---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 20903"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "20903"
heading: "Reports not evidence in civil actions for damages"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/20903"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Rail Programs"
  - "Part A — Safety"
  - "Chapter 209 — Accidents and Incidents"
---

# §20903. Reports not evidence in civil actions for damages


No part of an accident or incident report filed by a [railroad carrier](/usc/49/20102.md?p=3) under [section 20901 of this title](/usc/49/20901.md) or made by the [Secretary](/usc/49/22401.md?p=14) of Transportation under [section 20902 of this title](/usc/49/20902.md) may be used in a civil action for damages resulting from a matter mentioned in the report.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 887.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 20903 | 45:41. | May 6, 1910, ch. 208, § 4, 36 Stat. 351. |

The words “civil action” are substituted for “suit or action” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code.