What A Police Sketch Plan Shows
You keep hearing about a sketch plan and want to know what it actually is.
A police sketch plan is a diagram of how the vehicles in your accident are understood to have collided. It marks their positions, direction of travel and the road layout. It is sometimes called a rough sketch, or rajah kasar. It is a separate document from the written police report, though both come from the same investigation.
Many people collect the report and assume that is everything. The sketch plan is a separate paper you may still need to request.
What the sketch plan contains
The diagram marks where each vehicle was before and after impact. It shows each direction of travel, road markings, junctions or signs nearby, and sometimes a rough scale of distances. It gives a visual account that a written report cannot easily capture.
It is often paired with a key, a short list explaining the symbols and abbreviations used.
Why it matters to your claim
Where fault is disputed, the sketch plan carries weight. It is an official record made close to the time. Insurers, and a court if needed, compare it against dashcam footage, photos and witness accounts.
Who is at fault in a crash explains how this evidence fits with everything else gathered after an accident.
Getting your copy
The sketch plan is not always handed over with the report. You may need to ask for it, sometimes after the investigation has progressed. Getting your police report and sketch explains how to request both.
What a sketch plan cannot do
A sketch plan reflects what the investigating officer recorded. Like any document made by a person, it can contain an error, an unclear measurement, or a detail that differs from what you remember. It is one piece of evidence, not the final word.
What to do next
Check your sketch plan against your memory as soon as you receive it. If something looks wrong, what if the police report is wrong sets out what to do.
If the plan is being used against you, an independent lawyer can take your claim on and deal with the insurer. Send the accident date, where it happened, whether anyone was injured (yes/no) and the police report status.
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.
Common questions
What exactly is a police sketch plan?
It is a diagram prepared by the police showing how the vehicles are understood to have collided, including their positions, direction of travel, and the layout of the road at the scene. It is sometimes called a rough sketch or rajah kasar.
Is the sketch plan the same as the police report?
No, they are different documents produced from the same investigation. The report is the written account, while the sketch plan is the visual diagram. Both are usually available and both matter to a claim.
Who actually draws the sketch plan?
It is prepared by the investigating police officer, usually based on measurements and observations taken at the scene, along with information from those involved and any witnesses present.
What if the sketch plan looks inaccurate to me?
Raise it as soon as you notice, since it can be corrected or supplemented more easily while the investigation is still active. [What if the police report is wrong](/blog/what-if-the-police-report-is-wrong/) covers how to approach this.
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.