DataQ Filing for Crash Classification Errors

Per § 390.5, a DOT-recordable crash requires: fatality, bodily injury requiring medical treatment off-scene, OR disabling damage requiring tow-away. Crashes missing these triggers are NOT recordable. Challenge them.

Common misclassification scenarios

• Crash with no injuries but tow-away (this IS recordable; not a challenge target)
• Crash with minor injuries where first aid was given on scene only — NOT recordable
• Crash with damage but vehicles were drivable — NOT recordable (tow-away requires inability to drive)
• Crash with passenger pre-existing condition — depends on what triggered medical treatment
• Crash where parties drove away but later sought medical treatment — typically NOT recordable (treatment must be away from scene immediately)

Evidence needed

• Police report (often shows injury status, tow-away status)
• Photos of damage
• Witness statements
• Medical records (if available, can show no immediate off-scene treatment)
• Vehicle inspection results
• Insurance claim records

Filing steps

1. Go to fmcsa.dot.gov/DataQ
2. Search for the crash record
3. Challenge category: "Crash Classification"
4. Subcategory: "Not DOT-recordable"
5. Narrative explaining why crash does not meet § 390.5 triggers
6. Upload evidence

Success rate

• Documentation clearly shows no qualifying trigger: ~70%
• Officer reasonably classified given on-scene info: ~30%

Compass support

Compass Accidents module:

• Cross-references your crash records against § 390.5 criteria
• Flags potentially non-recordable crashes
• Builds the DataQ challenge with evidence package
• Tracks reversal

CFR citations

• 49 CFR § 390.5
• FMCSA DataQ User Guide

How Compass surfaces this

Searchable in Compass Ask. Runs against the carrier's actual fleet data when invoked from the relevant tracker. Read-only; no actions without explicit user approval.

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