After The Report Is Taken
The responding officer will take the information needed for the report at the scene of the accident, you will be given a report number or other identifying information and the officer will tell you how long it does take to get a police report after an accident in their jurisdiction.
While most reports can be requested by mail, phone, or in-person and some can even be requested by email, its best to understand the policies for the officers department so you have the appropriate expectations. It generally takes a couple of days for the report to be properly submitted and filed by the officer into the departments system, however, digital technology is allowing some departments to create reports at the scene and have them available as early as the next day.
Should You File A Report For Small Accidents
Even if there is only minor damage, it is still smart to file an accident report to record the details. The damage isn’t always clear at the time of the crash, and you might notice added injury or loss at a later time.
You don’t know what the other person in the car accident will decide to do or say after you have left the scene. Filing a report means the police can help make sure the details are correct.
Review Of The Report By The Prosecutor
The written report is sent to the prosecutor, who must then decide if more investigation is necessary or if enough evidence exists to authorize prosecution based on probable cause that a crime has occurred. The evidence must also support that the person cited in the report committed the crime.
The American Bar Association notes that this should not be confused with proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, which is a heavier burden to meet and is required for conviction at trial.
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Working With Your Lawyer
If youve been involved in a car accident and need help filing your claim or fighting for the compensation you deserve, an experienced personal injury lawyer can help.
They can talk to you about your case specifics, how long it does take to get a police report after an accident, and how that report and other evidence will affect your claim. Before you sign any paperwork from an insurance company or another drivers attorney, make sure you have legal representation protecting you.
You can get a free consultation with a Philadelphia personal injury attorney whos ready to make your case their cause. Contact Anapol Weiss and start putting your life back together now.
What Will The Police Do At The Scene Of A Car Accident
The police are there to help. They will be able to provide support to the parties involved in the crash, interview witnesses, and gather all necessary information about the accident. The cops will do some or all of the following:
- Take down basic information.
- Make sure the area is secure and safe for traffic and all people involved.
- Give tickets if this is required due to violations or negligence.
- Speak to witnesses, third parties, or any other people involved.
- Evaluate the situation to help avoid scams or other issues.
- Prepare a report you can later use to file your insurance claim or use in court if needed.
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Finding The Descriptions Of Crimes For Different Penal Code Sections
Police records usually refer to penal code sections in describing crimes police are investigating.
For example, section 187 of the penal code is for homicides.
How can you find out which crimes the various sections of the state penal code stand for?
The Berkeley Police Department has a list of commonly used penal code sections and which crimes they refer to. Thats at:
At the site check the box next to Penal Code. In the search box type in the number for the penal code section youre interested in .
At the search results page, click on the first listing. That should give you the penal code section youre seeking .
Is There Anything You Can Do To Speed Up The Process
It can be hard to think straight in the event of an emergency or accident, but the best way to speed things up is to help solve the case so to speak, by which I mean give the police officer as much information as possible. Dont let anyone speak for you. Address law enforcement directly and lay down the facts. If there are any uncertainties, the investigation will be drawn out and the report wont be processed as quickly as it could be.You could also try and speed things up a bit by adamantly exclaiming to the department why you need it, any deadlines you may have in terms of filing a claim, and how the incident has and is affecting you.Another possible way of fast-tracking the police report you need is to get a lawyer on the case. Firms will tell you that a combined effort from you and your lawyer will pressure an immediate response from law enforcement however, this wont always be the outcome, and its just as likely to cause disdain as it is to hasten the process.
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How Can I Get My Police Report
Once your police report has been completed and it is ready for you, you have a few options about how you can get it. Depending on how you choose to get the police report, you may be charged a small fee. Generally, that fee ranges from $5 to $11. The most common options to get a police report include:
How To File A Police Report And Make A Claim
Just because you file a police report does not mean that you are making an insurance claim. The police report serves only as a record of the incident.
Sometimes the parties involved choose to handle the financial issues between themselves. But this is not a good idea, because it puts you at risk.
