How can you obtain a copy of your car accident report
Car accident reports will include all the particulars of the mishap. However, a complete report can only be prepared when all factors which might affect your claim or verdict in case you want to press charges against the person responsible.
Details of both the vehicles, drivers, third party witnesses, a police officer investigating the case should be included in the report for your hired representative to make a strong case in your favor.
The most common car crashes include rear end collisions, vehicle accidents caused due to extreme or unpredictable weather conditions, T-bone and cross traffic accidents, clipping other vehicles while switching lanes, even your day to day fender bender are all included in the list.
There are a few steps you need to follow to get a car accident report from the relevant authorities, in this case the department of motor vehicles. A database of all the accident cases is maintained by the DMV which you can avail for your reference.
Here is how you can get a copy of your car accident report:
- Log in to the official website of the DMV and search for the tab named “Order and access motor vehicle accident reports.” A search fee of $7 is charged to access your report which can be searched using the accident case number or vehicle plate number or the driver’s license number.
- It takes 14 to 30 days from the date of the accident for the report to be available in the database. It will take 14 days if the car accident report was filed electronically and 30 days in case a physical copy of the same was submitted to the DMV. In general, car accident reports might at least take 60 days for the same to be available in the database.
- Apart from the search fee of $7, you will need to pay an additional $15 to order a copy of the report. The search fee will be charged irrespective of whether the report is available to order and the search fee is nonrefundable.
- If you do not wish to access and order your car accident report online, a copy of the same can be ordered via postal service for which a search fee of $10 is charged with the standard $15 to order a physical copy.
