To get a police report for a car accident, you must first notify the police about the incident. Police officers will typically appear at the scene of the collision, collect information about your accident, and put together a report you can retrieve in the days that follow. If you want help getting this report, consult with a car accident lawyer.
MartinWren, P.C. has lawyers on staff who are members of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and American Association for Justice. Let a Charlottesville car accident lawyer from our team help you with your personal injury case. Contact us today to get started.
How to Get a Police Report for a Car Accident in Virginia
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) can provide you with your report. You can request a police crash report from the DMV in person, via fax, or through the mail.
This report is available to any of the following individuals involved in the accident:
- Driver
- Passenger
- Anyone who was injured
- Vehicle owner
- Owner of property involved in the accident
- Personal representative of anyone involved
- Attorney representing those involved
- Parent or legal guardian of a minor involved
- Authorized representative from an insurance company
It costs $8 per crash report requested. Once you have your report, examine it in detail. This report will detail your accident and, ultimately, could help you build a case against a liable party.
For a legal consultation with a personal injury lawyer, call 434-817-3100
What a Police Report for a Car Accident Includes
A car accident police report can be exceedingly valuable if you decide to file a personal injury lawsuit against a liable party. Police commit time and resources to prepare a detailed report, which includes information from you and others involved in your accident. Here is some of the information you will find in your report:
Information About Your Accident and Those Involved in It
At the top of your report, you will see the date, time, and location of your accident. Next, police officers include information about the drivers, passengers, and vehicles involved. They also provide supplemental information, such as the weather conditions at the time of your accident.
Accident Diagram and Description
Police officers will prepare a diagram that provides a visual relating to your accident. They include a description of the diagram. These help show exactly what happened and the damage that occurred during the incident.
Witness Accounts and Injury Information
If people see your accident happen, they can speak to the police. From here, information from these individuals will be included in your report. Along with this, police officers will add information about injuries you or others suffered.
Virginia police officers are required to forward their report to the DMV within 24 hours of completing their investigation. You have access to this report for up to three years from the date of your accident.
If you get a police report for your car accident and notice inaccuracies, a Charlottesville personal injury lawyer can help you address these issues.
What to Do if You Receive a Police Report for an Auto Accident that Is Inaccurate
Unfortunately, police officers may inadvertently make a mistake in the report they put together relating to your auto accident. In these situations, it helps to have an attorney at your side. Your lawyer can contact the police on your behalf to correct inaccuracies.
Generally, it is easy to fix a factual error in a report. For example, you are involved in an accident with a rideshare driver, and the police have the incorrect make and model of the other driver’s vehicle. A lawyer who has experience with cases involving rideshare accidents can notify the police about this issue, and they may correct the problem immediately.
Alternatively, you may dispute facts that police officers include in your report. If this is the case, work with the team at MartinWren, P.C., and we can help you provide evidence to show that these errors need to be corrected. Reach out to us for more information about how we can assist you with your car accident case.
Why You Need to Get a Police Report for Your Car Accident
A police report provides key evidence in a personal injury lawsuit. For instance, you are involved in a car accident that leaves you with a brain injury. A Charlottesville brain injury lawyer can use your report in conjunction with medical records and other proof to craft an argument against the liable motorist.
Your report may help you with an insurance claim. If you notify your insurer about your car accident, the company may request a report. Yet, if you choose not to tell the police about your accident and file a report, your insurer or the liable party’s insurance company may deny your claim.
Having a report can boost your chances of collecting maximum damages from an at-fault party. The report comes from a credible source, which can strengthen your argument against the party responsible for your accident. It may even compel the liable party to offer a fair settlement.
What to Do After You Get a Car Accident Police Report
Read through your report with your lawyer. If you notice any inaccuracies, let your attorney know. Your lawyer can share these inaccuracies with the police and provide evidence to explain why they should be corrected.
Work with your attorney to find ways to use your report to enhance your case against a liable party. Your lawyer may share your report with your insurance company. This may allow you to recover damages from the liable motorist’s insurer to cover your accident-related losses.
If you want to file a lawsuit and utilize your police report as evidence in your case against a liable party, submit your claim promptly. Per Code of Virginia § 8.01-243, you may have up to two years from the date of your auto accident to sue an at-fault party.
our claim might also be subject to notice periods that require you to provide notice of the incident and other details or else lose the right to bring a claim. Once these windows close, you may have to cover your accident-related losses by yourself.
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Review Your Police Report with a Car Accident Lawyer
The team at MartinWren, P.C. has plenty of experience with auto accident cases. We can guide you through the process of getting a police report for a car accident and help you request damages from any at-fault parties. Schedule a free case consultation.
Call 434-817-3100 or complete a Case Evaluation form
