A frightening collision on Ocean Street or Soquel Avenue may leave you in need of some help in getting recovery support. You may need to secure the accident report prepared by a Santa Cruz police officer to prove who was at fault and who should be paying for car repairs and emergency room bills.
In Santa Cruz, you can request an accident report by email, by mail, or in person.
Getting an Accident Report After a Santa Cruz Accident
If you were in an accident investigated by the Santa Cruz police, you would first need to fill out a Record Request Form. This form confirms that you are eligible to receive the report and its private information. You would need to be someone involved in the accident or an owner of one of the cars involved. A guardian of a victim could also request a report.
You’ll also need to show your ID or send a photocopy of your ID along with your request.
You can mail your request to:
Santa Cruz Police Department
Attn: Records
155 Center St
Santa Cruz, CA
95060
You can also take your request form to the policy lobby desk during normal business hours.
You can also email your request to pdrecords@santacruzca.gov
The cost will usually be .25 cents per page. However, the costs can increase, so check the updated fee schedule on the City of Santa Cruz website. You can find further instructions and forms here.
California Highway Patrol Santa Cruz Accident Reports
If the California Highway Patrol worked your accident, perhaps along Highway 101, you’ll visit the California Highway Patrol website to obtain a report request form. Fill out a CHP 190 document.
Complete the form and deliver it to the nearest CHP office, mail it in, or you can file online. For many local victims, the CHP office in Aptos will be the closest branch.
(720) Santa Cruz
10395 Soquel Drive
Aptos, CA 95003
831-219-0200
Online:
You should wait at least a week before filing a request online. This gives the investigating officer time to complete an investigation and to submit the report. In some cases, a report may take longer to finish.
Once you believe it’s in, complete this collision report request form online.
Your identity and involvement, and eligibility to have access to the report, will be checked. Have your driver’s license or identification information handy.
Do I need a lawyer after an accident in Santa Cruz?
When accidents involve minor injuries, like light scratches and bruising, or only property damage, you may not need a lawyer’s help. 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 a bad driver.
It’s important that you safeguard your rights by discussing your case with a skilled Santa Cruz 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 Cruz Car Accident Lawyer
Contact Maison Law of Santa Cruz 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.
