When police officers are called to investigate collisions, they write accident reports. Getting this report should be one of your top priorities in the days or weeks following the crash. As soon as we retrieve it, we will review it and determine if it contains information that supports your case.
The Teaneck Police Department must file accident reports within five days of a crash, like all New Jersey police departments. When the report is ready, you may retrieve it online or in person. We can do this for you, too, especially if you are recovering in the hospital. Not getting a police report means a greater risk of the negligent driver using inaccurate information to their advantage. We can flag inaccurate information when reviewing the report with you and alert the police department immediately.
Discuss your case with our Teaneck, NJ car accident lawyers when you call Agrapidis & Maroules, P.C. at (201) 777-1111.
How Soon After a Car Accident in Teaneck, NJ Can You Get the Police Report?
N.J.S.A. § 39:4-131 requires police officers to send completed crash reports to the Motor Vehicle Commission within five days of an accident investigation. It should be available to you at this time or soon after, and our lawyers can contact the Teaneck Police Department if there is a significant or unexplained delay.
You may be able to obtain the car accident report even sooner if the police officers complete and file it immediately. Our New Jersey car accident lawyers prefer to receive the report as soon as possible so that we can begin reviewing it and evaluating how it may benefit your case.
The negligent driver might also obtain, read, and attempt to use the accident report to their benefit, especially if it contains inaccuracies. If we read the report with you immediately and you notice inaccuracies, we can contact the police department to correct them. This becomes more challenging over time, so don’t wait to retrieve your accident report in Teaneck.
What Ways Can You Get a Police Report for a Car Accident
You have two options for getting a police report after a car accident in Teaneck, and you can choose whichever method is most convenient for you.
In Person
The Teaneck Police Department’s Records Bureau is open Monday through Friday, between 8:30 in the morning and 4:30 in the afternoon, but closed on holidays. Victims or their attorneys can visit the customer window, located in the front lobby of the Teaneck Police Department’s headquarters, to request copies of their report.
Be prepared to provide your name and specific details about the collision so that staff can confirm your involvement.
Online
You may also get a copy of the report by going to CrashDocs.com and submitting your information. Simply indicate that you are seeking a report from the Teaneck Police Department located in New Jersey, and then input additional information asked of you to locate the report online, such as the report number, your last name, and the date of the accident.
What if You Can’t Get a Police Report Yourself After a Car Accident in Teaneck, NJ?
Many victims suffer devastating injuries that land them in the hospital for days or force them to recover at home for weeks or more. If you are unable to obtain the police report yourself after a car accident in Teaneck, seek assistance from our lawyers.
If it has been five or more days since the collision, the report should be ready, regardless of whether you can obtain it personally or not. New Jersey lets car accident participants and their lawyers obtain crash reports directly from the police. We can provide the information officers need to locate the report, whether in person or online.
You don’t have to delay getting the police report because of disabling injuries, and you can turn to us for this crucial step in preparing your compensation claim.
How to Read a Police Report After You Get It
Police reports can be very confusing for car accident victims. There are many sections containing phrasing and abbreviations that victims may be unfamiliar with, but are second nature to law enforcement. Our attorneys know how to read and analyze police car accident reports, and can help you do so after a crash in Teaneck.
The very top of the report notes the crash date, road or intersection, posted speed limit for the area, and other very specific location information. Then, there are sections for each driver’s insurance information, as well as their name, home address, driver’s license number, and vehicle details. We need all of this information to identify the at-fault driver and prepare your claim.
Police reports also contain crash diagrams that help our attorneys visualize an accident and begin reconstructing it. Officers will also describe the crash and the apparent damage, and they can testify about what they witnessed when necessary.
Tell police officers if you are hurt after an accident, and they will note this in the report as well. Don’t downplay your injuries or the other driver’s negligent conduct so that the resulting report is as accurate as possible.
What if You Don’t Get a Police Report After a Car Accident in Teaneck, NJ?
Not getting and analyzing the police report for a recent accident in Teaneck puts the victim at a disadvantage if they need compensation. If the report is inaccurate, the negligent driver might try to use it to their benefit. Or, if you don’t get the police report and also didn’t talk to eyewitnesses at the scene, you may be unable to track them down and get their statements.
Although a police report isn’t admissible evidence in a New Jersey car accident lawsuit, it’s very important for the initial stages of building your case, so always prioritize getting it.
Call Us Today to Talk About Your Teaneck, NJ Case
You can call Agrapidis & Maroules, P.C. at (201) 777-1111 for help with your case from our Teaneck, NJ personal injury lawyers.