Filing the police report will provide your insurance company with an accurate account of the crash. This will allow them to represent you in anything that comes up about the accident, so you do not have to handle it by yourself.
Do not leave the scene until the police take a full report. A report will protect you if there are any legal problems that arise as a result of the crash. The police may help you submit the report to the Department of Motor Vehicles if needed.
If you are the victim of a hit-and-run accident, many insurance policies require that you file a police report within 24 hours in order to have a claim paid.
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Rules For Reporting Alberta Accidents In The Traffic Safety Act
Section 69 of the Traffic Safety Act states the duty of drivers involved in a traffic accident in Alberta :
69 Where an accident in which a vehicle is involved occurs on a highway, the driver or other person in charge of any vehicle that was directly or indirectly involved in the accident shall :
remain at the scene of the accident or, if the person has left the scene of the accident, immediately return to the scene of the accident unless otherwise directed by a peace officer, render all reasonable assistance, and produce in writing to anyone sustaining loss or injury, to any peace officer and to any witness all or such of the following information as is requested :
that persons name and address the number of that persons operators licence the name and address of the registered owner of the vehicle the licence plate number of the vehicle a financial responsibility card issued in respect of that vehicle.
Police Procedure After A Car Accident
If an accident occurs on public property in most states, you are required to notify the police department which then dispatches an officer to make a report of the incident. On private property, some states will still offer the option of a police response while others do not allow for police reports when an accident is on private property without the occurrence of a crime.
Determination of liability often centers on the information contained in the police accident report, making how long it does take to get a police report after an accident a prime concern so you can get your car fixed, medical bills paid for, and start putting your life back together.
When you call the police, the dispatcher will take some information from you immediately over the phone. Your name, location, call back number, and a brief description of the incident help emergency responders reach you faster. The dispatcher will ask a few questions to determine the level of fire or medical intervention thats immediately needed so they can better determine what services to dispatch to the scene.
Once a police officer arrives, they will immediately ensure that the situation is as safe as possible for all involved and coordinate with other responders while they begin gathering information for their report.
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Tips To Avoid Car Accidents In Alberta
As a driver, there are many things you can do to avoid being involved in an accident :
- Obey all traffic laws
- Pay attention to your surroundings at all time
- Watch out for pedestrians and cyclists
- Always check your mirrors and blind spots before changing direction
- Give plenty of space between you and other vehicles
- Never drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs
- Adjust driving to weather conditions
- Avoid driving while distracted
Following these simple tips and being dedicated to being a safe driver can reduce your odds of getting into a car accident.
Is A Police Report Necessary Even If No One Was Hurt
Lets say you did have an accident but there were no injuries involved. So does that mean getting the police report is really necessary?
The answer to this question is still yes. The police report will provide you with all the information you need to strengthen your accident claim. If your insurance company is fighting your claim and considers you at fault for the accident, this is where a report from an impartial witness will come in handy.
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If You Were Required To File A Civilian Accident Report But Failed To Do So Within 10 Days:
It is still possible to complete the form and mail it to the State DMV.
However, failure to file within the first 10 days may result in various civil and/or criminal penalties including the potential for suspension or revocation of your drivers license and/or vehicle registration.
While you should not delay in providing timely notice of an accident to law enforcement and/or the NY State DMV as required by law, it may also be in your best interest to immediately consult an experienced criminal defense lawyer to discuss the potential implications of a late filing and your rights under the law.
Can Someone Else File The Report For Me
If you have hired a personal injury lawyer, he or she should be able to handle the filing of a police report for you. Your lawyer can help you understand exactly what needs to be filed in your situation and the process for meeting any procedural requirements that might apply.
If you are not represented by an attorney, your auto insurance provider may or may not provide some limited assistance with filing a police report after an accident. However, you shouldnt assume that the insurance company is taking care of these requirements for you, nor should you depend on them without following up for confirmation of compliance. Ultimately, you are responsible for meeting your filing obligations under state law.
