How to Get a Police Report for a Car Accident in Roswell, GA

Typically, when you get into a car accident in Roswell, a police officer will respond to the accident and fill out a police report. However, if a police officer didn’t respond to your accident, you can get a police report online.

Our car accident lawyers in Roswell can help you understand how to get a police report and help you throughout the legal process. Read about how our team at John Foy & Associates can help you in your car accident case. 

Where Can I Get a Copy of the Police Report?

Police reports for Roswell car accidents are available on the Police to Citizen website. You can either file a new report if the accident hasn’t been reported or use the accident report search feature to request an existing police report. The fee for requesting a copy of the report is five dollars. 

The police report request process may take one to three business days once submitted and paid for online. You will receive the report electronically. It’s a good idea to provide your driver’s license number or other identifying information when requesting to help them locate the correct report.

Suppose the accident occurred more than 30 days ago. In that case, you may need to provide additional details like the date, location, and involved vehicle license plates for them to find the existing report in their records efficiently. Keep your receipt or confirmation number in case you need to check the status of a pending report request.

Why Police May Not Respond to a Car Accident

There are a few common reasons why police may not attend the scene of a car accident, even if it was reported. Here are a few common reasons why a police officer might not respond to your accident:

• No injuries and vehicles can move: If no one was injured and all vehicles involved are operable and can be safely driven or towed from the roadway, police may determine a report is not necessary.

• Minor property damage only: Accidents resulting in only very minor cosmetic damage like scratches or small dents, without any other issues present, may be treated as a non-emergency.
• Resources directed elsewhere: During times when police resources are stretched thin responding to other, more serious calls, a low-impact fender bender may be deemed a lower priority.
• The incident occurred long ago: If a crash is reported significantly after the fact, once parties have left the scene, police may not have enough information or evidence to investigate retroactively fully.
• Unavailable units: Rural areas or those with limited patrol coverage at certain hours may not have an officer able to respond promptly if an immediate hazard exists.

What Information is Included in the Police Report?

Police reports contain important details about the accident that can be helpful both for insurance claims and any potential legal case. Here is some of the key information typically found in an accident report:

• Date, time, and exact location of where the accident occurred
• Road conditions at the time, such as weather, visibility, road defects
• Details of the vehicles involved like make, model, year, license plate
• Driver information like name, date of birth, address and insurance info
• Description of how the accident transpired based on evidence and statements
• Diagram sketching the positioning of vehicles and any other relevant items
• Injuries reported by those involved and any medical treatment provided
• Information on traffic signs, signals, or road markings at the location
• Photos of vehicle damage, skid marks, scene overview and close-ups
• Witness statements from other motorists or bystanders
• Details on citations issued or arrests made relating to the accident
• Substance use testing results if impairments are suspected
• Officer’s assessment of factors like speed or behavior that contributed

How This Information Helps Your Car Accident Lawyer

The police report contains a wealth of valuable details about the accident. Not only does it provide an unbiased, factual account from an impartial police officer, but it also offers context surrounding your accident case. Descriptions of road conditions, vehicle positions, and roadway designs allow our Roswell car accident attorneys to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the accident.

Furthermore, witness statements and narratives from each driver help lawyers determine where liability lies. Injuries sustained by all parties are also documented through medical records, and damage is assessed through property damage reports. This helps lawyers quantify the losses suffered by their clients.

Additionally, photos included in the report supplement the written descriptions, providing a more comprehensive visual understanding of the scene. Toxicology or citation information revealed may also uncover any driving violations or impairments that contributed to the accident.

What Should I Do If I’m Having Trouble Obtaining the Report?

Our Roswell car accident attorney at John Foy & Associates has extensive experience helping clients who need support obtaining critical collision documentation. Some common problems we can help with include:

• Reports that cannot be located in the police filing system.
• Requests that are being delayed or ignored.
• Inaccuracies in the provided report that need addressing.
• Agencies refusing to release a report without a valid reason.

We know how to effectively communicate with different jurisdictions and use various legal avenues to investigate stalled requests. Our car accident attorneys in Roswell can intervene on your behalf to cut through red tape and ensure you receive a fully correct report in a timely manner.

Get Help Obtaining Your Roswell Car Accident Report 

Our car accident attorneys in Roswell at John Foy & Associates have over 20 years of experience handling car accident cases, helping injury victims like you obtain police reports and recover the compensation you qualify for. After we obtain your police report, we’ll get to work on your case. 

Contact us today to get help with your police report and start a personal injury claim against the liable parties.