Any documentation of your recent car accident can help your upcoming case, especially the police report. We’re prepared to help you get, analyze, and use the police report to help maximize your recovery.
Accident reports from the Anaheim police department are available online, typically within several weeks of a crash. Most police departments also provide physical copies of reports to victims who request them in person. Be prepared to give your personal information and details about the accident itself to locate the report in an online database. In addition to the victim, the negligent driver and any involved insurance companies may also get and use the police report.
Get your free case review from the Law Office of John J. Perlstein’s Anaheim car accident lawyers by calling us today at (213) 252-1070.
How Can You Get the Police Report for Your Car Accident in Anaheim?
There are a few ways to get the police report for a recent motor vehicle accident, though the most popular is downloading a digital copy online.
BuyCrash.com
Car accident reports completed by the Anaheim Police Department are uploaded to BuyCrash.com for car accident participants, their attorneys, and insurance companies to download. Refine your search by selecting the right state and jurisdiction, and be prepared to provide some of your personal information and accident details.
Online Anaheim Police Records Request
If you cannot locate your report on BuyCrash.com or are specifically seeking the report for a fatal car accident, you can submit your request through the Anaheim Police Records Request online portal.
Online or in Person from the California Highway Patrol
Officers from the California Highway Patrol might respond to collisions on Interstate 5 in Anaheim. Reports from this agency are also available for download online. The California Highway Patrol also approves records requests made in person and through the mail.
In-Person Anaheim Police Records Request
The Anaheim Police Department may also accommodate in-person requests for accident reports. The Records Bureau is responsible for records requests, and is open to the public Monday through Friday, from 8 in the morning until 5 in the evening, excluding holidays. Calling the police department ahead of time is always a good idea, just in case the report isn’t ready when you arrive.
What Do You Need to Know to Get the Police Report for Your Car Accident?
You have to give information about yourself and the accident to obtain the police report you seek.
Personal Information
When requesting a copy of a crash report, you must show your involvement in and connection to the accident. Be prepared to be asked for your first and last name, driver’s license number, mailing address, and other personal information when requesting a report in person or online.
Accident Information
Specific information about the collision helps police departments and online databases locate accident reports faster. Each police report has a corresponding report number, which you can use to track it down in person or online.
Responding Agency
You also need to know which law enforcement agency responded to the scene of your accident. The Anaheim Police Department is most likely the responding agency, unless the accident occurred on Interstate 5 in Anaheim or at another location where the California Highway Patrol responded. Crash reports from the California Highway Patrol can be requested directly through the agency’s website. Requests can also be made in person and by mail.
Car Accident Police Report FAQs Answered
Do You Have to Report All Car Accidents to the Police in Anaheim?
California mandates reporting to law enforcement for any motor vehicle accident that causes injury or death. You must also report any accident that causes more than $1,000 in property damage, which is most collisions, even relatively minor fender-benders.
What Questions Do Police Officers Ask to Complete an Accident Report?
To get all the information they need to complete the report, responding police officers might ask you what you remember about the collision, whether you are injured, and your involvement in the collision. Refrain from accepting fault or apologizing in front of the police.
How Do You Self-Report a Car Accident in Anaheim?
Not all car accidents are reported to the police immediately, typically because of underlying injuries that victims don’t notice right away. The Anaheim Police Department allows self-reporting online, and our Los Angeles car accident lawyers can help you complete and submit the online form.
How Long Until the Police Complete Your Car Accident Report?
Some police reports are ready within days, while others take several weeks to complete. Longer completion times are common after complex collisions, such as multi-vehicle, hit and run, and fatal car accidents.
How Hard is it to Read a Car Accident Report?
Reading a police report can be confusing for car accident victims unfamiliar with law enforcement’s abbreviations or how these reports are typically organized, so rely on our lawyers to explain each part and its significance to your case.
Can the Other Driver Get a Copy of the Police Report After an Accident?
The other driver involved in your recent accident, and most likely will, get a copy of the police report as well, and try to exploit inaccuracies. If we notice inaccuracies, we can alert law enforcement so the report can be amended.
Can the Insurance Companies Get a Copy of the Police Report After an Accident?
Any insurance company involved in a car accident in California may also legally request and obtain copies of crash reports. While inadmissible in lawsuits, police reports are heavily relied on by insurance companies, so their accuracy is very important.
Get Our Help After a Car Accident in Anaheim
Call the Law Office of John J. Perlstein at (213) 252-1070 for a free case assessment from our Irvine, CA car accident lawyers.