To get a police report from the Gilroy Police Department, you can make a request by completing a Report Request Form. The request form should be printed out, filled out, and returned to the Gilroy Police Department either in person or by mail. By requesting a report, you will be charge $.10 per page of the report.
If you are unable to make the request yourself after a car accident, then a Personal Injury Lawyer at Maison Law can make the request on your behalf. If you’re obtaining a police report after an accident, our law firm can help.
Contact Maison Law today for a free, no-risk/no-obligation consultation and see what legal option may be available.
Am I Legally Required to Report an Accident in Gilroy to the Police?
When it comes to reporting an accident to Gilroy Police, several regulations govern when a driver must report an accident. They can get confusing if you read them from start to finish, so here is a brief summary for your convenience.
Drivers must report an accident in California if:
- Someone is injured, even minor scrapes and bruises count
- Someone is killed in the accident
- Property damage reaches or exceeds $1,000 for one person, which includes damage to personal property as well, not just the vehicle
- A driver involved was operating a motor vehicle without a license
- A driver involved was intoxicated at the time of the accident
If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of being in an accident in Gilroy, it it recommended to always report it to the police. Failing to report when required can result in fines, loss of driving privileges, and even criminal charges. By law, citizen of California have 10 days to report their accident to police, starting from the day the accident occurred.
Step-by-Step: Police Report Retrieval after a Car Accident
Obtaining a copy of the traffic collision report is essential for insurance claim and any potential legal action you may take. Here are the necessary steps to retrieving your police report:
- Identify the Reporting Agency: determine whether the accident was reported to the local police or the California Highway Patrol (CHP). This is usually dependent on where the accident took place.
- Gather Information: the more information you have, the easier it will be to retrieve your report. According to the Transportation Injury Mapping System, Gilroy averages around 200 car accidents per year, so there will most likely be a lot of accidents to sort through. The information needed includes: date, time, location, name of drivers, and your contact information.
- Wait: You may want to wait up to two weeks to request your report. This gives an officer time to complete the report and submit it. Complex accidents and ongoing investigations may delay the completion of the report.
- Request the Report: you can visit the Gilroy police station in person to request a report, submit a request online, or you can submit a request via mail if online requests are unavailable.
- Allow Time for Processing: it can take several business days or weeks for the report to be processed and available.
Securing an Accident Report from the CHP
When it’s the California Highway Patrol (CHP) that responds to your crash, perhaps along U.S. 101, you’ll either file a request for a report online, by mail, or in person.
ONLINE: You’ll visit the California Highway Patrol website to get your accident report. Complete this collision report request form online. You’ll visit the California Highway Patrol website to get your accident report.
By Mail and In-Person Drop-Off:
To request your CHP document by mail or in person, you’ll need to fill out and submit a CHP 190 document.
Your report will cost around $10.
You can fill it out and drop it off at your nearest CHP office or mail it there. The CHP office in Gilroy is the closest location for local residents.
Hollister-Gilroy CHP Office
740 Renz Lane
Gilroy CA, 95020
408-848-2324
Contact a Gilroy Accident Lawyer for Legal Help
If you’re concerned about the next steps you should take, contact Maison Law for any questions or a free consultation concerning your incident. We offer our legal services on a contingency fee basis, meaning we don’t get paid unless we win your case.
