Car accident victims and other involved parties may get a Los Angeles car accident report from the Los Angeles Police Department or California Highway Patrol. Once you gather your fees and fill out a request form, you can visit in person at 100 West 1st Street in Los Angeles, call (213) 486-8130, email the station, or even order your report online.
In the wake of a Los Angeles car accident, you may face significant injuries, devastating financial losses, and emotional trauma that follows you for years. To help with your recovery, you may need to file an insurance claim or a lawsuit, and one of the first pieces of evidence you can gather for this is your car accident report. However, you may be unsure how to get your car accident report in Los Angeles.
At Crockett Law Group, we strive to help Los Angeles car accident victims get the compensation they need through their personal injury lawsuits. If you have suffered a severe car accident and need guidance, we have the tools to guide you through the process of requesting your car accident report, using that car accident report, and holding the at-fault party accountable for your injuries. To get your car accident report, all you have to do is reach out.
Determining Where to Request Your Traffic Collision Report
When navigating a car accident report or traffic collision report (TCR), your first step is to determine where your report will be located. You will need to speak with the police department responsible for reporting your accident, which can depend on the jurisdiction where you were injured. Once you have determined this, you can then request your traffic accident report.
Typically, for accidents in Los Angeles, your accident report will be handled by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). The Los Angeles Police Department handles the majority of traffic accidents that happen within the city as well as across the county. We can help you determine whether the LAPD is responsible for filing your report by reviewing the location and report number on your paperwork.
However, in certain situations, your case may be handled by the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The CHP has jurisdiction over any accidents that happen on state roads. If you were injured in these areas, you may have some different rules for your case.
Before you request a car accident report, you first need to file yours. According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, you must file an SR-1 report in any accidents where more than $1,000 in property damage is done, someone is injured, or there has been a wrongful death.
Car Accident Reports Are Only Released To Certain Parties
When a Los Angeles car accident happens, you or others may have suffered catastrophic injuries or even fatalities. When you have suffered physical damage such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, or burns, you may need access to your accident report to seek compensation, but these reports are not free to the public. In fact, California limits the people eligible to request a report to those involved in the accident, such as the following:
- Drivers involved in the accident
- Passengers in the crash
- Bystanders who have suffered bodily injury because of the accident
- Bystanders who suffered property damage in the crash
- Insurance companies of the involved parties
- Attorneys representing anyone involved in the crash
- Parents, if one of the parties was a minor
- Employers, if one of the parties was acting in the scope of their employment
Note that not all parties who are eligible to request a report were actually present at the accident. Involvement may be indirect, but insurance companies, attorneys, and other groups may be involved through representation of the injured parties or because of indirect liability for your accident. Talk to us if you need help determining whether you have the opportunity to pursue a report.
Your Collision Report May Take Time to Be Released
Remember that your traffic accident report will typically not be done and ready immediately. These reports have to be reviewed through a specific process, which can take days before your claim is ready. That means you may have to wait a few extra days before you request your report.
In some cases, your claim may be ready in a prompt time frame. However, for online reports, it can take at least forty-five days before your claim is available. This is because it can take significant time before the report is approved for online publication.
If you are unable to obtain your report right away, We can still pursue other action for your claim to help you recover from the suffering you have experienced. That includes helping you contact and report your claim with the insurance company, determining the severity of your injuries, and beginning the process of identifying the at-fault party. While your accident report may have significant information regarding who is at fault for your accident, we can still begin investigating and gathering evidence for your case.
Your Next Steps to Requesting Your Accident Report
Once you have determined that your car accident report is ready for retrieval, you can begin requesting a copy of your car accident report. That begins by filling out the Traffic Collision Report Request Form, which helps the records department determine which case you are looking for and ensure that you are eligible to receive this report. Once you have the appropriate information, you will need to choose the right contact method and request for you.
Requests via Phone Call
When seeking information about your car accident report in Los Angeles, you may first want to call and speak with them about scheduling an appointment or how best to pick up your copy of the report. The LAPD can be reached by calling (213) 486-8130. When you call, they can direct you to the next steps for your request.
Requests via Email or Internet
Much like your phone call, you can also email the police department. By reaching out to contact.lapdonline@gmail.com, you can connect with police department staff and get in touch about your claim. That can help you take the next steps to retrieving your report.
