Georgia Crash Report Codes: How to Read Your Accident Report

Your Georgia accident report is full of numbers. This guide explains what each code on the current GDOT-523 crash report means, and why a few of them matter for your injury claim.
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Overview

What Is a Georgia Crash Report?

When a crash in Georgia causes an injury, a death or apparent property damage of $500 or more, the drivers involved must report it right away to the local police department, the county sheriff or the nearest Georgia State Patrol post (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-273). The officer who responds documents the crash on the Georgia Motor Vehicle Crash Report, a uniform form set by the Georgia Department of Transportation under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-278.

The current version of the form is GDOT-523 (07/2023). Its code key, the “GDOT-523 Overlay (02/2023)”, took effect on July 1, 2023. Instead of writing out every detail, officers enter short number codes for things like the weather, how the vehicles collided, what each driver was doing and how badly people were hurt. The tables below translate those codes into plain English.

Reports written before July 2023 used an older code sheet, and some numbers changed. If your crash happened before July 1, 2023, check the code sheet that was in effect on the crash date.

How to Get a Copy of Your Georgia Accident Report

Most Georgia crash reports can be requested in one of these ways:

Online Through BuyCrash

GDOT directs requests to BuyCrash, run by LexisNexis. You search by the last name of a driver, passenger, owner or pedestrian involved in the crash, along with details such as the crash date and the agency that wrote the report. A fee applies.

By Mail From GDOT

You can mail GDOT’s Individual Accident Report Request form. GDOT’s form lists the cost as $5 per report, plus $2 for a certified copy, paid by money order or cashier’s check. The form says to allow at least two weeks.

From the Investigating Agency

Many city police departments and sheriff’s offices also release reports directly. Under Georgia’s Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72(a)(5)), you will need to show you have a valid reason to receive the report, such as being a driver, passenger, injured person, vehicle owner, witness or insurer involved in the crash.

The manual GDOT gives officers tells agencies to submit crash reports to GDOT within three business days, so a report may not be available the day after a crash.

How to Read the Codes on Your Report

Each person and vehicle in the crash is listed as a numbered “unit.” Next to each unit, the officer fills in boxes with codes from the overlay. Start by finding your unit number, then look up the codes in each box using the tables below.

Look for the Injury Code

Every person listed gets an injury code from 0 to 4. Georgia’s numbers line up with the national KABCO scale shown in parentheses.

Check the Contributing Factors

These boxes show what the officer believed each driver did that contributed to the crash. On the 2023 form, the heading reads “Suspected Operator Contributing Factors.” It records the officer’s opinion at the scene, not a legal finding of fault.

Read the Narrative and Diagram

Codes are shorthand. The officer’s written narrative and crash diagram often explain what the codes cannot. When an officer uses an “Other” code, the manual says the narrative should explain it.

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People

Injury and Occupant Codes

Codes the officer uses for each person involved: how badly they were hurt, whether they were belted, where they sat and what happened after the crash.

Injury

Records each person’s injury severity using Georgia’s number codes, which map to the national KABCO letters shown in parentheses.

CodeMeaning
0No Apparent Injury (O)
1Fatal Injury (K)
2Suspected Serious Injury (A)
3Suspected Minor or Visible Injury (B)
4Possible Injury or Complaint (C)

Safety Equipment

The seat belt, child restraint, helmet, or other safety equipment each person was using.

CodeMeaning
0None Used
1Shoulder Belt Only Used
2Lap Belt Only Used
3Lap and Shoulder Belt Used
4Child Restraint System (Properly Used)
5Child Restraint System (Improperly Used)
6Motorcycle Helmet
7Bicycle Helmet
8Unknown
9Booster Seat (Properly Used)
10Booster Seat (Improperly Used)
11Non-Motorist Lighting
12Reflective: Clothing/Backpack/Equipment

Air Bag Function

Whether an air bag was available at each person’s seat and whether and in which direction it deployed.

