Where do I get an Accident Report in Atlanta?

Everyone perceives a car accident a different way. Although you might remember details one way, a passenger can have a unique perspective. Over a short period of time, your brain confuses some of the details and the truth can be distorted. If you want to know what really happened, you need a copy of your accident report.

What is a Police Report?

Before you learn how to get an accident report in Atlanta, you should understand what it is. When the police arrive at the scene of an accident, they document everything in an accident report. The reports are factual and go into detail about the accident.

Police reports include details about the damage to the vehicles, the details of the injuries, and the names of witnesses. Additionally, they include the police officer’s interpretation of what lead up to the accident.

If you want compensation for your accident, the police report could be useful. As a legal document, the contents in the report could show the other driver’s fault.

photo/ Gerd Altmann via pixabay

How Can You Get an Accident Report in Atlanta?

Getting an accident report is easier than you might imagine. First, you need to contact the law enforcement agency that handled your accident. If it was the Atlanta Police Department, you need to call them. If your accident occurred outside of the city, you might need to contact the Georgia Highway Patrol or the Sheriff’s Department.

Whomever you call, you will need a Record Request Form. Some departments give you the option of submitting your form online. However, you might need to submit your request in-person or by mail.

Atlanta Police Department Policies

If an Atlanta Police Officer created your report, you need to visit the Central Records Unit. Located in the Atlanta Public Safety Annex building, the Central Records Unit stores all accident reports.

You can pick up reports in-person between 8:30am and 3:30pm on Mondays through Fridays. However, there is an online option. You can also buy your crash report through a website.

The Benefits of an Accident Report

In 2015, there were 385,221 crashes in Georgia. Many of those crashes occurred because of negligence or recklessness. According to Cambre and Associates, the victims could be eligible for compensation.

An accident report could be the key to receiving compensation. Because a police officer is unbiased, the report is admissible in court. A judge might find the evidence in it convincing enough to award you compensation.

There are other benefits to having your police report. One is for legal reasons — it could be required by law. If you fail to contact the police or file a report, you could face legal consequences.

Last but not least, a police report can give you peace of mind. It’s unlikely that you can remember your accident. In all of the stress, you could forget some key details. To refresh your memory, you should look at the police report.

Making the Most of Your Accident Report

Once you have a copy of your accident report, you can take steps towards receiving compensation. If you believe the other driver is at-fault, you could file a personal injury claim. You can show the report to a lawyer. Then, they can come up with a legal strategy.

Furthermore, your accident report needs to go to the insurance company. Before they pay for the accident, they want to know what happened.

Don’t hesitate to pick up your accident report. If you were in an accident, get a copy of your report and consider your options.

Author: Shirley Wilson