Explore a learning map, choose the field on your report and look up selected codes. Each explanation links to the official CHP instructions.
Aghabegian Law Group, P.C. · Glendale, California
Questions about what your accident report means?
August 2025 cover edition. Chapters 3, 4, 5 and 7: revised April 2021.
Match the field name and its printed legend on your copy. Form layouts and revisions can differ. This guide does not identify an unknown form version.
Selected CHP 555 fields and CHP 556 narrative sections. This is not a complete codebook or an interpreter for every California agency's report.
General educational information. This guide does not determine fault, insurance coverage, medical condition or case value. It does not replace advice about a particular claim. ALG is not affiliated with CHP.
These original boxes group common report fields. They contain no real crash or personal information and do not reproduce an official form layout.
Fictional entries for practicing field lookup. No fault conclusion is provided.
Read the field label first, then the entry and any related narrative. The same letter can mean different things in different fields. Select the exact field before selecting a code. This is a selected lookup, so an unlisted entry means only that it is outside this guide.
20 selected codes in the reference below. Choose a field to search.
This entry is not covered here. Read the legend printed on your report and consult the issuing agency if it remains unclear.
| Code | Meaning in this field | Direct link |
|---|---|---|
| A | Stopped in the roadway. | Link |
| B | Continuing ahead, including along a curve. | Link |
| C | Leaving the road before evasive action. | Link |
| D | Turning right, including waiting within an intersection to turn. | Link |
| E | Turning left, including waiting within an intersection to turn. | Link |
| H | Reducing speed or coming to a stop. | Link |
| J | Moving between marked lanes traveling the same direction. | Link |
| O | Parked outside a traffic lane. | Link |
| P | Joining or merging with traffic. | Link |
| S | Motorcycle lane splitting. | Link |
CHP instructions, 4-22 to 4-25 (PDF). Read about this field.
| Code | Meaning in this field | Direct link |
|---|---|---|
| A | Handheld phone distraction. | Link |
| B | Phone distraction during handsfree use. | Link |
| C | Distraction involving electronic equipment. | Link |
CHP instructions, 4-20 to 4-21 (PDF). Read about this field.
If your report uses different labels or a different code legend, consult its issuing agency. Do not translate a code using a different field's legend.
CHP 555, page 1. Look for: Local Report Number; NCIC #; Officer ID.
The case number identifies the record. NCIC identifies the reporting agency; Officer ID identifies the investigator.
Keep in mind: These are identifiers, not findings about responsibility.
CHP instructions, 3-11, 3-15 to 3-16 (PDF). Link to this explanation
CHP 555, page 1. Look for: MO./DAY/YEAR; Time (2400).
The report records the crash date and time. In 24-hour notation, 1430 means 2:30 p.m.
Keep in mind: Check the narrative for estimates or uncertainty.
CHP instructions, 3-12, 3-15 (PDF). Link to this explanation
CHP 555, page 1. Look for: Crash Occurred On; At Intersection With; Feet/Miles Of; GPS Coordinates.
Road names, directions and reference points locate the crash. A recorded location may differ from the impact location.
Keep in mind: Read any area-of-impact explanation too.
CHP instructions, 3-13 to 3-17 (PDF). Link to this explanation
CHP 555, page 1. Look for: Party; Involved Party Category.
Party numbers connect people or vehicles with entries elsewhere. Categories identify roles such as driver or bicyclist.
Keep in mind: Read the stated cause; do not infer it from numbering.
CHP instructions, 3-19 to 3-22 (PDF). Link to this explanation
CHP 555, page 1. Look for: Insurance Carrier.
This field records insurer and policy information provided for the driver.
Keep in mind: An entry alone does not confirm coverage.
CHP 555, page 1. Look for: Photographs By.
This identifies the photographer when photographs were taken.
Keep in mind: A name here does not mean images accompany your copy.
CHP instructions, 3-18 to 3-19 (PDF). Link to this explanation
CHP 555, page 2. Look for: Primary Crash Factor; PCF.
This records the officer's main-cause assessment, often with a Vehicle Code section.
Keep in mind: The decoder cannot determine legal responsibility from that entry.
CHP instructions, 4-8 to 4-10 (PDF). Link to this explanation
CHP 555, page 2. Look for: Movement Preceding Crash.
This describes vehicle movement before the crash and evasive action.
Keep in mind: The movement code is separate from the primary-factor assessment.
CHP instructions, 4-22 to 4-25 (PDF). Link to this explanation
CHP 555, page 2. Look for: Weather; Lighting; Roadway Surface; Other Associated Factor(s); Inattention.
These fields describe conditions or additional factors identified by the officer.
Keep in mind: A checked condition alone does not explain causation.
CHP instructions, 4-10 to 4-13, 4-20 to 4-22 (PDF). Link to this explanation
CHP 555, pages 1 and 3. Look for: Safety Equip.; Air Bag.
Separate legends describe restraints and air bags. Match your entry to the correct field.
Keep in mind: A code is not an engineering assessment of product safety.
CHP instructions, 5-7 to 5-8, 5-11 (PDF). Link to this explanation
CHP 555, page 3. Look for: Extent of Injury; Describe Injuries; Transported By; EMS Run Number; Taken To.
These entries describe recorded injury severity and transport details. Possible Injury includes reported symptoms without readily evident wounds.
Keep in mind: This classification does not replace medical evaluation or establish a final diagnosis.
CHP instructions, 5-5 to 5-6, 5-8 to 5-9 (PDF). Link to this explanation
CHP 555, page 2 or separate attachment. Look for: Sketch.
The sketch depicts the officer's reconstruction, including paths and impact areas.
Keep in mind: It need not be to scale.
CHP instructions, 4-16 to 4-18 (PDF). Link to this explanation
CHP 555, page 4 or separate attachment. Look for: Factual Diagram.
This documents the scene as found when the officer arrived, including relevant physical evidence. Dimensions may be scaled or approximate. Read the legend and north arrow.
Keep in mind: It serves a different purpose from the crash sketch. CHP instructions place impact areas in the sketch and narrative, not this diagram.
CHP instructions, 6-3 to 6-5 (PDF). Link to this explanation
CHP 556 or narrative attachment. Look for: Narrative; Supplemental; Statements; Opinions and Conclusions; Cause.
The narrative brings together observations, statements and the officer's conclusions. Read who supplied each statement and what supports each conclusion. A supplemental report can add, remove or correct information in an earlier report.
Keep in mind: Separate a witness's account from an officer's observation. Check whether a later supplement changes an entry before relying on the original copy.
CHP instructions, 7-4 to 7-13 (PDF). Link to this explanation
Source links checked 2026-09-25. Source verification is not an attorney review of a particular report.
https://www.aaesqlaw.com/tools/report-decoder/
A code or diagram rarely tells the whole story. Talk with our injury team about the report, the circumstances of your accident and the questions you want answered.
Your initial consultation is free, with no obligation to hire the firm.
Free initial consultation. No obligation to hire us.
There is no need to upload a report here. Start with a brief question and our team can discuss what to review next.
500 N Brand Blvd, Suite 2120
Glendale, CA 91203
Request a free consultation about understanding a collision report.
This optional contact form sends only the details you enter below to ALG. Your tool entries and downloaded worksheets are not attached or sent.