Victims often face hurdles to getting police reports after car accidents, such as being temporarily disabled because of severe injuries or having more pressing concerns, such as getting emergency surgery. We can retrieve the police report on your behalf from the Montclair Police Department as soon as it becomes available, in person or online.
If you are injured in an accident on any of the highways surrounding Montclair, the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) may respond, and we can download the report from the NJSP digital database. Once we have to report, we can read it with you and plan how best to use it to support your compensation claim.
Call Agrapidis & Maroules, P.C. for a free and confidential case assessment from our Montclair, NJ personal injury lawyers at (201) 777-1111.
Where Do You Go to Get a Police Report for a Car Accident in Montclair, NJ?
You may go to or contact the Montclair Police Department’s Records and Identification Bureau to obtain a police report for a recent car accident.
It’s a good idea to call the Records and Identification Bureau ahead of time, as you may have to file a New Jersey Open Public Records Act request to get access to the police report.
If you email or call the Records and Identification Bureau to check whether the police report is ready, you may be able to request that they email it to you, saving you the trip to the police station.
Can You Get a Police Report for an Accident in Montclair, NJ Online?
Police departments in New Jersey often make crash reports available online and for digital download.
CrashDocs.Com
You can get a police report for an accident in Montclair online from CrashDocs.com. It can take several days for reports to be completed and uploaded to this online database. There is often a small fee to download the report this way.
NJSP Portal
For highway car accidents right outside of Montclair on the Garden State Parkway, Interstate 280, and Route 3, the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) may respond. If so, you can get the police report from the NJSP’s online portal within 14 days at the latest.
What Information Do You Need to Get a Police Report?
You need basic information about yourself and the crash to get the corresponding police report, such as the following:
- Your name
- Your license plate number
- Your driver’s license number
- Report number
- Accident date
- Accident location
Officers should give you the report number before leaving the scene to make it easier for you to access the accident report in the future. If you had to leave the scene immediately to get medical attention or officers failed to give you the report number, we can help you obtain the documents you need by providing other information.
Why Should Car Accident Victims Get Police Reports?
You should get the police report for a recent auto accident so our lawyers can gain a deeper understanding about the accident, its participants, eyewitnesses, and all contributing causes.
Without this report, you might never learn eyewitnesses’ names, phone numbers, or other contact information, especially if you did not see or speak to them yourself. An eyewitness’s testimony may align with your testimony of what happened, helping us prove your case.
The police report might reveal the primary and contributing causes of a collision, helping us identify all liable parties and seek compensation accordingly. The report should also indicate if you or anyone else was injured at the scene, there the accident happened, and what the approximate damage was to each vehicle.
FAQs About Getting a Police Report After a Car Accident in Montclair, NJ
Do You Have to Call the Police to Get a Car Accident Report?
Someone must call the police to have a crash report created. If you are capable despite your injuries, call 911. If you cannot dial 911 yourself, ask the other driver or a witness to call 911 on your behalf.
How Soon After an Accident in Montclair, NJ Can You Get the Police Report?
The police report may be finished and ready for you within several business days of the accident. If you want to get the report online, it may take slightly longer to become available for download.
What if You Are Too Injured to Get the Police Report?
If you are too injured to obtain the police report, must stay in the hospital for an extended period, or otherwise cannot obtain it yourself, our lawyers can retrieve it on your behalf from the Montclair Police Department or New Jersey State Police, depending on which agency responded to the 911 call.
Can You Use a Police Report as Evidence if You Get It?
A police report may not be admissible as evidence in your lawsuit. Still, it may convince the insurance company to give a larger payout and serve as strong leverage for our lawyers during future settlement negotiations.
How Do You Read a Police Report After You Get It?
Police reports can be confusing because of the abbreviations and phrasing law enforcement officers use. Our lawyers can read the report with you so we both understand its contents.
What if the Car Accident Report is Incorrect?
If, when reviewing the police report, you see anything that’s incorrect, tell our lawyers, and we can rely that information to the Montclair Police Department.
What if You Don’t Get the Car Accident Report?
Suppose you don’t get the car accident report after a crash. In that case, you might be unable to locate eyewitnesses, fail to consider contributing causes, and have more difficulty recovering compensation in general.
We Can Help You Get a Car Accident Police Report in Montclair, NJ
Call Agrapidis & Maroules, P.C. at (201) 777-1111 for help from our Montclair, NJ car accident lawyers.