If you have a disability or were injured in the accident and are physically or mentally unable to complete MV-104 within 10 days of the accident, any capable passenger in your vehicle can do so on your behalf. Likewise, if you are incapacitated and you were not the owner of the vehicle you were driving, the owner may complete and submit MV-104 on your behalf.
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Locating An Incident Or Offense Report
To locate an incident or offense report, you will need:
- Victims last name
- Your report number
- The report date
Access your report online. If you have technical issues call any time at 866-495-4206, option 5.
If you do not know your incident report number, you can email us. We will look up your information and email it back to you.
What’s In A Police Report
At the scene of the car accident, if you pay close attention you may notice the investigating officer inspecting vehicles, talking to people, measuring distances, writing notes, and taking photographs. The officer is taking some or all of these steps in preparation for drafting the police report. In short, the police report is a summary of the police officer’s investigation of the accident. The report will often contain some or all of the following information:
- approximate date, time, and location of the collision
- identifying information for parties involved in the car accident, including names, addresses, phone numbers, and insurance information
- identifying information for witnesses
- statements from the parties and witnesses
- citations and/or violations of law, and
- opinions as to cause of the collision and/or a fault determination.
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What About Accidents On Private Property
The police are not able to respond to every fender bender in a parking lot or driveway.
If your vehicle is damaged in the grocery store parking lot, the police will likely not come to file a police report if there are no major injuries. That means you will need to take down the information yourself.
The information required for filing a car insurance claim that occurred on private property is very similar to the information usually included on a police report. While you might not have a police report form, be sure to include all of the same information in your personal documentation.
What Is A Car Accident Police Report
In the context of a car accident case, a police report is a written document that is usually generated at the scene of the crash, typically by the responding law enforcement officer. The police report often contains:
- details of the crash and the people/vehicles/property involved
- statements from drivers, passengers, and witnesses
- a drawn diagram of the accident , and
- in some instances, the officer’s findings or conclusions as to how or why the accident might have happened.
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How To Request Records Contained In A Major Collision File
Major Collision Bureau investigates all Motor Vehicle Collisions resulting in a fatality or serious personal injury that occur in the Region of Peel.
If you are NOTthe Involved Party to the Collision
You must provide proof of relationship to the involved party and a signed consent on behalf of the involved individual.
If the Involved Individual is Deceased
You are required to provide an authorization from the legal representative or power of attorney with supporting documents.
***Do Not Send Payment Until You Have Been Invoiced***
Contact Information
Please contact Martine Renwick, Information and Privacy Unit at or email at for additional assistance.
Contents Of A Police Report
Standard information includes details that are part of any report, such as the date, time, and location of the incident, pertinent information about all involved drivers and vehicles, and information about passengers and other witnesses.
Here, you need to make sure that police officers have the most complete information possible. For example, they should have the name, address, drivers license number, and birth date, as well as all information about the vehicle involved .
Its also important to make sure that police take complete information about passengers. Police typically dont note passenger involvement unless they were injured or killed, but passengers can often serve as vital witnesses.
Then theres the accident information. This section usually involves a series of check-the-box questions to standardize responses and ensure every possible detail is addressed.
The most important section for you is the party and witness statements, as this is where you get to tell your story. Officers compose this section based on notes taken at the accident site, so ask the responding officer to review their notes to ensure your accident statement is accurate.
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Does An Alberta Accident Report Have An Impact On Your Insurance
Filing an accident report will not necessarily increase rates. Being at-fault for the accident is what impacts your rates.
Police reports do not determine liability. Police accident reports also do not impact your insurance companys assessment of the accident. Your insurer determines fault based on the information about the accident.
Accidents With Less Than $2000 Damage But Still Are Required To Be Reported
There are certain instances where you are still need to report an accident, even if there is less than $2,000 damage :
- A crime was committed impaired driving, stolen vehicle, etc.
- There is an injury
- A vehicle is transporting dangerous goods
- The accident involves a government vehicle
- The driver is uninsured or doesnt have a license
- There is damage to private property
- The accident involved a pedestrian or cyclist
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