To request a copy of your report in person, you can go to the CHP office in your area. To request it by mail, you will need to download and complete the application form and send it along with the fee and a copy of your driver's license. This form can be printed and completed when requesting a CHP collision report, either in person at a CHP area office or by mail. Section 1806 of the California Vehicle Code (CVC) requires the DMV to record information about accidents, regardless of who was at fault, when people report accidents under the Financial Responsibility Act or if law enforcement agencies or the CHP investigate and report.
At some point in a legal car accident claim, negligence must be proven; this is when a California accident police report comes into play. The police report is often a tool that personal injury lawyers use to prove that the defendant was at fault for an accident, so that the plaintiff can obtain monetary compensation. The police report is, in many cases, a fundamental part of understanding the dynamics and responsibility in an accident. It also usually indicates what the police officer believes was the cause of the accident, including hit and run accidents.
If you were injured in a car accident in California, it's important to know your rights and talk to an experienced car accident lawyer like those at Avrek Law. For this reason, it's important that you file a police report after a car accident in California, even if you were driving without insurance. Having the information contained in a traffic accident report allows you to be sure that you won't be blamed for the mishap. Whether you suffer serious injuries or not, it's always helpful to have a police report in case of future damage resulting from the car accident or to prevent the insurance company from trying to blame you.
In some rare cases, complications can make it difficult for authorities to prepare a final report, leading to waiting periods that can extend to one or two months. In such cases, the report will only be published after approval by the Traffic Section or after 90 days have elapsed. Data associated with an accident is also important; for example, it may not be necessary to file a lawsuit if no significant injuries have occurred in an accident. Obtaining a police report (or opposing a police report) after the accident inevitably involves overcoming some bureaucratic obstacles.
There are a variety of important factors that car accident lawyers consider when determining if they should take up a case or not. Traffic collision reports may be released to authorized individuals, such as victims, victim representatives, or individuals as provided in Section 20012 of the Vehicle Code, by requesting the report online or by mail from the United States.