CodeMeaning
0No Air Bag in this Seat
1Deployed Air Bag
2Non-Deployed Air Bag
3Deployed Side
4Deployed other Directions
5Deployed Multiple Directions
6Non-Deployed Front
7Non-Deployed Side
8Non-Deployed Other Direction
9Non-Deployed Multiple Directions
10Deployed Curtain

Ejection

Whether each occupant stayed in the vehicle, was trapped, or was thrown fully or partly out of it.

CodeMeaning
1Not Ejected
2Trapped
3Totally Ejected
4Partially Ejected
5Not Applicable

Seating Position

Where each person was seated in (or on) the vehicle, or that they were a non-motorist outside a vehicle.

CodeMeaning
1Front Seat – Left Side (Operator)
2Front Seat – Middle
3Front Seat – Right Side
4Rear Seat – Left Side
5Rear Seat – Middle
6Rear Seat – Right Side
7Other Seat – Interior
8Riding on Vehicle Exterior
9Non-Motorist – Outside of a Vehicle

Taken for Treatment

Whether an injured person was taken for medical treatment.

CodeMeaning
1Yes
2No

Extrication

Whether equipment had to be used to remove a person from the vehicle.

CodeMeaning
1Yes
2No

Operator/Pedestrian Condition

The officer’s observation of each driver’s or pedestrian’s condition, including suspected alcohol or drug influence, fatigue, or emotional state.

CodeMeaning
1Not Drinking
2Unknown
4U.I. Alcohol
5U.I. Drugs
6U.I. Alcohol & Drugs
7Physical Impairment
8Suspected Fatigued or Asleep
9Emotional (depressed, angry, disturbed, etc.)
10Suspected U.I. (Alcohol and/or Drugs)

Alcohol and/or Drug Test Given

Whether an alcohol or drug test was given to the driver/pedestrian, or refused; the test result itself is written in a separate ’Results’ box on the form rather than coded. Any test result is written in a separate “Results” box on the form.

CodeMeaning
1Yes
2No
3Refused

Test Type

The kind of alcohol or drug test that was given.

CodeMeaning
1Blood
2Breath
3Urine
4Other

Non-Motorist Maneuver

What a pedestrian, cyclist, or other non-motorist was doing just before the crash.

CodeMeaning
1Crossing, Not at Crosswalk
2Crossing at Crosswalk
3Moving With Traffic on Roadway
4Moving Against Traffic on Roadway
5Pushing or Working on Vehicle
6Other Working in Roadway
7Playing in Roadway
8Standing in Roadway
9Off Roadway
10Other
11Darting Into Traffic
12Entering/Exiting Bus
13Entering/Exiting Parked or Standing Vehicle

The crash

How the Crash Happened

How the vehicles came together, what each was doing, and what was hit first and did the most harm.

Manner of Collision

Describes how the vehicles first came together (for example, rear end or angle), or notes that the crash did not involve two motor vehicles colliding.

CodeMeaning
1Angle
2Head On
3Rear End
4Sideswipe – Same Direction
5Sideswipe – Opposite Direction
6Not a Collision With a Motor Vehicle

Vehicle Maneuver

What each vehicle was doing just before the crash (going straight, turning, stopped, changing lanes, etc.).

CodeMeaning
1Turning Left
2Turning Right
3Making U-Turn
4Stopped
5Straight
6Changing Lanes
7Backing
8Parked
9Passing
10Negotiating a Curve
11Entering/Leaving Parking
12Entering/Leaving Driveway
13PIT
14Other
15Vehicle in Tow
16Driverless Vehicle

Direction of Travel

The compass direction each vehicle was traveling before the crash.

CodeMeaning
1North
2South
3East
4West

First / Most Harmful Event: Object Not Fixed

Harmful-event codes for collisions with something that can move, such as another vehicle, a pedestrian, a cyclist, or an animal.

CodeMeaning
6Pedestrian
7Pedalcycle
8Railway Train/Street Car
9Animal
10Parked Motor Vehicle
11Motor Vehicle in Motion
13Other Object (Not Fixed)
14Deer
36Work Zone/Maintenance Equipment

First / Most Harmful Event: Fixed Object

Harmful-event codes for collisions with fixed roadside objects such as guardrails, poles, trees, or ditches.

