How To Get Your Car Accident Report in Santa Ana

Car Accident Reports Are Not Available Right Away

As you tackle your accident claim, keep in mind that these reports may take time to produce. That means that, in some cases, your collision report may not be the first piece of evidence you seek. That is because your report can take several days to complete.

Following your collision, investigators and other officials will need to complete an analysis of the crash, and the responding deputy must finalize the report. Your report is processed and transferred to the records bureau at that point.

Because of the many steps to ensure that your traffic accident report is as accurate and useful as possible can take several days or even weeks to finalize this report. A report can take around 10 days to be available in Santa Ana. Fortunately, after this point, you can request your traffic report and get the help you need.

Your Options to Request an Accident Report in Santa Ana

When pursuing a copy of your Santa Ana car accident report, be sure that you have the right materials and information to pursue this report. First, you must be the person who filed the report or someone who was directly involved in the accident. You must also be able to present a valid picture ID, and you will need to pay any related fees.

However, the specific details of how to get your own copy of that police report can vary. Even the fees you may pay will depend on the specific method you choose to get a copy of your police report. Keep in mind that you have multiple avenues to pursue a car accident report, such as below.

Phone Requests

One of the most common ways to get a copy of your police report is to call. The Santa Ana Police Department Records Division can be reached at 714-245-8600 to learn more about our services and what you can expect when you make a report request.

If the Orange County Sheriff’s Department oversaw your case, you may need to contact their records unit at 714-834-6454 to confirm whether they have your report ready and what next steps you can take to make a report request. This unit can provide the information you need and can help you navigate the request process. Remember that phone lines for this department are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Email Report Requests

For those whose cases are handled by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, you may be able to save time and effort by filing an electronic version of the real quest authorization for release of case information form via email. If you choose to make a report request by email, you will need to download and complete this form, save it to your computer, and attach that document to an email to the sheriff’s department. You can then email that form to reportrequest@ocsheriff.gov.

In-Person Accident Report Requests

In some cases, you may instead wish to speak to another person directly, process your payment in person, and provide your photo ID at the records division itself. To do so in person, you can always visit the records division in Santa Ana, which is open between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. This department is located here:

320 North Flower Street

Santa Ana, CA 92703

Mail-In Car Accident Report Requests

If you would prefer to make your report request through the mail, you can print out the correct forms, make copies of your ID, and send your fee by mail. To do so, you can send your request to:

PO Box 449

Santa Ana, CA 92702

Allow a few extra days for your mail to be processed and delivered to the sheriff’s Department.

You can also send your request via fax. In these cases, you will send the appropriate information to 714-834-5466. Once your request is received, the police department will handle your request accordingly.

It Can Take Time to Process Your Police Report

While many parties may need a copy of the car accident report for your Santa Ana crash, these reports are not available for free and may not be available immediately. While this means that we can spend more time focusing on other evidence in the meantime, knowing what to expect is important to taking action on your claim. Below are a few details you need to know as you pursue a car accident report.

You May Need to Pay for Your Police Report

When pursuing a Santa Ana car accident report, keep in mind that you may have fees to pay before you are given your report. In Santa Ana, each report is $0.15 per page, so the specific value of your report will depend on its length. Once you pay this amount, you will be given your report.

Keep in mind that the specific method of delivery can impact the cost of your report. For example, while requesting a crash report online may be more convenient, you will be charged a $10 convenience fee. This can be done through the LexisNexis portal.

Remember to save any receipts for the cost of your car accident report and other related expenses. Because these expenses were a direct result of your accident, you may be compensated for these costs, providing you reimbursement for any related expenses following your accident. We can help maximize the value of your claim from seemingly small expenses like this to larger expenses for catastrophic injuries like brain trauma, spinal cord damage, and burns.

Car Accident Report Request Processing Times

Remember that your report will not be available right away. On average, it can take 7 to 10 days to complete the finalization process for your report, including finalization by the deputy, approval by the Sergeant, and submission to the information management bureau for processing. If your case was handled by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, you may need to wait 45 days, and other issues can lead to delays.

For example, this typically refers to business days. That means that if your accident happened near a holiday, it may take longer to process your records. Likewise, holidays involving higher traffic can lead to more accidents, leading to a larger workload through the records division.