After an accident, the scene might be chaotic. Between checking on everyone for injuries and documenting your injuries, you might forget to obtain a copy of the police accident report. It is essential to know how to get a police report from an accident. This is because you will need to refer to one when making an insurance claim to recover financial compensation.
What Is a Police Accident Report?
A police accident report is a formal document that contains details about the relevant accident. Typically, the police fill out a report when they respond to the scene of an accident. A police report contains:
- The names and contact information of the involved parties
- Driver and witness statements
- Information about the accident scene
- A description of the events leading to the crash
- Catalog of evidence recovered at the scene
Tennessee law requires drivers to contact the police after an accident involving injury, death, or more than $50 in property damage. Once the police arrive, they will assist the drivers and fill out a report. The main exception to police accident reporting laws is if there is hazardous weather at the scene.
If you are not required to call the police or they do not fill out an accident report for some reason, you may still have to report on your own. Tennessee law requires drivers to file a police report within 20 days of an accident involving injury, death, or more than $1,500 in property damage. You can submit this report at the scene with the police, or you can submit one separately online.
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Obtaining a Memphis Police Accident Report
Depending on the law enforcement agencies that responded to your initial call, there are several different methods for obtaining a police accident report:
- Department of Safety and Homeland Security – The simplest method is to get a crash report online from the Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s report request portal. A report copy costs $10. You must verify you were involved in the crash and specify the reporting agency before you can access the documents.
- Via Mail – You can also request a report from the Department of Safety and Homeland Security via mail. There is a $4 fee for report requests via mail.
- Memphis Police Department – If the Memphis Police responded to your accident, you can request a copy of the police report in person, online, or via mail. The cost of a police report copy is $0.15 per page for residents and $15 for non-residents.
- Tennessee Highway Patrol – If the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) responds to your accident, you can receive a traffic accident report from a THP district office in person or by mail. A copy of a THP accident report costs $4.
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When Can I Get a Police Accident Report?
In most cases, you can obtain an accident report five to seven days after it occurred, depending on the specific reporting agency or police department. Reports from the Memphis Police Department take 48 hours to process before you can request them, and reports from the THP are available seven days after the date of the accident.
Can I Get a Police Report at the Accident Scene?
It is becoming less common for police to give accident victims a copy of the police report at crash scenes. They will likely provide you with contact information for the department where you can request a copy. The responding officer may let you take pictures of the report at the scene, but these would most likely be insufficient when filing an auto accident or personal injury claim. As such, you should always try to get an official police report either online, in person, or by mail after the accident.
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Why Would I Need an Accident Report?
The main reason to obtain a police report is if you are filing a personal injury claim. A police report is a comprehensive and official account of the accident you can present to prove your claim. The report contains an objective description of the accident and summarizes evidence that points to the at-fault driver. It will also detail the extent of any immediate injuries and property damage. When you submit an insurance claim, you will generally want to send a copy of the report. Sending a police report to the insurance company is usually not mandatory, but it can corroborate your version of events and reduce the risk of a claim denial or dispute.
Personal Injury Attorneys in Memphis, Tennessee
If you have sustained injuries in a car crash due to another’s negligence, you should get a police accident report ASAP. Accident reports are often crucial pieces of evidence in auto accident personal injury claims. A car accident attorney can obtain police reports for you when organizing a car accident claim and ensure you send comprehensive documentation.
Contact Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi online or call (901) 526-2126 to schedule a consultation with a car accident lawyer in Memphis, Tennessee.
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April 30, 2024