You can also seek out your accident report online through LexisNexis. This online portal provides online crash reports you can access without ever going to the police department. Keep in mind, however, that you may need to pay a $10 convenience fee as well before you receive your report.
You Can Make Your Request in Person
If you would like to speak directly to the police, you can go to the police department during their business hours. The department is located at:
100 West 1st Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Be sure to bring a government-issued photo ID as well as the car accident information and your fees.
You Can Mail in Your Request
The Los Angeles Police Department Also allows mail-in car accident report requests at:
Los Angeles Police Department
Records and Identification Division
Document Processing Unit
P.O. Box 30158
Los Angeles, CA 90030
Please include your fee via check or money order, not cash. You will also need to include any documentation, including the report request form.
Car Accident Report Fees and Processing Times Can Impact Your Timeline
Getting a copy of your car accident report is not an immediate process. You may have to wait for the report to be finalized, and certain obstacles may stand in the way of that. Below are some of the specifics you can expect When seeking a car accident report.
You May Have Fees for Your Report
Keep in mind that you may also need to pay fees to get copies of your car accident report. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, you may be charged a $25 fee for a collision report. If you have multiple copies, you may be charged nothing for the first ten pages and thirteen cents per page for the eleventh page on.
Other options for getting your police report will vary depending on the method you choose for your process. For example, if you request a report to the United States mail, you will need to pay via an $11 check or money order to the LAPD. You may also have a $10 convenience fee if you choose to obtain your car accident report online. Your car accident report online.
Processing Times Can Vary
In the wake of a car accident, keep in mind that your report may not be ready right away. You may have to wait several days before this report is ready, as it must be reviewed, finalized, and approved before release. That means you may have to wait for at least forty-five days, according to the LAPD, before your report is available.
Keep in mind that certain other factors may impact the speed at which your report is ready. For example, if you were injured on a weekend with heavy traffic and multiple other injury incidents, you may have a more significant wait time ahead of you compared to other situations. However, the Los Angeles Police Department is focused on helping you get your report in a timely manner.
You also do not have to wait without taking action while you seek out your report. In fact, our team is prepared to take other action while we wait for your report, including gathering other evidence, speaking to witnesses, and reporting your accident to the insurance companies. We can help you take advantage of this wait time to stay active in the pursuit of your compensation.
If your car accident report is taking some time to be filed, do not panic. Under California Civil Code 335.1, you have two years to file your claim, and we are here to help you ensure you meet those time limits.
Our Attorneys Have the Tools and Support You Need
In some cases, you may have difficulties handling the many delays, fees, and options when requesting a car accident report. Fortunately, having someone like attorney Kevin Crockett on your side, along with the rest of our team, can help you take action at this step and beyond. Below are just a few of the other steps we can take for our clients:
- Request an accident report on your behalf
- Use that report to build a strong defense of your claim
- Negotiate with the insurance company
- Ensure you have completed all appropriate paperwork for your claim
- Help you file a lawsuit
- Represent you in the courtroom
- Calculate the full value of the damages you have suffered
No matter where you are in your car accident claim, we can provide the tools and resources necessary to pursue the compensation you need to recover from the complex, severe injuries you may have suffered. We provide our clients with comprehensive legal services so you can get the help you need to navigate these complex situations. We even start with a free consultation, so you know what to expect from our services.
If you are curious about what past clients have had to say about our services, do not hesitate to check out our testimonials page. We provide quotes from our past clients describing their satisfaction with attorney Kevin Crockett and the rest of our team.
Reach Out for a Car Accident Attorney When You Are Ready to Get Your Report
In the wake of a Los Angeles car accident, you may be unsure how to get your car accident report in Los Angeles, let alone the many other steps that need to be taken to get compensation. You may feel overwhelmed and alone throughout this process, making it more difficult to secure that compensation. Fortunately, we are here to help you handle your claim with the help of a car accident lawyer.
At Crockett Law Group, we strive to make the car accident claim process easier for you. We start with free consultations, which allow us to discuss your options to request a car accident report before moving on to the other steps needed to secure your compensation. When you are ready for your comprehensive case evaluation, call or complete our online contact form.
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