Obtaining A Car Accident Report In The State Of California

If you want to file a personal injury claim that gets results, you must obtain a car accident report for the accident you suffered.

Going over how to obtain a car accident report in the state of California and speaking with an experienced and resourceful Northern California automobile accident attorney will help you get the compensation you are entitled to.

Do You Need A Car Accident Report?

To answer the above question, “Yes, you need a car accident report.” And the reasons why you need a car accident report are as follows:

1. If you want to prove your accident occurred to an insurance company, you must obtain an accident report.
2. If you want to support your injury claim, you need a car accident report to assist your claim.
3. If you want to clarify key information, you need a car accident report within your personal injury claim.
4. If you want to identify who is at fault for a particular accident, a car accident report will help you with that.

Every single one of the above is a major reason you need a car accident report. If you do not obtain a car accident report, obtaining the compensation you deserve can be far more difficult than it needs to be.

How Can You Obtain A Car Accident Report In The State Of California?

To obtain a car accident report in the state of California, you can contact the California Highway Patrol, sheriff’s department, or local police department, depending on which agency investigated the collision. By doing so, you can get a report that clarifies the car accident you experienced and any other relevant facts.

You can contact the California Highway Patrol and obtain your car accident report by using one of the following methods:

1. Filing a “Collision Request Form” online.
2. Completing a CHP 190 form and mailing it to the CHP office where the accident occurred.
3. Submit a CHP 190 form to the CHP area office where the accident occurred.

Outside of the above, there is one fact to note: the California Highway Patrol often responds to car accidents and other, related, incidents. But, sometimes, they don’t.

If another law enforcement agency responded to your accident and produced the car accident report, you will need to contact them.

A good example of the above is as follows: you live in Shasta County, and the Shasta County Sheriff’s Department responded to your car accident and made the report, meaning that you must contact them to obtain the report.

Every department is a little different. But, just as a general rule, if your local department does not have an online portal you can use to obtain your report, you will need to go to their office in person to obtain it.

Speak With A Northern California Automobile Accident Attorney Today

If you were in a car accident and would like to obtain compensation, you should work with an attorney who can help you.

Speak with a Redding, CA, automobile accident attorney at Maire & Deedon today, and we will help you obtain the compensation you are entitled to.