Auto accidents can turn your life upside down. If you suffer injuries, it can take weeks or even months to get back on your feet.
There’s also a chance you may struggle with a debilitating injury for the rest of your life.
Obtaining compensation may be the most important thing you do following such a life-changing experience.
If you file an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the at-fault driver, a collision report from the NYPD documents the event and provides useful information.
The details found in your NYPD accident report give your attorney the tools to conduct their investigation and build a case on your behalf.
Car accidents happen every day across all five boroughs in New York City. Many of these car accidents cause injuries and sometimes death.
Even the most careful driver may be involved in a car accident due to the negligence of another.
If you suffered injuries following a car accident, contact a personal injury attorney. Your attorney fights on your behalf to recover well-deserved compensation for your injuries, so you can get your life back on track.
How to Retrieve NYPD Accident Reports
Always make sure you call the police and request a police officer to the scene of your accident.
An NYPD collision report provides valuable information that may be forgotten over time but is vital to a claim for injuries. Fortunately, the NYPD makes it easy to retrieve a copy of your collision report.
In Person
In NYC, the most direct way to retrieve a copy of your accident report is in person. Determine the precinct where your accident occurred.
It may take up to seven days before your report becomes available, so you may want to call the precinct to check on availability.
There is no charge to obtain your collision report from the NYPD, but you must bring a completed copy of the Request for Copy of Collision Record form.
Perhaps it’s not convenient to head to the precinct in person. You may also mail your request to the correct precinct.
The NYPD provides a directory of all locations to assist in your search.
However, don’t take more than 30 days to pick up your report once available. At that point, the NYPD forwards the report to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.
To obtain a certified copy of your accident report by mail, you must pay:
- $10 search fee, and
- $15 report fee for each report your order.
The DMV also requires the form entitled Request for Copy of Accident Report. You must provide the following information:
- Date of the accident, and
- County where the accident occurred.
You must also provide at least one of the following pieces of information:
- The license plate number of a vehicle involved in the accident,
- The driver’s license number of a person involved in the accident, and
- The name and date of birth of a person involved in the accident.
The DMV keeps accident reports filed by police for four years from the accident date. Mail your completed form and check to the following address:
NYSDMV
MC-198C Processing
6 Empire State Plaza
New York, NY 12228
Your personal injury attorney can also assist in obtaining a copy of your collision report.
Online
You may also obtain a copy of your NYC accident report from the NYPD website. Unfortunately, the NYPD portal is only accessible for people living in New York, Connecticut, or Massachusetts.
The DMV also provides a way to purchase a copy of your accident report online. Once you pay the $15 fee, your report becomes accessible in downloadable form.
Once purchased, access your report within seven calendar days or else you will need to purchase the report again.
Contact Us
At the Law Offices of Theodore A. Naima, we exclusively represent the victims of personal injury and families that have lost loved ones in cases like auto accidents.
If you’ve been involved in an auto accident, we can help you obtain a copy of your NYPD collision report. This crucial piece of evidence assists in building your case against the party that caused you or your family member harm.
Our office works to provide clients with the compassion, respect, support, and personal attention they deserve while fighting vigorously for their rights. Contact us today for a free confidential case evaluation!
Theodore A. Naima
Theodore A. Naima is the founding partner of the Law Offices of Theodore A. Naima, a Personal Injury & Medical Malpractice Law Firm based in New York. In 2015, Ted was awarded the prestigious AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, the company that has long been recognized as setting the gold standard for lawyer ratings, signifying the highest degree of peer recognition and professional excellence.
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