Getting a police report about a car accident can be more difficult than you might think. Ideally, the report should be ready and available a few short weeks after the accident, but this is not always the case. Some reports may take longer to compile, and you may need to hold off on legal action until they are ready.
The location where you can obtain a copy of your crash report depends on which police department investigated your accident. We may need to contact the local authorities, such as the Irvington Police Department or the New Jersey State Police, depending on your specific situation. The report may contain valuable details we can use to build your case. If you file an insurance claim, there is a strong chance that the insurance company will demand a copy of the police report.
To begin your case with a free assessment from our Irvington car accident lawyers, call Agrapidis & Maroules, P.C. at (201) 777-1111.
Where to Get Copies of Police Reports After Car Accidents
The location of your accident report depends on the authorities who investigated the accident. Different police departments may have jurisdiction over different roads, streets, and highways. As such, the location of your accident may determine which police department handles the case and writes the report.
Accidents on local streets and roads likely fall under the jurisdiction of the Irvington Police Department. In such a case, we can contact the local police and ask about getting a copy of your report. If you have the name of the officer who came to the accident scene to help, our Irvington personal injury lawyers may be able to track down the report faster.
State and interstate highways tend to fall under the authority of the New Jersey State Police. If this police department responded to your accident, we should contact a local Troop and ask how to get a copy of the crash report.
The process of submitting your request and receiving the report may also vary. Today, many police departments prefer that requests be submitted online, and you may receive an electronic copy of the report. Still, sending a request by mail or even in person might also be possible.
What Information Do You Need to Request a Crash Report in Irvington?
Requesting a crash report requires specific details about the accident so that the authorities can quickly retrieve the report and confirm that you were involved. Your attorney can assist you in gathering the necessary information and submitting a request through the appropriate portal or channel.
First, we need to include your personal information so that the police can identify you and find the correct report. We likely do not require sensitive information, such as your Social Security number, but we will need your name and other basic details. We may also need to include details about the other driver involved in the accident.
We should also have details about the crash, including the location, date, and time of the collision. These details will help the authorities parse through all their reports and locate your report more efficiently. If we are missing important details, the police might have a harder time locating the report.
Why Getting Copies of the Accident Report is Important
Although the accident report might seem like just another piece of paper in a lengthy legal paper trail, it is much more than that. It is official documentation of the accident that may be useful in insurance claims, lawsuits, and possibly other legal actions.
Many accidents are covered by insurance, and injured victims often initiate the claims process shortly after the incident. In many cases, the insurance company wants a copy of the official police report from the car accident. The report lets them know that the claim is legitimate and not fraudulent. It also contains details that the insurance company will use to decide whether it believes your claims.
Depending on the accident and the extent of the authorities’ investigation, the accident report may contain details about evidence that shows how the other driver caused the collision. Since the report itself is often inadmissible hearsay, we can use it to track down the evidence uncovered by the police and have it admitted into court as evidence.
How Your Attorney Can Help You Get Copies of the Police Accident Report
Getting copies of the crash report from the police might not be easy for everyone. You might be missing important information needed to obtain the report, or the report might take longer than usual to finalize before it is ready. Either way, your attorney can help you.
Is the report taking an unusually long time to complete? Your attorney can figure out why. In cases of highly complicated or fatal accidents, the authorities may take longer to investigate. This is especially true where one of the drivers might face criminal charges. However, it is also possible that clerical errors or other problems are delaying your report, and your lawyer can reach out to the police.
Your attorney can also help you determine how necessary the report is to your case. If you only want to file an insurance claim, the insurance company may require a report. However, if the report likely does not contain any information we do not already know, your attorney might advise you that it is not necessary for something like a lawsuit.
If you do need a copy of the report, your lawyer should help you determine the best way to get it. This may involve submitting a request online, by mail, or making a phone call. Your attorney may know the fastest way to get the report.
Contact Our Irvington Car Accident Attorneys About Your Case Today
To begin your case with a free assessment from our New Jersey car accident lawyers, call Agrapidis & Maroules, P.C. at (201) 777-1111.