Most car accident victims need help getting crash reports from law enforcement, and our attorneys are here to help with that and more. After we receive the report and review its contents, we may use it to strengthen your claim and increase your chances of achieving a full and fair recovery.
You may request a crash report by going to the Plainfield Police Department in person. Contacting records clerks may allow you to obtain a report via email, and our attorneys can help you determine if this is possible. Aim to get the accident report as soon as possible. It should be ready after five days. Reading police reports isn’t easy, so let our lawyers explain what yours says and help look for inaccuracies.
Call Agrapidis & Maroules, P.C. at (201) 777-1111 for a free case evaluation from our Plainfield car accident lawyers.
Can You Get Accident Reports in Person from the Plainfield Police Department?
You may get a copy of a car accident report by going to the Records Unit of the Plainfield Police Department Monday through Friday, from eight in the morning until four in the afternoon.
When you arrive at the police department, be prepared to identify yourself, explain your involvement in the crash, and answer any other questions so that staff can locate the report.
Some injuries prevent victims from getting accident reports in person. If you need help obtaining the crash report from law enforcement because you are still recovering at the hospital or home, please call our lawyers, and we can assist you in retrieving it.
How Do You Get Police Officers to Make a Crash Report?
The only way to eventually get a police report is by calling 911 and alerting law enforcement to the crash. Never let a negligent driver talk you out of calling the police, as that only benefits them, not you.
If you are too injured to call 911, ask eyewitnesses or the other driver to call 911 on your behalf. If the at-fault driver flees the scene, still call 911 so officers arrive and write an accident report.
You must call 911 to report an accident that ends in injury, death, or more than $500 in property damage, according to N.J.S.A. § 39:4-130. Property damage is often more expensive than it appears, and adrenaline can delay the perception of pain from an injury. Therefore, call the police, regardless of the apparent consequences.
To make sure the police report is accurate, be candid with the officers when they arrive. Tell them how the other driver was negligent and avoid accepting any fault for the crash whatsoever.
How Can You Contact the Police for an Accident Report in Plainfield?
Participants in car accidents may also contact records clerks in Plainfield by phone or email to request reports and inquire about their status, according to the Plainfield Police Department’s website.
A victim may reach out to inquire about the status of their report or to request alternative methods for obtaining it, such as via email.
We can help victims contact records clerks to obtain accident reports and all relevant documents promptly.
How Soon Should You Get a Police Report After a Car Crash?
You can get a police report soon after a car crash in Plainfield, and you should. § 39:4-131 gives police officers five days to furnish accident reports, so yours may be ready sooner than you thought.
Some accident reports are ready even sooner than five days, and we can check if yours is done earlier than anticipated. You should not wait to obtain the report. You can contact our car accident lawyers for assistance in obtaining it, especially if you need to stay in the hospital for days or weeks after a crash.
When we get accident reports as soon as possible, we can also identify inaccuracies sooner. If the information in the police report contradicts what you know happened, please tell us, and we can alert law enforcement and request that changes be made.
How Do You Read Police Reports for Car Accidents in Plainfield?
Reading police reports isn’t easy. Officers use abbreviations, specific phrases, jargon, and shorthand that victims may not recognize, especially without the help of our attorneys.
Police report forms are also confusing for other reasons. They’re broken up into many different and scattered sections, and we can review the document in detail so we don’t miss anything important.
We can read the police report with you so you understand its contents and can point out any discrepancies, such as the apparent damage to your vehicle and whether you left the scene in an ambulance.
How Important is Getting the Police Report After a Car Accident?
Getting the police report for your car accident is hugely important. Though police reports aren’t admissible evidence in New Jersey lawsuits, they can provide a wealth of information, so don’t underestimate their significance.
Without the police report, we may not be aware of all potential contributing factors. Victims do not see everything during a crash, and the report gives our lawyers more context. Police reports may include photos or other materials, which can also help.
If you were rushed to the hospital from the scene, you may not have the at-fault driver’s information. The police report identifies other parties involved in the accident and gives us their insurance information.
The police report may also identify eyewitnesses. If they testify, eyewitnesses may attest to the defendant’s negligent conduct, stating whether they observed the defendant speeding, tailgating, or engaging in other reckless behavior.
Since obtaining the police report is so important, you can call our lawyers for help getting it right after a collision in Plainfield.
Call Us About Your Car Crash in Plainfield
Call Agrapidis & Maroules, P.C. at (201) 777-1111 for help with your case from our Plainfield personal injury lawyers.