Many people who get into a car accident in Alabama will need to report it to law enforcement. Once an officer has investigated the scene of an accident and interviewed witnesses, they will make a report detailing important information regarding the accident.
However, obtaining a copy of your police report after one has been made can take time and effort. Fortunately, Alabama provides several methods for car accident victims to obtain a copy of their report that an Alabama car accident lawyer can help with. The most convenient way would be to purchase a copy online, but copies can also be collected in person, by phone, or by mail.
If you are having trouble getting a police report for an Alabama car accident, our Alabama car accident lawyers can help you navigate the process to prevent delays in recovering compensation. Call Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 for a free case review.
How Do I Get a Police Report for a Car Accident in Alabama?
Alabama law requires all drivers involved in a car accident that resulted in injury or death to report it to the police. In most car accidents, Alabama law enforcement will respond to the scene and collect important information that will later be included in the officer’s official report. However, officers are not required to respond to accidents involving only property damage. If a car accident only caused property damage, it can still be reported by filing an accident claim form.
Fortunately, Alabama makes it relatively easy to request a police report after a car accident, providing several options for victims to obtain their reports. Our Alabama personal injury lawyers can help you if you are having issues requesting your police report.
Online Requests
The most convenient way to collect a copy of your car accident police report in Alabama is by requesting it online. The Alabama Department of Public Safety utilizes a uniform traffic accident report system through the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) website, where accident reports are processed and offered. A car accident police report can be purchased for $17, but the request must be made by an individual authorized to purchase the report, like a driver, passenger, or pedestrian.
You will need to provide several pieces of information to successfully request your car accident police report. First, you must provide basic information, like your name, phone number, and email address. You will also need your crash report number, a seven-digit number provided by police after the accident. However, if you need to know your crash report number, you can request it by emailing highway.patrol@alea.gov. Finally, you will need to enter your driver’s license number, which can be found on your physical license.
Importantly, though, it can take up to ten business days from the date of your car accident for your police report to be available online. Once your report is made available, you can view and download it for up to five days on the ALEA portal. However, police reports made ten or more years ago are not available online.
In-Person Requests
There are a few options to obtain your police report in person if that is more convenient. You can request a car accident police report in person at a local Alabama State Police station. You will need to provide identification and pay any fees associated with the request. If the accident occurred in city limits, you could request a police report from the local police department where the accident happened.
Phone Requests
A car accident police report can also be requested by phone in Alabama. To request a police report by phone, you must contact the law enforcement agency that made the report. If you are unsure of what agency to call, you can reach out to the Alabama Driver License Division at (334) 242-4241, which can help you determine which department to contact.
Mail Requests
Finally, police reports for a car accident can be requested by mail in Alabama. To request a police report by mail, you must fill out a crash report request form and mail it to the Alabama Department of Public Safety. You will need to provide information like the names of the drivers involved in the accident, the date of the accident, and each driver’s license number. Each copy of a police report costs $15, which can be paid by certified check or money order.
A completed request form can be mailed along with payment to Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Crash Reports, P.O. Box 1471, Montgomery, AL 36102. Our Birmingham car accident lawyers can help you complete your police report request if you have trouble with any of the methods offered.
What Type of Information is Included in a Police Report for an Alabama Car Accident?
Police reports contain vital pieces of information that could be immensely helpful. Much of the information contained in a car accident police report will be useful to your Alabama car accident lawyer when preparing your case. The following are types of important information that can be found in an Alabama police report for a car accident:
- The date, time, and location of the accident
- Contact information of the drivers involved
- Insurance information for each driver
- Contact information of passengers
- Contact information of eyewitnesses
- Make and model of each car involved
- Statements made by witnesses
- A description of any injuries sustained
- A summary of the accident
- Weather conditions when the accident occurred
- Pictures of the scene
- Pictures of physical damage
- Whether law enforcement officers gave a traffic citation
While police reports cannot usually act as evidence themselves, they provide many strong leads to recover evidence that will be highly relevant to your case. Our Birmingham personal injury lawyers can help you understand the information included in your police report and how it can help you recover compensation.
Our Alabama Car Accident Lawyers Can Help
If you need to get a police report for a car accident in Alabama, our experienced Alabama car accident lawyers can help you obtain your report and begin building your case. For a free case assessment, contact Howe Law today at (844) 876-4357.
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