If you or someone you know is involved in a car accident, one of the first calls you should make is to the police. Even if the accident does not seem severe, the police may investigate and uncover evidence that could have serious legal implications for both drivers. You may get a copy of the police report about the crash, but you must go through the right legal channels.
Where we get a copy of the police report about your car accident may depend on which police department responded to your accident. The local authorities from the Chamblee Police Department might be involved, or the Georgia State Patrol might have investigated. Whether the accident report is ready and available depends on how long it takes the police to investigate. Once ready, we can use the report to find evidence uncovered by the police and use it in a civil claim for damages.
Get a private, free case review from our Chamblee, GA car accident attorneys by calling Rice Law at (470) 287-3070.
Where to Get a Copy of a Police Report for a Car Accident
Where we obtain copies of the police report about your car accident may depend on where your accident happened, which police department responded to the crash, and how we submit your request.
If your accident happened within Chamblee on local streets, there is a good chance that the Chamblee Police Department handled the accident. Local authorities may have provided aid, conducted investigations, and written a report detailing their findings. As such, our Chamblee, GA car accident lawyers can inquire with local authorities and where and how to get a copy of the report.
State highways and similar locations may fall under the Georgia State Patrol’s jurisdiction, and your crash report might be with the state police rather than local authorities. We can reach out to a local State Patrol Post or the Open Records Unit of the Georgia State Patrol about getting copies of the report.
When requesting a copy of the report, we need specific details about the accident so the police can pull up the correct reports. We may need your personal information, details about where the accident happened, and the names or badge numbers of the police who responded to the accident.
How Long it Takes to Get a Copy of a Police Report for a Car Accident
The time it takes to obtain a copy of the police report from your car accident depends on your specific situation. Some accident reports are ready relatively quickly, while others take longer to complete. If your report is still not available after a long time of waiting, ask your lawyer for help.
How extensive is the investigation? Accidents that involve multiple drivers and a more complex set of facts or circumstances tend to take longer to investigate. Similarly, accidents involving severe injuries or death will warrant a lengthier investigation, and reports might not be ready for quite a while.
When did you submit the request? Did you send it right after the crash, or has more time passed? If you tried to request a copy right after the accident, it might not be ready, and we might have to submit another request. Many accident reports are available a few weeks after the crash. However, some reports take longer, and you should check with the officers on the case about when your report will be available.
Why You Should Have the Police Accident Report
You might be wondering why it is so important to get a copy of the police report from your car accident. The report may be useful in a variety of legal actions, including insurance claims and civil lawsuits.
If you file a civil injury lawsuit to recover damages from the car accident, the report can help us find evidence. The report itself is usually inadmissible as evidence because it is considered hearsay. However, the report may contain details about evidence the police uncovered, and we can use this information to find admissible evidence.
The accident report may be necessary if you want to file an auto insurance claim. Since Georgia is a fault-based state when it comes to car insurance claims, we need to prove that the other driver is responsible, and the insurance company usually requires a copy of the police report.
Details Contained in a Police Car Accident Report in Chamblee, GA
The accident report may contain important information we need when trying to get financial compensation for your damages.
First, the report may contain details about how the accident occurred, including where it happened and what the police ultimately believe caused the accident. Again, the report itself is not admissible as evidence in court most of the time, but this information may shed light on what happened during the accident and what kind of evidence we need to support your case.
Second, the report may contain details about the drivers. The report may confirm who was driving and who owns the vehicles, which may be crucial information if the other driver tries to argue they were not there or that someone else was driving their car.
What Happens if I Did Not Contact the Police About My Car Accident?
If you never called the police about your accident, there likely is no report about the accident. If you called 911 following the accident, the police may have been sent to your location without you having to contact them directly. However, not every accident is severe, and drivers may choose to handle things privately rather than involve the authorities.
While you might not feel that police intervention is necessary to resolve the accident, it might lead to more problems. If you decide to file an insurance claim or take other legal action, you might not have a report, and getting compensation might be more difficult.
Speak to Our Chamblee, GA Car Accident Lawyers to Discuss Your Case
Get a private, free case review from our Chamblee, GA personal injury attorneys by calling Rice Law at (470) 287-3070.