The police report for your recent collision helps lay the foundation for your case. While we can’t use it as evidence, we can use it in other ways. This makes getting the report important, and our lawyers can help you retrieve it soon after the crash.
If the Reading Police Department responded to your 911 call, you can get the report online. That’s also an option for reports from the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), which may respond to accidents on Route 422, Route 202, and I-80. You can’t get an accident report if you don’t call the police. Call 911, even if the other driver urges you not to. Tell officers what happened as best you can, but do not accept fault or apologize. That can yield an accurate police report that we can use to identify eyewitnesses and build your case.
Call The Reiff Law Firm’s Reading, PA car accident lawyers for a free case analysis at (215) 709-6940.
How Can I Get a Police Report for a Reading, PA Car Accident?
The Reading Police Department furnishes accident reports and uploads them to CrashDocs.org once they’re completed.
To find your report online, you need the report number, your last name, and the accident’s date. Police officers should tell you the report number at the crash site. If you leave immediately for medical attention, we can help get the report number to locate the document online.
Once the database locates the report, you can download a copy for your records. Also, give us a copy so our Reading, PA car accident lawyers can review it for accuracy and new information that can help the case.
You may get the report in person from the Reading Police Department, but you should call ahead to confirm you can.
How to Get Reports from the Pennsylvania State Police for Accidents in Reading, PA
The Pennsylvania State Police patrols Route 422, Route 202, and I-80 in Reading and may respond to accidents on those roads. This changes how you get the accident report.
You can also get reports from the PSP online. You can locate the report using the case number, or by giving your last name and the accident’s date. You will be asked to give some personal information to confirm your involvement in the collision as well.
The PSP takes up to seven days to approve requests for accident reports. If your request is approved, you’ll get an email with a link so you can pay for the accident report, and you will then get the report to download.
How Soon After a Crash in Reading, PA Can I Get the Police Report?
You may get your report several business days after an accident. In Pennsylvania, officers have up to 15 days to furnish initial reports, so it could take that long.
You can periodically check if your report is available online. If it’s been more than 15 days since your crash and the report still isn’t ready, tell our lawyers. We can contact the Reading Police Department and inquire about the delay.
The sooner you get the police report, the better. Reports contain useful details about crashes and tell our lawyers possible primary and contributing causes to investigate.
We can read reports for accuracy, point out anything incorrect to the police so they can amend the report, like whether or not you suffered injuries.
How Can I Make Sure Police Officers Write Accident Reports in Reading, PA?
To make sure officers write a report for your car accident, call 911. Police reporting is mandatory for any Pennsylvania crash that ends in bodily injury, death, or so much property damage that a vehicle can’t be driven, according to 75 Pa.C.S. § 3746(a).
Don’t let the other driver convince you to leave the police out of it. Call 911, even if the other driver threatens to leave the scene if you do.
To make sure officers write accurate accident reports, tell them what happened. Explain how the other driver was negligent, and tell the police if they were speeding, made an illegal lane change or turn, or were otherwise reckless.
Tell officers if you are injured and need medical attention. They’ll note that in the accident report, as well as any damage to involved vehicles. Give officers your name and insurance information, and ask for the report number before you leave.
If you don’t call the police to report an accident, officers won’t process the scene or document it. Without a police report, it can be hard to show an accident even happened.
How Can I Use a Car Accident Report for My Reading, PA Lawsuit?
Our lawyers can use the car accident report to learn more about the crash, its location, the weather and road conditions, and other factors that might affect your case.
While police reports can’t be used as evidence in car accident lawsuits, they serve other purposes. For example, officers may speak to eyewitnesses and note their names and phone numbers. When we get the report, we can identify witnesses and interview them. Their testimony is evidence in car accident lawsuits, and some of the strongest victims can introduce it.
Road and weather conditions mentioned in the report can tell us more about the at-fault driver’s possible defense. For example, suppose it was snowy or rainy during the crash. In that case, we may anticipate the defendant claiming the bad weather caused the collision, not their negligence.
We can plan to undermine those arguments with eyewitness testimony, confirming the driver was still speeding. In bad conditions, drivers should adjust their behavior for optimal safety and certainly shouldn’t speed because of the risk of hydroplaning.
Call Us to Talk About Your Reading, PA Car Accident Case
Call our Reading, PA personal injury lawyers at (215) 709-6940 for help with your case from The Reiff Law Firm.
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