CodeMeaning
15Impact Attenuator
16Bridge Pier/Abutment
17Bridge Parapet End
18Bridge Rail
19Guardrail Face
20Guardrail End
21Median Barrier
22Highway Traffic Sign Post
23Overhead Sign Support
24Luminaire Light Support
25Utility Pole
26Other Post
27Culvert
28Curb
29Ditch
30Embankment
31Fence
32Mailbox
33Tree
34Other-Fixed Object
37Bridge Overhead Structure
38Cable Barrier

First / Most Harmful Event: Non-Collision

The same code list is used for both the first harmful event (what first caused injury or damage) and the most harmful event (what caused the worst injury or damage); these codes cover events that are not collisions.

CodeMeaning
1Overturn
2Fire/Explosion
3Immersion
4Jackknife
5Other Non-Collision
35Cargo/Equipment Loss or Shift
39Roadway/Lane Departure – Left
40Roadway/Lane Departure – Right
41Roadway/Lane Departure – Median

Area of Initial Contact

Where on each vehicle the first impact occurred; the overlay’s text lists only these special codes (00 and 13-16), while ordinary impact points are marked on a vehicle diagram (clock positions not verified in text). Codes 1–12 mark impact points around the vehicle like the positions on a clock face, as shown on the form’s vehicle diagram.

CodeMeaning
00Overturned
13Top
14Undercarriage
15Non-Contact Vehicle
16Not Applicable – Pedestrian

Location at Area of Impact

Where the impact happened relative to the roadway (on the road, at an intersection, on the shoulder, off the road, private property, etc.).

CodeMeaning
1On Roadway – Non-Intersection
2On Shoulder
3Off Roadway
4Median
5Entrance/Exit Ramp
6Gore
7On Roadway – Roadway Intersection
8On Roadway – Roundabout
9On Roadway – Driveway Intersection
10On Roadway – Railroad Crossing
11On Roadway – Managed Lane (HOV, HOT, Reversible)
12On Roadway – Collector Distributor (CD)
13On Roadway – Bicycle Lane
14On Roadway – In Crosswalk
15Off Roadway – Sidewalk
16Private Property

Fault indicators

Contributing Factor Codes

What the officer suspected contributed to the crash. These are opinions recorded at the scene, not legal findings of fault.

Suspected Operator (Driver) Contributing Factors

The investigating officer’s opinion of what each driver (or pedestrian) did that may have contributed to the crash; the heading on the current overlay reads ’SUSPECTED OPERATOR CONTRIBUTING FACTORS’.

CodeMeaning
0Other Unit contributed to Crash
1Non-Operator Contributing Factor
2Under the Influence (U.I.)
3Following Too Close
4Failed to Yield
5Exceeding Speed Limit
6Disregard Stop Sign/Signal
7Wrong Side of Road
9Improper Passing
11Changed Lanes Improperly
12Reaction to Object or Animal
13Improper Turn
14Parked Improperly
17Misjudged Clearance
18Improper Backing
19No Signal/Improper Signal
20Driver Condition
22Too Fast for Conditions
23Improper Passing of School Bus
24Disregard Police – Traffic Control
26Other – Details in Narrative
28Inattentive or Other Distraction (Distracted)
29Texting (Distracted)
30Talking on Hands-Free Device (Distracted)
31Talking on Hand-Held Device (Distracted)
32Other Activity-Mobile Device (Distracted)
33Occupant Distraction (Distracted)
34Other Interior Distraction (Distracted)
35Other Exterior Distraction (Distracted)
36Disregard Other Traffic Control
37Reckless Driving
38Aggressive Driving
39Racing
40Disregard Police – Evasion
41Not Visible (Object, Person, or Vehicle)
42Vision Obscured
43Driver Lost Control – Speed Related
44Driver Lost Control – Impairment Related
45Driver Lost Control – Distraction Related

Roadway Contributing Factors

Conditions of the road itself (surface, shoulders, obstructions, work zones, congestion) that the officer believes contributed to the crash.

