Get a police report after an accident in San Antonio by requesting it online from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Alternatively, you can have the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) email your report to you or give you this documentation in person or through the mail.
Trust a San Antonio car accident lawyer to help you get your police report. Your attorney can review your police report with you. From here, your lawyer can use your police report with other evidence to help you prove that someone else is liable for your auto accident and get you money for your losses from the incident.
How Can I Get a Police Report Online Following an Accident in San Antonio?
Use the TxDOT Crash Report Online Purchase System to buy your police report online. Your report will appear in this system within 14 days of your accident. To get your report, you will have to provide your name, contact information, and details about the incident. It will cost $6 or $8 for your report, depending on whether you receive a redacted or unredacted copy.
A redacted crash report is available to anyone for $6. This report excludes the phone numbers, addresses, and dates of birth of the parties involved in your car accident. It may also exclude the insurance information of these parties.
Comparatively, an unredacted crash report is available only to the parties mentioned in the report. The report costs $8 and includes the personal information of those involved in your auto accident and other incident details. If you want this report, you will have to complete an affidavit certifying your involvement in a car crash prior to purchase.
How Can I Get a Car Accident Report from the San Antonio Police Department?
File a police open records request via San Antonio’s Open Government Portal to get your report through email. Alternatively, submit your request to the address below if you’d like to get a copy of your police report after an accident in San Antonio at SAPD headquarters in person or have it mailed to you:
San Antonio Police Department Records Office
315 S. Santa Rosa
San Antonio, TX 78207
In your report request, provide information about the date and location of your car accident, the names of the people involved, and a basic description of the incident. Your report will generally be available at SAPD headquarters within seven to 10 days of your auto accident. If you request your report through the mail, it will typically take up to three weeks to receive it.
Why Should I Get a Police Report After an Auto Accident in San Antonio?
Meet with a San Antonio personal injury lawyer with relevant auto accident case experience in the days following your car crash. Your attorney will empathize with you and advise you to care for yourself as you deal with the ramifications of this incident. They will encourage you to get a police report following your car collision in San Antonio for several reasons, including:
Get Official Documentation of Your Accident
Without a crash report, you have no proof that your accident took place. As such, an at-fault party could deny their involvement in your auto accident, and you could be held responsible for all of your losses from the incident. On the other hand, your crash report comes from the police, and it includes details about those involved in your accident and other pertinent information.
Boost Your Chances of Getting Compensation from an At-Fault Party’s Insurance Company
Just because you file an auto insurance claim after your car crash doesn’t mean that you’ll get the results you want out of it. If you don’t have a crash report, a liable party’s insurer could make it tough to secure fair compensation for your accident losses. Thankfully, if you get a collision report, it becomes exceedingly difficult to disprove your case against a liable party.
Establish Fault
If the police respond to your accident at the scene, they can include observations of contributing factors or their opinion of who caused your car crash. This information can be a deciding factor for insurance adjusters and in court regarding who’s liable for the incident. It may help you make it clear to these parties that you’re in no way to blame for your auto accident and injuries.
Along with these things, keep in mind that in Texas, you are required to report a car accident to the police if the incident involves injury, death, or property damage of $1,000 or more, or if a vehicle cannot be safely driven. Failure to report can result in fines, suspension of your driver’s license, and criminal charges.
Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You Get Your San Antonio Police Report
Don’t wait to get a police report after your San Antonio, Texas, car accident. This report can serve as a valuable piece of evidence if you file an auto crash claim or lawsuit. It can help you prove that another party is liable for your accident and should have to compensate you for the harm that they’ve caused.
Omega Law Group Accident & Injury Attorneys has recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for our clients. We can help you get your crash report after your San Antonio car accident. On top of that, if you want to file a car collision claim or lawsuit, we’re here for you. Contact us today.