If you were involved in a car crash, getting the police report can help you build your case. Insurance companies and lawyers may even require a copy of this report.
The Hackensack Police Department’s website directs users to get a copy of the police report by going to BuyCrash, a third-party crash reporting hosting website administered by LexisNexis. If your crash happened on certain roads, you may be able to get it from the NJ State Police instead. If your accident happened in another town or across the border in New York, you could get the report from those local police instead.
For help with your car accident case, call Agrapidis & Maroules, P.C.’s Hackensack car accident attorneys at (201) 777-1111 today.
Getting a Police Report Online for a Hackensack Car Accident
The Hackensack PD’s website does not have its own forms to get a police report online. Instead, it has a link to BuyCrash.
This online service is used throughout the country for local police to host police reports online and allow users to purchase copies. Be wary of other third-party services and only use the one officially partnered with the local PD.
Getting a Police Report in Person or By Mail in Hackensack
The Hackensack PD does not list in-person or mail options for getting police reports, but the Records & Evidence Management Unit does handle these requests. You can contact them for records requests at (201) 646-7725 or at records@hackensackpd.org.
Getting Police Reports from the NJ State Police
The New Jersey State Police may have been the office to respond to your accident instead of the local police if the crash happened on certain roads, like the NJ Turnpike or the Garden State Parkway. They also have separate forms for reports for fatal or serious accidents.
Regular Report
Regular reports can be obtained for toll roads and non-toll roads from a form on their website.
Serious and Deadly Crashes
Reports for fatal or serious crashes need to be obtained through a separate form from the NJ Turnpike Authority public records request portal.
How Much Does a Police Report Cost?
BuyCrash’s prices may vary, but they are usually under $20. Through the State Police or public records searches, reports range from $5 to $13. Digital media and serious/deadly crash reports cost $20, and photos are $5 each for up to 10 photos and $3 for additional photos beyond 10.
Best Way to Get a Report
The best way to get a report is usually to have your lawyer obtain a copy for you as part of the research into your case. There is usually no reason you would need to get the report yourself, unless you are trying to handle your injury case on your own, which is not recommended.
Lawyers and insurance companies are usually authorized to get these reports for you, meaning there is nothing you need to do to get a copy on your own.
Getting a Police Report from Other Jurisdictions
If your accident happened outside of Hackensack or across the river in New York, make sure to get the police report from your crash from the police department of the officer who responded to your accident. You can contact their office or check their website for help determining how to get a report, but your New Jersey car accident lawyers can also help you obtain a copy.
FAQs for Car Accident Police Reports in Hackensack
Is a Crash Report the Same Thing as a Police Report?
When a police officer responds to your accident, they will write up a police report. These are often called crash reports because they have a lot more specific details that the officer is required to put into car crash reports, and to differentiate them from regular police reports for arrests and crimes.
Does the Hackensack PD Charge for Police Reports?
Getting records usually requires some kind of fee, at least to print the forms. The Hackensack PD also posts its police reports on BuyCrash, a third-party website that does indeed charge a fee.
Do I Get a Police Report from the State Police or the Hackensack PD?
Usually, you get the police report from whichever department responded to your accident. Sometimes accidents happen across jurisdictional lines, and it might not be clear which officer responded to your crash. Make sure to get their name and contact information so you can figure out the correct police department to get a report from.
Do I Need a Copy of the Crash Report?
It is usually helpful to have a copy of the crash report from your accident, but you do not have to get it yourself. Your lawyer or insurance company can be authorized to obtain a copy as part of their research into your case.
Our attorneys can review your report with you as part of the services we render on your claim.
Can You Use a Police Report as Evidence?
Police reports are great for finding evidence to use in your case, such as the names and contact info of witnesses we can call to the stand. However, they usually make poor direct evidence because they are made from hearsay and secondhand information.
Even in situations where the police report is admissible as evidence – which is not typical because of the rule against hearsay – calling witnesses to testify directly is usually better. However, the report can potentially be used to impeach inconsistent statements or refresh witness recollection.
How Much Does a Police Report Cost?
The NJ State Police list prices as $5 for a toll road crash report and $13 for a non-toll road crash. Serious/fatal crash reports cost $20.
They also charge for media, with video/digital media costing $20 and photos costing $5 each for prints up to 10, and $3 per print beyond 10.
BuyCrash charges a fee, usually under $20.
Open records requests are $0.05 per page plus the cost of DVDs/CDs or other materials and the cost of delivery. There may be other fees attached as well.
Call Our Hackensack Car Accident Attorneys Today
If you were hurt in a crash, call Agrapidis & Maroules, P.C.’s Hackensack personal injury attorneys at (201) 777-1111.