CodeMeaning
1No Contributing Factors
2Shoulder (none, low, soft, high)
3Ruts, Holes, Bumps
4Loose Material On Surface
5Water Standing
6Work Zone (construction/maintenance/utility)
7Running Water
8Other
9Backup Due to Prior Crash/Secondary Crash
10Traffic Congestion
11Road Surface Condition (wet, icy, snow, slush, etc.)
12Obstruction – Object in Roadway
13Visual Obstruction(s) – Other Along Roadway
14Visual Obstruction(s) – Vegetation Along Roadway
15Incident Response Scene
16Obstruction – Vehicle Disabled in Lane

Vehicle Contributing Factors

Mechanical problems with a vehicle (brakes, tires, lights, steering, etc.) that the officer believes contributed to the crash.

CodeMeaning
1No Contributing Factors
2Tire Failure
3Brake Failure
4Improper or Inoperative Lights/Signals
5Steering Failure
6Slick Tires
7Other
8Mirrors
9Power Train
10Suspension
11Truck Coupling/Trailer Hitch/Safety Chains
12Windows/Windshield
13Wipers

Vision Obscured By

What, if anything, blocked a driver’s view (glare, parked vehicles, vegetation, weather on the windshield).

CodeMeaning
1Not Obscured
2Headlights
3Sunlight/Glare
4Parked/Stopped Vehicle
5Trees, Bushes
6Rain, Snow, Ice on Windshield
7Other

Conditions

Road, Weather and Traffic Codes

The conditions at the time and place of the crash.

Weather

The weather at the time and place of the crash.

CodeMeaning
1Clear
2Cloudy
3Rain
4Snow
5Sleet
6Fog
7Other
8Severe Thunderstorm or Tornadic

Light Condition

The natural or artificial lighting at the crash scene when the crash happened.

CodeMeaning
1Daylight
2Dusk
3Dawn
4Dark – Lighted
5Dark – Not Lighted

Surface Condition

The condition of the road surface (dry, wet, icy, etc.) at the time of the crash.

CodeMeaning
1Dry
2Wet
3Snow
4Ice/Frost
5Other
6Mud
7Sand
8Slush
9Oil
10Water (standing or moving)

Road Character

The shape of the road where the crash happened: straight or curved, and level, on a grade, or on a hillcrest.

CodeMeaning
1Straight and Level
2Straight on Grade
3Straight on Hillcrest
4Curve and Level
5Curve on Grade
6Curve on Hillcrest

Road Composition

The material the road surface is made of.

CodeMeaning
1Concrete
2Black Top
3Tar and Gravel
4Dirt
5Gravel
6Other

Traffic Control

The type of traffic control device present at the crash location (signal, stop sign, etc.).

CodeMeaning
0Gate
1No Control Present
2Traffic Signal
3RR Signal/Sign
4Warning Sign
5Stop Sign
6No Passing Zone
7Lanes
8Other
9Flashing Lights
10Yield Sign
11Barrels, Cones and/or Construction Signage

Traffic-Way Flow

How traffic is arranged on the road (two-way with or without separation or barrier, one-way, turn lane, parking lot, private road). Code 5 spelling ’Continous’ is as extracted from the overlay.

CodeMeaning
1Two-way Traffic-way With No Physical Separation
2Two-way Traffic-way With a Physical Separation
3Two-way Traffic-way With a Physical Barrier
4One-way Traffic-way
5Continuous Turning Lane
6Parking Lot
7Private Roadway / Driveway

Work Zone

Whether the crash was in a highway work zone and whether workers were present.

CodeMeaning
0None
5Active Work Zone – Workers Present
6Inactive Work Zone – Workers Not Present

Vehicles

Vehicle Codes

The type of each vehicle, who owns or operates it, and how badly it was damaged.

Vehicle Type

The body type of each vehicle (or 0 for a pedestrian unit).

CodeMeaning
0Pedestrian
1Passenger Car
2Pickup Truck
3Truck Tractor (Bobtail)
4Tractor/Trailer
5Tractor W/Twin Trailers
6Logging Truck
7Logging Tractor/Trailer
8Single Unit Truck
9Panel Truck
10Van
11Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV)
12Vehicle With Trailer
13Bus
14Truck Towing House Trailer
15Ambulance
16Motorized Recreational Vehicle
17Motorcycle
18Moped, Scooter, or Minibike
19Pedalcycle or Bicycle
20Farm or Construction Equip.
21All Terrain Vehicle (ATV)
22Other
23Golf Cart or Go Cart
24Personal Conveyance

Vehicle Class

Who owns or operates the vehicle (private, police, school, commercial, etc.).

