Documents Needed After a Car Accident Death

After a fatal car accident, several institutions may ask for the same documents. Knowing what to collect, where to get it, and which institutions require certified copies can save backtracking during the worst period of your life.

The Core Documents

Police crash report. The responding agency generates this report; availability depends on the agency and whether an investigation is active. Request a copy from the local police department, county sheriff, or state highway patrol — whichever agency responded. In some states, you can order the report online through the state DMV or highway safety office. The report may be redacted under the Driver's Privacy Protection Act. You may need it for insurance claims and for an attorney if a wrongful death case is filed.

Death certificate (certified copies). Ask each institution how many certified copies it requires. Request them from the state or county vital records office or through the funeral home. Photocopies may not be accepted. If the medical examiner has not finalized toxicology, you may receive a certificate marked "Pending" first; a Supplemental Death Certificate follows when results are complete.

Letters of Administration or Letters Testamentary. Issued by the probate court, these documents prove your authority to act for the estate when probate is required. Banks may require them to release estate assets, but beneficiary-designated or jointly held assets can follow a different process, and insurance claims may be payable under policy or state-law rules. Wrongful-death standing also differs by state: many states require an estate representative, while others let designated relatives file directly. If the deceased had a will, the court may issue Letters Testamentary; if there was no will, it may issue Letters of Administration. Filing requires a petition and usually a death certificate; court fees vary, so check the probate court's current fee schedule.

The deceased's auto insurance policy. You need the full policy — not just the declarations page — to identify all available coverages: liability, PIP, MedPay, UM/UIM, comprehensive, and any umbrella policy. Call the insurer and request a complete copy of the policy in force on the date of the crash.

Medical and Forensic Documents

Medical records and bills. If the deceased was transported to a hospital and received treatment before death, request complete medical records and an itemized billing statement. These are required for MedPay claims and are used to calculate survival action damages in a wrongful death case.

Autopsy report. If the medical examiner performed a full autopsy, the written report may take longer than the examination itself. Toxicology results typically take two weeks to six months, depending on laboratory backlogs and testing complexity. The family or their attorney can ask the medical examiner's office when the report will be available. There is usually no charge for a mandatory-jurisdiction autopsy.

Toxicology results. These are included in the final autopsy report or issued separately, depending on the jurisdiction. Results arrive anywhere from two weeks to six months after the death.

Financial and Employment Documents

Life insurance policies. Locate every policy — employer-provided group life, personal term or whole life, and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D). An AD&D policy may provide a separate benefit for a covered accidental death; the amount and exclusions depend on the policy.

Employment records. Contact the deceased's employer for final pay, accrued vacation payout, pension or 401(k) beneficiary information, and employer-sponsored life insurance details. The employer's HR department handles these requests and will need a death certificate.

Tax returns. The most recent two to three years of federal and state returns help establish the deceased's earning history, which is a primary component of wrongful death economic damages.

Bank and investment account statements. Gather statements for every account. Institutions may restrict accounts that belong to the estate; joint accounts and accounts with named beneficiaries can follow different rules. Ask the institution which documents it requires.

How to Get the Police Report

The process varies by state:

• In person: Visit the responding agency's records division with photo ID and proof of your relationship to the deceased
• By mail: Send a written request with a copy of your ID, the death certificate, and a self-addressed stamped envelope
• Online: Many state highway patrols and DMVs offer online crash report ordering systems (fees range from $5 to $15)
• Through your attorney: If a wrongful death case is filed, your attorney can subpoena the full investigative file, which contains more detail than the standard crash report

If the crash is under active criminal investigation, the full file may be withheld until the case is resolved. The basic crash report (date, location, vehicles involved, citations issued) is typically available regardless.

For a printable document tracker that lists every form you need, where to get it, and which institution requires it, the After a Car Accident Death guide includes a filing system organized by timeline.