The San Jose Police Department Records Unit can provide your car accident report by mail, fax, or in person.
- You can reach them at 201 West Mission Street, San Jose, CA 95110
- They can be reached by phone at 408-277-4261
- You can visit them between the hours of 8 am to 4 pm.
Recovering from a San Jose car accident is no easy task. You may be injured, suffering financial losses, and struggling to prove the at-fault party caused your injuries. When all this happens, you need as much evidence as possible on your side.
Your car accident report may be a key part of the evidence you need, providing specific details about your accident, how it happened, and who caused it. However, you may be unsure how to get your car accident report in San Jose. If you are unsure where to turn, our Text Kevin Accident Attorneys team is here to help you navigate your car accident claim from your car accident report and beyond.
How to Request a Car Accident Report in Santa Clara County
A car accident report is the report filled out at the scene of an accident by a police officer. You cannot generally obtain this report at the scene, instead having to request it from the police department at a later date. Depending on the details of your accident, this may be more complicated.
These reports serve as objective accounts of a car accident, making them invaluable evidence in insurance or legal claims. Without one, it is far more difficult to prove the exact details of what occurred. Your San Jose accident attorney, like those of us at Text Kevin Accident Attorneys, can use the report to build the strongest possible case.
There is more than one way to request and receive your car accident report, though there are also limitations on who can view it and when. While this may seem like a trivial act, there are rules that must be obeyed that can be difficult to understand. We have compiled a handy guide so that you can better understand the ins and outs of the process, as well as what you can do with your report after receiving it.
Who Can Get a Car Accident Report?
Not just anyone is allowed to request a car accident report. Due to the potentially sensitive nature of a car accident, especially if there was a wrongful death, your report must be requested rather than this information being publicly available. Only certain parties are allowed to request your report, including:
- Those directly involved in the car accident
- The vehicles’ registered owners
- The parent of a minor involved in the wreck
- Anyone who incurred property damage due to the crash
- Anyone who could be potentially found liable
- The attorney of anyone involved
- The insurance company of anyone involved
- Anyone who suffered an injury in the crash, such as a bicyclist or pedestrian
These rules exist to protect those involved in the accident, though they are likely to slow down the process of receiving the report. When you make the request, the San Jose Police Department will need to make sure you are eligible to view the report first. This may take a little time, especially in more complicated cases.
There are certain restrictions on who can receive an accident report based on the details of the incident. For example, a hit-and-run report may require the approval of a traffic investigator before it is released. A report may also be withheld if it could endanger those involved or witnesses.
A Car Accident Report Must be Available
Before you receive your report, it must first be available for you to receive. While most details are filled out at the scene of the wreck, it may still take a few days to process and finalize, and the report will need approval before it is finalized. This could require quite a bit of extra work in more complicated accidents, meaning it may take even longer to process your accident report.
Be sure to contact the appropriate department to ensure the report is ready before requesting it. This information should be available at 408-277-4261 or by visiting this address:
201 West Mission Street
San Jose, CA 95110
Your personal injury attorney can also retrieve your report, simplifying the process greatly.
Under the California Public Records Act under Cal. Gov. Code 7923.600, submitting a request for a report without a court order will give the sheriff’s office ten days to produce the non-exempt records. Be prepared to give your name, how you relate to the accident, where and when the accident occurred, and your investigation number provided by the responding officer.
Requesting a Copy of Your San Jose Car Accident Report
If you were somehow involved in a car accident, San Jose offers a variety of methods to receive a copy of the accident report. Keeping in mind the potential limitations, you can request the report by phone, email, in person, or through the mail. You can also rely on the help of a lawyer like attorney Kevin Crockett to receive your report if you want a simpler, quicker process.
We can handle this process for you, acquiring the accident report as quickly as possible. The accident report is a vital piece of evidence and can provide crucial details about your accident that can provide the information you need for a successful case. This is why it is vital to secure the report quickly so that you are not left without this important document.
