In order to obtain payment for your car accident injuries, you will likely need to prove that your accident occurred because of another party’s negligence. Obtaining a copy of your car accident report may be crucial to accomplishing this task. Information from your report may serve as evidence in your car accident case. Further, it may point to other useful forms of evidence yet to be uncovered.
There are multiple ways to obtain a copy of your police report after a car accident in Georgia. First, you may visit the Central Records Unit (CRU) of the Atlanta Police Department in person. Alternatively, you may send the CRU a request through the mail. Lastly, you may also acquire a copy of your report online through a third-party service like BuyCrash.com
In the aftermath of your collision, get help from our Atlanta car accident attorneys at Rice, Murtha & Psoras by calling (410) 694-7291.
Acquiring a Copy of Your Police Report After an Atlanta Car Accident
According to a webpage published by the Atlanta Police Department, there are multiple ways to obtain a copy of your police report after a car accident in Atlanta.
The first option is to visit the department’s CRU to pick up a copy of your police report in person. The CRU is located at 3493 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW, Atlanta, GA 30331. When requesting your report, you should be prepared to provide relevant details such as the date, time, and location of your car accident. Further, you must provide the names of the parties involved.
You may also mail a written request to the CRU for a copy of your accident report. When mailing in a written request, you must still provide the necessary details surrounding your crash. Furthermore, you will have to include a money order or a cashier’s check for the required free. As of May 2024, the fee to request a standard copy of your report through the mail is $5. Meanwhile, a certified report will cost $7.
Additionally, you may purchase a copy of your police report online by visiting the BuyCrash portal. This method will streamline the process and deliver your report to you electronically. However, the fee will be slightly more expensive. As of May 2024, the cost to request an Atlanta accident report through BuyCrash is $13.
Our experienced Atlanta truck accident attorneys can help you determine which method is right for you. Moreover, we will walk you through the process for obtaining your report and help gather any other information that may be used to support your car accident case.
Information that May Be Included in Your Police Report for a Car Accident in Atlanta, GA
There is a wide range of information that might be included in your police report. Our skilled attorneys can best determine how to utilize any of the following in your case:
Accident Details
The police report will include comprehensive details about the accident itself. This section usually covers the date, time, and location of the accident. It will specify the weather conditions, road conditions, and visibility at the time of the incident. These details help establish the context in which the accident occurred and can be crucial in determining fault.
Involved Parties
Your report will also list the names, addresses, and contact information of all drivers, passengers, and pedestrians involved in the accident. It will also include the drivers’ license numbers, vehicle registration details, and insurance information. Having this information is essential for contacting the other parties involved in your legal claim.
Witness Information
If there were any witnesses to your accident, then their statements and contact information may be included in the report. Witness statements can provide an unbiased account of the events that unfolded before, during, and after your collision. Accordingly, these statements can also be very useful when establishing fault.
Description of Damages
Also, your police report should contain a detailed description of the damage caused by your crash. This may include a description of property damage to your vehicle as well as a description of the injuries you sustained. Such descriptions may be invaluable when proving the value of your car accident claim.
Diagram of the Accident Scene
Your police report may include a diagram of the accident scene. Such a diagram will show the positions of the vehicles before and after the accident, the direction of travel, and the point of impact. In turn, the diagram will allow people to visualize the accident and determine how it occurred.
Officer’s Narrative
The officer who created your report may provide a narrative account of the accident. This section may include the officer’s observations, statements from involved parties, and any conclusions or opinions about your crash’s cause. The officer’s narrative may also include citations for any traffic violations they observed.
Additional Notes
Lastly, the report may also include other, useful comments from the responding officer. These notes may cover a range of observations, such as unusual circumstances at the scene, behavior of the involved parties, and any other relevant observations that might not fit into the standard sections of the report.
What to Do If Your Atlanta Police Report is Inaccurate
Inaccuracies or omissions in a police report are not uncommon and can significantly affect your case. Correcting these errors can be difficult once the investigating officer has submitted the report. Still, our skilled Atlanta personal injury attorneys can assist you in addressing and rectifying these mistakes.
If you are aware of inaccuracies in the report, then you may be able to have it excluded as evidence by demonstrating that the observations in the report are unreliable. Our legal team can communicate with the law enforcement agency that prepared your report and collaborate with the investigating officer to correct any mistakes before we proceed with your case. Furthermore, even if your report contains errors, we may still find ways to use it.
Call Our Law Firm for Help After Suffering a Car Accident in Atlanta
Seek support from our Atlanta motorcycle accident attorneys at Rice, Murtha & Psoras by dialing (410) 694-7291.