No matter the size of a car accident, a police report should be prepared and then filed. When an accident is relatively minor, that they don’t need a police report. While it may be time consuming to wait for the police to arrive, having this report is necessary to help maximize your car accident settlement. Having it could make the difference between getting fair compensation and being outright denied.
When a car accident happens, our bodies go into shock. Because of this, it is possible that the adrenaline makes you feel like you aren’t injured. Symptoms of injuries may not appear for days or even weeks. A police report will help you document that an accident occurred, what happened, when, and how. However, if you don’t have one, the insurance company will be skeptical about your claim because you don’t have the necessary proof.
Also, your vehicle may not show any outward signs of damage, but if something turns up, you’ll want the police report to help support your claim for property damage.
Why are police reports important for a car accident?
The police report will help to document the accident by a neutral third party. This is important because car accidents happen quickly and people are usually defensive in what happened. Insurance companies will require the police report to settle the claim, and if it does go to court, it will be one of the first documents your car accident attorney asks for.
Police reports contain the following information :
• Where the accident occurred
• When it occurred
• Damage sustained to each vehicle
• Immediate apparent injuries to those involved
• Witness statements from the scene of the accident
• Driver statements from those involved
Even if you’re at fault, it is still smart to have a police report filed. You never know when you may need it. When you speak to the police, make sure you stick to facts. Don’t place blame or accept it. While a police report is important in settling your car accident claim, unless the officer was a witness to the accident, they are not admissible in court. This means even if a police report says you’re at fault, it doesn’t mean you are because the officer is not a witness.
How to File a Police Report
One of the first things you’ll do after an accident is call the police. When they arrive, they will ask you questions about what happened. Police will also interview the other driver(s) and any witnesses to the accident to try to put together what happened before, during, and after the accident. Once the report is written, they will file it with the appropriate office. Sometimes it will take up to 10 days before you can get a copy of the report, but it’s still extremely important in protecting your interests. Make sure to ask for more than one copy.
Obtaining a California Highway Patrol (CHP) Accident Report
If you’re the driver, passenger, owner of the vehicle, or parent, guardian, or heir of someone involved in an accident you can obtain the police report.
After requesting the report from the CHP you’ll need to provide the following information:
• Date, time, and location of the accident
• Names of the driver/owner of the vehicle
• Why you’re requesting the report
• Copy of driver’s license or ID card
• A signature on the Request for Report (this must be notarized if you don’t include a copy of your license or ID)
The CHP charges $10 per report up to 25 pages and up to $40 for a report over this amount.
You can request a copy of the report in person at any CHP office or via mail. If you request it by mail, include a check for the report made out to California Highway Patrol.
CHP locations in Sacramento can be found at:
601 North 7th Street
Sacramento, CA 95831
(916) 843-3000
5109 Tyler Street
Sacramento, CA 95841
(916) 348-2300
1801 9th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Obtaining a Sacramento PD or Sacramento Sherriff’s Police Report
Depending on who arrived at the scene, it may be the CHP, Sacramento PD, or Sacramento Sheriff (the PD will vary depending on what jurisdiction you’re in, Elk Grove PD Folsom PD, etc.) You will need to obtain the report from the respective office of who wrote the report.
Reports from Sacramento PD are usually available about 7-10 days after the accident. Reports are $5 and can be obtained online and by mail:
Sacramento Police Department
Attn: Records Report Request
5770 Freeport Boulevard, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95822
If requesting by mail, you will need the following information:
• The type of report – Traffic.
• A report number, if known.
• The date and location (address and/or cross-streets) of occurrence.
• The party/parties involved in the collision and their addresses, if known.
• The vehicle license number, when applicable.
• The insurance policy number if the requestor is an insurance company.
• A release from an involved party if the request is from an attorney.
• Authorizing documentation e.g., power of attorney, death certificate, or birth certificate, if the request is from an interested party other than a listed victim.
If a fatality occurred during the accident, the report could take up to 90 days.
If you need help obtaining your police report or would like someone to talk to about your case, we offer free case evaluations. We will go through your documents with you and help determine what your options are. We can be reached at (916) 619-5452.