CodeMeaning
1Privately Owned
2Police
3Fire
4School
5Other Govt. Owned
6Military
7Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV)
8Other
9Non-Transport Emergency Services Vehicle/HERO
10Passenger Service Vehicle (Taxi)

Damage to Vehicle

The officer’s estimate of how badly each vehicle was damaged; ’disabling’ means the vehicle could not be driven away without repair.

CodeMeaning
1No Damage
2Minor Damage
3Functional Damage
4Disabling Damage

Why These Codes Matter for Your Claim

Insurance adjusters read crash reports closely. A contributing-factor code next to your name, an injury code of 0 (“No Apparent Injury”) when you were hurt, or a vehicle damage code of “Minor” can all shape how an adjuster first values your claim.

A crash report is important evidence, but it is not the final word. The officer usually did not see the crash happen, and injuries often become clear only after the scene is cleared. Fault in a Georgia injury case is ultimately decided under Georgia’s comparative fault rules, using all of the evidence, including witness statements, photos, video and vehicle data.

What If Your Georgia Crash Report Is Wrong?

Mistakes happen: a wrong insurance company, a misspelled name, the wrong unit marked at fault or an injury code that doesn’t match what happened. GDOT’s reporting manual allows agencies to file a corrected or supplemental report, marked with a box at the top right of the form and tied to the original case number.

1

Get the Report and Review Every Field

Compare the codes and narrative with what you remember, your photos and any witness information.

2

Contact the Investigating Agency

Ask the officer or the agency’s records unit how to request a correction or a supplemental report. Factual errors are easier to fix than an officer’s opinion.

3

Keep Your Own Evidence

Photos, dashcam video, witness names and medical records can show what really happened even if the report is not changed.

4

Talk to a Lawyer Before You Give a Statement

If the report blames you or leaves out your injuries, speak with an attorney before talking with the other driver’s insurer.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What does injury code 2 mean on a Georgia crash report?

Injury code 2 means “Suspected Serious Injury,” which matches the letter A on the national KABCO scale. Code 1 is a fatal injury, 3 is a suspected minor or visible injury, 4 is a possible injury or complaint of pain, and 0 means no apparent injury.

Does a contributing factor code mean I was at fault?

No. On the current Georgia form, contributing factors are labeled “suspected,” meaning they reflect the officer’s opinion at the scene. Fault in an injury claim is decided using all of the evidence under Georgia’s comparative fault law, not by the crash report alone.

How long does it take to get a Georgia accident report?

Agencies are directed to send crash reports to GDOT within three business days, and mail requests to GDOT can take at least two weeks. Timing varies by agency, so check BuyCrash or call the agency that responded to your crash.

Why does my report use different codes than an older report?

Georgia updated its crash report code sheet effective July 1, 2023. Some codes were added, removed or renumbered. For example, the old “Driver Lost Control” code was replaced with three codes for speed, impairment and distraction related loss of control.

Can I get my crash report corrected?

You can ask the investigating agency to file a corrected or supplemental report. Factual errors like names, vehicles or insurance information are the most likely to be fixed. An officer is less likely to change an opinion, but other evidence can still show what really happened.

What if my injury code says no apparent injury, but I was hurt?

Many injuries, including concussions and back and neck injuries, are not visible at the scene. The injury code reflects what the officer observed or was told at the time. Get medical care, follow your doctor’s advice and keep your records; they are the best proof of your injuries.

Talk to an Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer About Your Report

If your Georgia crash report is confusing, incomplete or blames you for a crash you didn’t cause, we can review it with you at no cost. Our Atlanta car accident lawyers help injured people across Georgia understand their reports and protect their claims. Call 888-BIG-GUNN (888-244-4866) for a free, no-obligation consultation.

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