How to Get Your Arizona Car Accident Report

When a car accident occurs in Arizona, law enforcement is typically called to the scene. The responding officers will investigate and compile a car accident police report.

This includes information about the drivers involved, witness statements, the accident's location and time, road conditions, and a diagram of the car accident. If there are any citations issued or arrests, an officer will document them in the police report.

How to obtain your car accident police report in Arizona?

While an attorney can obtain the police report for you, you can also get a copy of it. At the crash scene, you can request the report number from the responding officer. This will make it easier to track down your report later.

You can also obtain the police report online. Many Arizona law enforcement agencies offer an online portal where you can request and obtain your car accident report.

If you choose to obtain the police report in person, visit the police department that responded to the crash scene. You may need to fill out a request form and pay a fee.

Lastly, you can order the police report via mail. Send a written request with the car accident details, your contact information, and any required fees to the records division of the law enforcement agency

A police report provides an unbiased account of the accident from a law enforcement perspective. Since it’s one of the first documents created after a car accident, it’s viewed as a reliable source of information about what occurred.

If your case goes to court, the report can be used as evidence. While the report itself may not be admissible in court due to hearsay rules, the information contained within can guide the discovery process and the testimony of witnesses, including the responding officer.

Your attorney can use the report to negotiate with insurance companies and advocate for a fair settlement based on the documented facts.

Plus, an Arizona car accident report can provide contact information for witnesses. An attorney can use this information to track them down and get their statements about how the crash occurred.

The police may not always respond to the scene of a crash. For example, if there are no injuries and the car accident is minor, police may prioritize more urgent calls. Plus, some jurisdictions have policies against responding to minor accidents due to limited resources.

Other reasons why they may not respond include:

• Weather conditions: Severe weather can lead to a high volume of accidents, stretching police resources thin.
• Location: Accidents in remote areas might not get an immediate response.
• Private property: Accidents on private property are sometimes not attended by police.
• Resource allocation: If there's a high demand for police attention due to other, more critical incidents or emergencies.

If the police don't respond to a crash scene, document everything on your own, if you can. Take photos of the vehicles involved, damage, surrounding area, and any visible injuries.

Gather the names and contact information of witnesses and other drivers involved, including their insurance information. Also, file a report with the local police department or through the non-emergency line as soon as possible.

No matter how minor a car accident may seem, it’s always best practice to get a prompt medical evaluation. You may feel perfectly fine immediately after a crash, but days later, you may notice some aches and pains that seem out of the ordinary.

This is common with many crash-related injuries such as whiplash, concussions, soft tissue injuries, and spinal injuries. When you get a prompt medical evaluation, your doctor can identify your injury and begin treatment before it worsens. Plus, it creates a record of the diagnosis and its relation to the crash.

Don’t worry about accruing medical costs and taking time off from work. An attorney can help you get compensated for medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and other crash-related damages.

Need help building a claim against the at-fault driver and their insurance company? An Arizona car accident report will play a pivotal role in helping you get the compensation you deserve. A Law.com Premier Car Accident Lawyer can handle every aspect of your claim, including the investigation and communications with the at-fault party’s insurance company.

Plus, it won’t cost you any money upfront. That’s because Premier Attorneys in Arizona operate on a contingency fee basis, so you can have access to legal representation, even if you can’t afford a lawyer. When you’re ready to file your claim, contact one of our verified attorneys and set up a free, no-obligation legal consultation.