How to Get a Car Accident Report in Ontario
A car accident can cause serious injuries and expensive medical bills in addition to inconvenient vehicle damage. As a car accident victim, you may be entitled to financial compensation from a car insurance company to help you pay your bills and move forward. A car accident police report can serve as a key piece of evidence for your Ontario accident attorney to use during your claim.
What Is the Importance of Getting a Car Accident Report?
The law in California requires motor vehicle drivers to report certain car accidents not only for the purpose of documenting traffic data but also to assist with any subsequent investigations. A police report documents key information and evidence regarding the accident, which can be used to determine fault or liability (financial responsibility) for the wreck.
Examples include:
- The date, time and specific location of the accident
- The names of all drivers and passengers involved
- Contact information for eyewitnesses who were present
- Descriptions and license plate numbers of involved vehicles
- A crash diagram
- Official photographs of the accident scene
- Traffic citations given to either driver
- The police officer’s opinion as to the cause of the crash
When you file a car insurance claim in Ontario, the insurance company will ask for your police report number. If you do not contact the police and get a police report, this can hurt your chances of recovering fair financial compensation. The police report serves as an important piece of evidence for a car insurance company’s investigation.
How to Get a Police Report Following a Car Accident in Ontario
To request a police report, you must contact law enforcement from the scene of your car accident by calling 911 (in an emergency) or the Ontario Police Department nonemergency number: (909) 395-2001. This is a legal requirement in California for all motor vehicle accidents that cause injuries, deaths or at least $1,000 in property damage.
If the accident happened on a state freeway, contact the nearest Highway Patrol Office. Before you leave the scene, get your police report number. Having this can make it easier to obtain a copy of your report.
Steps to Take to Obtain a Copy of Your Ontario Car Accident Police Report
You can request a copy of a car accident police report in Ontario online by visiting the BuyCrash website. You must enter your report number, last name, and either the date of the incident or the location where the crash took place. Once you find your report, you can download and print a copy. You must be someone who was involved in the crash or an authorized representative of someone involved to access the report.
You may also be able to request a copy of your accident report by mail. Send a written request to the Ontario Police Department Records Division at 2500 S. Archibald Avenue, Ontario, CA 91761. There is most likely a fee for obtaining a copy of the report. Call the front desk at (909) 395-2001 for more information.
How a Car Accident Lawyer in Ontario Can Help
You may already be dealing with a lot as a car accident victim in Ontario. You do not have to handle the process of obtaining a crash report, as well. You can hire an Ontario injury attorney to collect a copy of your report for you, gather other types of evidence to support your claim, deal with car insurance companies on your behalf and help you achieve a fair case outcome. Start with a free car accident case evaluation with an attorney. Contact Rose, Klein & Marias, LLP today.