If you were injured in an Athens car accident, you will need evidence to support your claim. Your police report is usually the best place to start.
Luckily, there are a few ways to get your police report in Athens. For the fastest turnaround, you can get your police report online from a few sources contracted by the state to provide it. This is not the only option, though, if you cannot access your report online. You can also mail your request for a report, or you can visit a police precinct near you to obtain it. Our lawyers can help if you are unsure what information you need to provide or if your report is still not available after waiting. Our team can also help you get a police report if your accident happened on the University of Georgia’s campus.
Contact Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (470) 287-3070 to get your free case assessment with our Athens car accident lawyers today.
How You Can Get a Copy of Your Police Report for an Athens, GA Car Accident
If you were injured in a car accident, you have several options to get a copy of your police report. For quick access to your report, you will likely use the online options. However, you have mailing options or can visit the police in person if you prefer those methods. Our Athens car accident attorneys can help ensure your information is accurate and explain how we can use the report to get compensation for your losses. The following will help you choose the best method to get your police report and who you should request it from:
Online Options
Obtaining your Athens police report online is not only the fastest but also the most convenient option available. Simply visit the Athens-Clarke County Police Department’s (ACCPD) website and select one of the approved vendors, and you can easily access your report.
One option is to get your report from CrashDocs.com. After clicking that option, you will just need to provide the state and department that made the report. You will then be asked to provide the report number, your last name, and the date of the accident. If you are having issues with the site, our team can help you access your report. Fortunately, CrashDocs.com reports can be easily purchased using a credit or debit card.
Your other option is to purchase your report through LexisNexis’s BuyCrash.com. The steps for getting your report here are similar to those described above for CrashDocs.com. You must provide your name and the date of the incident. You must also provide either your report number, vehicle identification number (VIN), or driver’s license number. However, you only need one of those to access your report. Reports from BuyCrash.com will cost $13 per copy.
Mailing Options
If you would prefer to get your crash report by mail, our team can help prepare your request and mail it to the office that maintains records. If your accident was investigated by the ACCPD, your requests can be mailed to the Athens’ Open Records Office at the following address:
P.O. Box 1868
Attention: Open Records Unit
Athens, GA 30603
However, if the Georgia Highway Patrol investigated your crash, you will need to mail your request to the Georgia Department of Public Safety’s records unit. These requests can be sent to the following address:
P.O. Box 1456
Attention: Open Records Unit
Atlanta, GA 30371
When mailing your requests, you will need to provide your full name, address, and a working telephone number. Also, include the names of the other parties involved in the accident and the type of records being requested. You also must detail the city or county where the accident happened, the date of the crash, and the accident report number if you know it. Our team can review your request so all the important information is included and mailed to the correct office.
In-Person Options
You can also request your Athens car accident report in person if that is a better option for you. To get a copy from the ACCPD, you can visit one of the precincts closest to you. Be ready to provide the information detailed above to get a copy of your report.
However, if your accident occurred on private property, you will need to visit the East Precinct specifically. This is actually the only way to obtain a crash report for an accident that happened on private property and will cost $24 per copy. The East Precinct can be found at 3035 Lexington Road, Athens, GA 30605.
You can also get your report in person from the Georgia Highway Patrol if they were the agency that responded to your car accident. The GHP Athens Post is located at 1505 U.S. Highway 29N, Athens, GA 30601. You can get your report by providing your accident information to the clerk during their business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you happen to live outside of Athens, you can visit a GHP post closer to you.
University of Georgia Police Reports
The University of Georgia is a sprawling campus, so it is possible the UGA Police Department investigated your crash. If so, you can get a copy of your report in person, by mail, or via email.
For in-person requests, UGAPD is located at the following address:
286 Oconee Street
Suite 100 South
Athens, GA 30602
To get your report quickly, email the UGAPD at records@police.uga.edu and provide your accident information.
How Long Before My Car Accident Police Report is Available in Athens, GA?
Unfortunately, there is no set timetable for how quickly a police report will be available. In most cases, though, police reports are available after about 14 days. Much will depend on how long it takes the investigating officer to file the report. The officer needs to ensure the report’s accuracy before submitting the report, which can cause a slight delay.
For instance, the officer must make detailed notes about the drivers and witnesses involved, as well as determine the potential causes of the accident. As such, these reports often have many pages. The report could be filed the next day if the accident was minor or could take up to a week for more serious accidents. However, your report should be available relatively fast once the officer submits it.
If you have been waiting for your report, our team can investigate the reasons for the delay and press the police to provide the report immediately.
Our Athens, GA Car Accident Attorneys Can Help You Get Your Police Report
For a free case review with our Athens personal injury attorneys, call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (470) 287-3070.