A frightening crash on a Los Angeles Freeway or on a busy city street can leave you with a lot of questions. Does the other driver have insurance? Who is at fault?
Fortunately, when police officers or highway patrol officers are on the scene, they’ll be writing up a collision report on your accident. Information on the other drivers involved and their insurance coverage should be spelled out.
The report should also have the investigating officer’s determination on who was at fault in the crash.
This report can be a powerful piece of evidence for your case when you attempt to hold the at-fault driver responsible for property damage and any injury recovery expenses.
To make sure an insurance company doesn’t unfairly blame you for a collision, Contact Maison Law serving Los Angeles and all of Southern California.
You are entitled to a free legal consultation that comes with no obligation to you. If you’re hurt and wondering how to hold the driver responsible for your accident accountable, call us immediately.
Getting a Police Accident Report in Los Angeles
If you have a personal injury attorney working for you, your attorney will be securing this report for you. For property damage-only car accidents, your insurance company may also be requesting this report.
Before requesting your collision report, the Los Angeles Police Department asks you to keep two things in mind.
- Traffic Collision Reports that involve an arrest, fatality, or juvenile cannot be released online and must be requested through United States Mail.
- Before attempting to obtain a copy of a Traffic Collision Report online, please allow a minimum of 45 days from the date of the collision to allow the report to be reviewed and approved for release.
Online
If a Los Angeles Police Officer worked your accident, you’ll be required to go to the LexisNexis BuyCrash website to obtain your collision report.
You can enter your personal information and your accident report number to pull up your data. The responding officer should have provided your report number on the scene of your collision. Your BuyCrash report will cost you around $11.
By Mail
To request a report through the United States Mail, download and complete the Traffic Collision Report Request and return it with a $20.00 check or money order payable to the LAPD (do not send cash) to:
Los Angeles Police Department
Records and Identification Division
Document Processing Unit
P.O. Box 30158
Los Angeles, CA 90030
Download the Traffic Collision Report Request Form
If you are unable to print or view the form, please make sure your written request includes:
- Type of report – Traffic
- Requester’s Name, Address, and Telephone Number
- LAPD Report (DR) Number and/or Incident Number, if known
- Requester’s Date of Birth
- Name(s) of party(ies) listed in report
- Date and Time of occurrence
- Location of occurrence
- License Plate Number and State of Registration of involved vehicle(s)
- Your interest in the report (i.e. involved party, authorized representative, insurance company, or parent/guardian). Include release forms for authorized parties and insurance companies and proof of relationship for parents/guardians.
- Include the declaration, “I declare this statement is true and correct, sign and date your request.”
Requesting California Highway Patrol Accident Reports in L.A.
If the California Highway Patrol (CHP) worked your accident, perhaps along the 5, you can request a copy of the collision report online. You can also deliver a request form in person or mail it in.
Requesting a CHP Accident Report Online
You’ll visit the California Highway Patrol website to get your accident report. Complete this collision report request form online.
To get a copy, you’ll need to be an approved party of interest. That can be one of the following:
- A Driver Involved in the Accident
- A Bicyclist Involved
- A Pedestrian Involved
- A Passenger Involved
- Parents of Minors Involved
- Legal Guardians of Victims
- Vehicle Owners
- Legal Representative
- Manufacturer Representatives
- Insurance Companies
Requesting By Mail or at a CHP Office
To request your CHP document by mail or in person, you’ll need to fill out and submit a CHP 190 document.
There’s a $10 fee.
To drop a collision report off in person or to mail your request to the CHP, you’ll need to figure out the closest Highway Patrol Office to you.
You don’t have to go to the CHP office near where your accident occurred. If you fill out a CHP 190 form, you can make your request at any office.
There are three CHP offices around Los Angeles that will likely be your closest branches:
(565) West Los Angeles
Culver City, CA 90230
(310) 642-3939
(590) Central Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 744-2331
(535) East Los Angeles
Monterey Park, CA 91754
(323) 980-4600
Do I need a lawyer after an accident in Los Angeles?
When accidents involve only property damage and minor injuries, obtaining a personal injury lawyer may not be necessary. Vehicle repair or replacement is a fairly standardized process, and insurance companies generally treat victims fairly.
However, when you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury, the financial support needed is dramatically higher. That means insurance companies will fight even harder to get out of accepting responsibility for their policyholder.
It’s important that you safeguard your rights and the rights of your family by discussing your case with a skilled Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer. After an accident that leaves you or a family member seriously hurt, it’s important to discuss your options with a legal professional.
Leaving your recovery up to an insurance company will only work out in favor of the insurance company. Contact Maison Law of Los Angeles for a free case consultation to make sure you are aware of all of the benefits available to you.
