Different Kinds of Accidental Death Reports

Death is tragic no matter what the cause. Deaths that are suspected to have been caused as a result of an accident must be fully documented by authorities to rule out homicide and present an official cause for the victim's demise. These findings are documented on accidental death reports, which are typically used by officials throughout the United States.

Accidental Death Reports: Law Enforcement

• When an accidental death occurs in public, in a private home or as a result of a traffic accident, law enforcement agencies including state troopers, county sheriffs' agencies and local police departments who respond to the scene are required to fill out criminal investigation reports. The reports must provide detailed information regarding the specifics of the death, including the name of the decedent, the location where the accidental death occurred and what steps were taken during the investigation process to determine that the death was in fact accidental. These reports must be completed by all officers who investigated or assisted in the investigation of the incident and typically must be completed and submitted within 24 hours of the occurrence. Once completed, they become official public records of the investigation.

Accidental Death Reports: Fire Departments

• Detailed records must be kept by responding fire departments whenever a fire occurs. When a death occurs as a result of a fire, the incident must be fully investigated by local fire investigators and arson experts to determine whether the fire was caused by accident or set intentionally. Once it has been determined that the death was a result of accidental fire, a detailed report which includes the name of the decedent and the findings of the investigation must be completed and filed within time limits as determined by state and local authorities. The reports are shared with local law enforcement officials as part of necessary criminal investigations and incident reports.

Accidental Death Reports: Hospitals

• When an accidental death occurs while the decedent is present at a hospital, the hospital must submit a detailed report, often referred to as a on-site accidental death report, regarding the nature of the death to state and county law enforcement officials. These reports must be used in in connection with incidents where the decedent received incorrect medications during treatment at the facility, suffered a fall while on the hospital grounds or died as a result of an accident that happened outside the facility, but the actual death occurred while receiving treatment or when the death occurred as a result of medical mistakes or negligent care. On-site accidental death reports are used as tools for law enforcement investigative purposes and as a means of documentation for issues relating to legal liability.

Accidental Death Reports: Coroner's Reports

• Coroner's reports are commonly used to document accidental deaths. When a person dies as a result of unknown or undetermined causes, an autopsy may be ordered to allow investigators to pin-point the exact cause of death. Coroner's reports provide specific details regarding injuries of the body, toxicology results relating to drugs or chemicals present in the blood or urine and detailed reports surrounding the incident and circumstances of the death. These findings are used by the coroner to make a determination of what caused the death so the possibility of foul play or death by natural causes can be eliminated and the finding of accidental death can be verified.