By Phone
You can request your San Jose car accident report from the San Jose Police Department Records Unit by phone at 408-277-4261. You can arrange to have the report sent to you or to come and pick it up yourself. Just be certain to call between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
By Email
You can request an accident report through the San Jose Police Department website by filling out an online form. This can be done in English as well as Spanish, with a form for each language, making this tool more accessible across languages. However, reports involving emergency vehicles, a fatality, a felony hit and run, or a juvenile subject to a criminal citation cannot be requested online.
In Person
One of the more direct ways to request your car accident report is to simply go get it yourself in person. The San Jose Police Department Records Unit is located at this address:
201 West Mission Street
San Jose, CA 95110
It is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week, giving you time to get your report.
Mail-In
You can request a report by mail as long as you include the accident report request form and a check for $16.00 to the City of San Jose. You will have to include the following information:
- Type of report
- Your name, address, birthday, and phone number
- Either the accident report or incident number
- Names of those listed in the report
- Date, location, and time of the accident
- License plate and state of registration of the vehicle
- Why you want the report
- Release forms of authorized parties
- If you are an attorney, the following: “I declare, under penalty of perjury, under the laws of the State of California, that I represent the above-named person and that the other information that I have provided on this page is true and correct.”
- Signature and date of the request
When you have done all of this, you can mail the request to the following address:
San Jose Police Department
Records Unit
201 W. Mission Street
San Jose, CA 95110
When requesting your accident report, keep in mind that you will need to present a valid government ID before you receive your car accident report. You will also need to make extra time during this process, as your request will be reviewed for eligibility.
Fees and Processing Times
Unfortunately, this is not always a fast and easy process. There will be fees and likely wait times, even after the accident report is ready for pick-up. It is also generally much easier to collect a report for an accident that happened recently, as opposed to months or years ago.
In any situation, a good option to simplify the process is to rely on the help of a car accident attorney, like us. We can handle every step of the process, helping you handle the potential hurdles between you and your accident report. If you are planning to file a car accident claim, especially after a serious injury, this may be your best option.
San Jose Accident Report Costs
According to the San Jose Police Department’s list of Public Safety Fees, a car accident report costs $16.00 per report. If you are requesting it by mail, you will have to mail a check along with the request. No matter how you make the request, though, you will have to pay the fee before you receive your report.
Accident Report Requesting Times
There is no single time frame for completing one of these forms, as various factors determine how long it takes. However, you can expect your report to be ready by 45 days after the accident, though the exact date will vary. While it may be done before the 45-day estimate, there is no guarantee, especially with a complex investigation.
While you wait, keep in mind that a number of possible roadblocks may lengthen the process. In the meantime, we can focus on gathering other evidence to support your claim. With the help of an accident attorney, you do not have to sit and waste time waiting for your finished report.
In some cases, you may be able to pay a rush fee for faster processing. This is not always an option, but if you are in a hurry, you may want to consider the option.
Our San Jose Legal Team Can Help
An accident report is important, but it is only an account of what occurred. If you or your property were damaged in the accident, or you lost a loved one, you may want to pursue compensation for the damages. Whether you are dealing with anything from extensive property damage to a traumatic brain injury, we at Text Kevin Accident Attorneys can help you pursue the compensation you need to get back on track, including the following services:
- Helping you seek your accident report
- Explaining what laws impact your case and why
- Calculating the actual value of your claim
- Negotiating with insurance companies on your behalf
- Keeping you up to date on your claim’s progress
- Representing you in court, should it be necessary.
One of the most valuable benefits we offer is peace of mind while you recover from your accident. We have countless success stories and are eager to add you to our list of satisfied clients. If you are interested in receiving the maximum possible settlement for your damages, you can trust Text Kevin to do all we can to help you.
Reach Out to Text Kevin Accident Attorneys for Legal Help Today
If you have been involved in a car accident in San Jose, Text Kevin Accident Attorneys can help you get the compensation you need for a full recovery. They can help you request your car accident report, as well as actually using the report as part of your claim. With our legal aid, you have a much better chance of receiving a fair, proper settlement from those responsible for your accident.
Even if you are partly at fault for your car accident, we may still be able to get you a proper reimbursement through a powerful defense and a clear outline of the damages you are due following the accident. Whatever your situation, reach out to us as soon as possible so we can get started on your case. We can be reached by phone or through our online contact form.
