Anytime you are the victim of an accident and suffer injuries, you should get the police report for the collision. How you get the report depends on the law enforcement agency that responded to your accident: either the local police department in Garfield or the New Jersey State Police (NJSP).
You can get a police report from the Garfield Police Department by contacting its Records Bureau. The crash report should be accessible to the participants within 5 days of an accident in New Jersey. You should always obtain the police report to identify all possible contributing factors, locate eyewitnesses, and obtain more context about the accident and its aftermath.
Get your free case review from our Garfield personal injury lawyers when you call Agrapidis & Maroules, P.C. now at (201) 777-1111.
How Can You Get a Police Report for a Car Accident in Garfield?
How you get the police report for your recent collision depends on which agency responded to your 911 call. If you don’t remember the answer to that question because you were severely injured or taken straight to the hospital, our lawyers can help.
Reports from the Local Police Department
The Garfield Police Department Records Bureau handles all police report requests, including reports for auto accidents. Reports should be available after 5 days. Even if it’s been more than 5 days, it’s a good idea to call ahead to see if the Garfield Police Department has finalized the crash report and made it ready for you to retrieve.
Reports from the New Jersey State Police
The New Jersey State Police patrols Route 46, Route 21, and Interstate 80 in and around Garfield and may respond to a 911 call for an accident. All NJSP reports are available for download online within several days of a crash. The NJSP organizes crash reports by whether the accident occurred on a toll road or a non-toll road.
How Can You Get a Car Accident Police Report Upon Request in Garfield?
Law enforcement agencies want to make sure anyone requesting a copy of a car accident police report has some involvement in the collision, whether as a driver, victim, attorney, or insurance company. To successful get your report upon request, be prepared to have identifying information on hand.
That includes your driver’s license number, name, and contact information, and the date, location, and time of the accident. Knowing the report number can make locating the document much faster, but you can still get it without knowing or remembering the report number.
Why Should You Get a Police Report After a Car Accident?
There are many reasons to get a police report after an accident, as this document can provide the context we need for successful accident reconstruction or may point us to other evidence that helps us prove liability.
Find Eyewitnesses
For example, the responding officers may have spoken to eyewitnesses and recorded their information. This makes it much easier to locate eyewitnesses and obtain their statements after accidents in Garfield.
Investigate All Contributing Causes
Officers may note all likely contributing causes, which may provide other avenues for investigation, such as bad weather or road conditions. We can investigate all parties involved during a multi-vehicle accident to see who initiated the crash and is partly or wholly liable for your injuries.
Amend Inaccuracies
You should also get the police report so you know how it describes your behavior, and to ensure there aren’t inaccuracies that suggest you contributed to the accident and shouldn’t get full compensation because of New Jersey’s modified comparative fault rule.
FAQs About Getting a Police Report After a Car Accident
How Soon Can You Get the Police Report After a Car Accident?
Police reports in New Jersey must be made available within 5 days of the collision, according to N.J.S.A. § 39:4-131.
Do You Need to Know the Report Number to Get the Car Accident Report?
Officers should tell you the report number before leaving the crash site, as this makes it easier for officers to locate the report upon request in the near future. If you don’t remember the report number, you can still get the crash report with our help.
How Can You Ensure There Is a Police Report for Your Garfield Car Accident?
You can ensure there is a police report documenting your recent accidents by calling 911 immediately after any accident. If police officers don’t respond to the scene, there will be no accident report unless you self-report to law enforcement in the coming days. Self-reporting a collision is better than not reporting it at all, but it’s best to call the police right away.
What if You Need Help Getting the Police Report After a Car Accident?
We’re here to help you get a police report after a recent car accident in Garfield and can determine whether to contact the local police department or the New Jersey State Police to obtain a copy.
What if the Police Report for Your Garfield Car Accident is Wrong?
Point out any inaccuracies in the police report to our Garfield car accident lawyers, and we can bring them to law enforcement’s attention so the report can be amended and corrected.
Can You Use the Police Report for a Car Accident as Evidence?
Insurance companies consider police reports when paying claims, but they generally aren’t admissible evidence if a lawsuit goes to trial.
Who Can Get a Police Report After a Car Accident in Garfield?
Anyone involved in the car accident can get the report, including all drivers and passengers. Our lawyers can also get a report on your behalf, and insurance companies have access to these documents.
We Can Help You Get a Police Report After a Car Accident
You can have a free case discussion with our Garfield car accident lawyers by calling Agrapidis & Maroules, P.C. at (201) 777-1111.