNexis BuyCrash | 5–7 business days |
Step 1: Retrieve Your Report via CPD or ISP
- CPD Online Portal ($6): Visit crash.chicagopolice.org and search using your 8-character CPD RD Number (Records Division Number, formatted as two letters followed by six digits, e.g.,
JJ123456), or search by crash date and driver's last name. - CPD In Person ($6): Visit CPD Records Customer Service at 3510 S. Michigan Ave., 1st Floor (Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.; Phone: 312-745-6117). Bring photo ID and cash or money order.
- Expressway Crashes (ISP District Chicago): All interstate expressways inside Chicago city limits are patrolled by ISP Troop 3 (formerly District Chicago). Order expressway reports at isp.illinois.gov/CrashReports. (Note: DuSable Lake Shore Drive is a city boulevard/US highway patrolled by CPD, so Lake Shore Drive reports are in the CPD portal).
Step 2: How to Read Your Illinois Form SR-1050
Chicago officers use the statewide Illinois Traffic Crash Report (Form SR-1050). Insurance adjusters look immediately at three fields:
- Unit 1 vs. Unit 2 Assignment: On the CPD SR-1050, Unit 1 is almost always designated as the "at-fault" or primary striking vehicle by the reporting officer.
- Primary & Secondary Contributory Causes (Boxes 24 & 25): Officers enter 2-digit codes from the IDOT template—such as Code
02(Failed to Yield Right-of-Way), Code04(Following Too Closely), Code08(Improper Lane Usage), or Code24(Distraction - From Inside Vehicle). - Illinois's 51% Modified Comparative Negligence Rule (735 ILCS 5/2-1116): In Illinois, your settlement is reduced by your fault share, and if the contributory cause codes push your fault past 50%, you are legally barred from recovering any compensation.
Step 3: Desk Reports & Illinois Reporting Rules
- Did Illinois Eliminate the 10-Day IDOT Civilian Report? Yes—Illinois repealed the old civilian motorist report to IDOT, however, under 625 ILCS 5/11-407, if no police officer responded to the scene of a crash involving injury or over $1,500 in damage ($500 if any driver is uninsured), you must notify police within 10 days.
- Filing a CPD Desk Report: If CPD did not dispatch a squad car to the scene because the cars were drivable, you must go in person to the nearest CPD District Station with your driver's license, vehicle registration, and insurance card to file a walk-in Desk Crash Report so an RD Number is generated for your insurance claim.
Assigned as "Unit 1" with an unfair Contributory Cause code on your Chicago SR-1050? Get a free legal review at submitaccident.report.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I tell if my number is a CPD Event Number or an RD Number?
A 10-digit number starting with the year creates a 911 dispatch Event Number, which will not pull up a crash report. Your official RD Number always starts with two letters followed by six numbers (e.g., JK123456). Call 312-745-6117 with the date and intersection if you only have the Event Number.
Can I get Chicago red-light or speed camera video of my intersection crash?
Yes, but the City of Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) and OEMC overwrite intersection camera footage quickly—often within 7 to 15 days. You or an attorney must submit an immediate Illinois FOIA request specifying the exact intersection and 15-minute window.