You can obtain an accident report from the Santa Barbara Police by requesting one online. They can also be requested by fax, email, mail, or in person.
There will be a fee for the report (detailed below). Remember that if you have a lawyer handling your case, your attorney will request this report for you. If your accident only involved car damage, your insurer may be requesting this report.
Securing Your Accident Report After a Traffic Accident in Santa Barbara
If you are forced into an accident along a busy street like Hollister Avenue or State Street, a Santa Barbara police officer will likely respond to the scene. The officer will be observing the scene and talking with drivers and witnesses to determine what happened. Their determination of how the accident occurred and who was at fault will go into an accident report.
You may need this report to help prove your innocence when insurers question who should be blamed. It’s a way to determine who should be paying medical and car repair bills that result.
The Santa Barbara Police Department (SBPD) provides instructions on its website to obtain a copy of your report.
Here’s a brief overview of how the process works:
ONLINE: Victims can get a copy of their accident reports by purchasing them through BuyCrash. Requestors will create a login and fill in their information. Having a case number from the Santa Barbara Police Department will speed up the process.
By Fax, Email, Mail, In Person: Victims will need to present their ID, or send in a photocopy of the ID. When mailing a request, include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Victims not filing online must fill out a “Request for Report” Form and include a signed copy with their personal requests.
Santa Barbara Police Department
Attn: Records Bureau / Report Request
215 E. Figueroa Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Fax: 805-897-2434
Email: RTC@sbpd.com.
What will my Santa Barbara Accident Report Cost?
Victims will pay $25.00 for an online report plus a fee from BuyCrash.
For in-person and mailed accident report copies, the City of Santa Barbara charges 20 cents per page or $25 for a digital copy on CD. Emailed reports are free. Requestors can pay by cash or check. A credit card can be used for charges over $10. Faxed requests can only be paid for by credit card.
How Do I Get a Car Accident Report from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department?
The Sheriff’s Department provides instructions on obtaining a report here. Victims will request a report by email, by fax, by mail, or in person. Standard reports of 10 pages or less will cost you $15.
- First, contact the Records Unit at (805) 681-4180 to find out if your report has been completed
- Second, fill out a report request form
- Decide what method you will use to request your report
In Person: At 4434 Calle Real, Santa Barbara at the Sheriff’s Office. Mon-Fri, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
By Mail:
Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office
Records Bureau
P.O. Box 6427,
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
Fax: 805-681-5346
Email: records@sbsheriff.org
How Do I Get an Accident Report from the California Highway Patrol?
If a CHP officer responds to your accident along Highway 101 or perhaps on Highway 154, you have a few ways to request a collision report.
You can ask for a copy online, or you can print out a request form and mail it off, or bring it by in person.
You’ll need to contact your nearest Highway Patrol office to find out how much a report will cost and to find out more information on submitting your request. You’ll be filling out and submitting a CHP 190 document and mailing it off or bringing it to an office in person.
For Santa Barbara victims, the Highway Patrol Station in Goleta may be closest:
(760) Santa Barbara
6465 Calle Real Goleta, CA 93117
805-770-4800
You can find a list of all of the CHP offices here.
Do I need a lawyer after an accident in Santa Barbara?
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 Santa Barbara Car Accident Lawyer. It’s a no-risk and free way to stay aware of the benefits available to you and what your case may be worth.
Contact a Santa Barbara Car Accident Lawyer
Contact Maison Law of Santa Barbara for a free case consultation with a real lawyer without any obligation.
And if you end up needing our help to earn more, you don’t have to worry about how you’ll pay an attorney. Maison Law works on a contingency basis, which means we don’t get paid unless your case is won. If it’s a success, the attorney’s fee is paid out of the settlement money you receive.
