Every piece of evidence you can use to prove liability in a car accident is important. Yet some pieces of evidence are typically more useful than others, like a police officer’s crash report. When the police are called to the scene of a traffic collision, they should create a report about what they witnessed. Most officers will also mention who they think is liable for the crash, which might be done subtly by listing someone in their report as “Party 1.”
How can you get a copy of a crash report if you were in a car accident in San Jose? You should start by reaching out to the San Jose Police Department Records Unit by dialing 408-277-4261 during regular business hours. The clerk can get your information about the crash in question, such as time, date, and location. Using this info, they can retrieve any crash reports that have been filed about it and send it to you via mail.
You can also send a letter to the San Jose Police Department Records Unit to make your request and create a paper trail. The mailing address is 201 West Mission Street, San Jose, CA 95110. If you want to make your request in person, simply fill it out as best you can and bring it to the mailing address listed above.
There is a filing fee for obtaining copies of crash reports. The cost is usually around $20 per report retrieved, but it is subject to change without notice. It is recommended that you call the SJPD Records Unit and ask the clerk about the current filing fee before proceeding.
Do You Need a Lawyer to Get a Crash Report?
One of the easier ways to get a crash report without complication or stress is to leave it up to your car accident attorney. At Habbas & Associates in San Jose, our team is familiar with local police departments and law enforcement offices. All you need to do is provide us with the key details of your crash. We can then connect with the proper authorities and request a copy of the relevant crash report for you, allowing you to focus on your rest and comfort instead of the details of your case.
Call us at (888) 387-4053 or use an online contact form today if you want us to be your car accident attorneys after a crash in San Jose.
