After you are injured in a car accident, seeking compensation may seem like an uphill battle. The first step in this battle, however, is typically a straightforward one. You should look to obtain a copy of the official police report that covers your accident.
Police reports filed by the Yonkers Police Department are made available through an online portal that services a number of other municipalities and states. Once the report is available, you can search for it using certain key information about the crash and the parties involved. If you cannot find your report or no report was submitted for your accident, you can work with your Yonkers car accident attorney to see that the consequences and causes of your accident are documented.
Your police report is an important part of getting the recovery that you deserve after you were injured in a car accident. The Martello Law Firm, PLLC can assist you with all of your needs, from obtaining your police report to dealing with the other party, all the way through a trial if necessary. To get started on your path to justice today, call us at (914) 685-6950.
Obtaining a Police Report for a Car Accident in Yonkers, NY
If you want to get a copy of the police report on your car accident in Yonkers, you will have to do so online. All police accident reports filed by the Yonkers Police Department are submitted to the online portal, where they can be accessed by the general public. In the State of New York, motor vehicle accident reports are a matter of public record, which means anyone can obtain a copy if they have the requisite information, not just the parties directly involved in the accident or their insurers.
You can expect the report to be made available on the portal about 7-8 days after the date that the accident occurred. If you search for your report early and don’t find it, the reason may simply be that it hasn’t been uploaded yet. If you are still unable to locate your car accident report more than two weeks after the date of the accident, speak to one of the Yonkers personal injury lawyers at The Martello Law Firm, PLLC.
What Information Do You Need to Get a Police Report for a Car Accident in Yonkers, NY?
In order to search for your car accident report online, you will need the last name of the involved party, the date of the accident, and the reference number for the report. The reference number is the number that the officer who was called to the scene of the accident gave you at the conclusion of their on-site investigation. If you did not receive a reference number, had to leave the scene before the end of the investigation, or have misplaced the reference number, give us a call so that we can help you track it down and get you access to the report that you deserve.
What If You Are Looking for a Police Report from an Older Car Accident?
The online portal typically only stores records of car accident police reports for four years. If you are seeking a copy of a police report for an accident that occurred more than four years ago and cannot find it on the online portal, your best bet may be to go directly to the archives department at the Yonkers Police Department. You will need to provide specific information and pay a small fee for these requests. If you find yourself in this situation, you may want to call the department ahead of time to let them know that you are coming in and to make sure that you will have access to the archives when you do.
What If the Police Were Not at the Scene of the Accident?
Yonkers police officers who are called to the scene of a car accident are required to file a report if they assess that the accident has resulted in death, injury, a significant amount of property damage, or involved certain commercial or government-operated vehicles. However, if the police are not alerted that there is an accident that needs their attention, there is no way for them to file a report.
We always recommend calling the police to the scene when you are involved in an accident. Even if you believe that you are fine, many car accident injuries may not present themselves until well after the fact. You will want official documentation to support any claims that you may make in the future.
However, we do recognize that oversights do happen, and you may be left without an official police report after a serious car accident. In these instances, you have the ability to file your own report with the police department. You should have the relevant information on hand when creating your report, such as the names, license numbers, plate numbers, and insurance information of all the parties. You should also be prepared to offer a description of when, where, and how the accident happened, as well as the resulting damages. You can attach additional evidence, such as pictures and videos of the crash site and the damage, to make your submission stronger. Our Westchester, NY car accident lawyers can assist you in the creation of your car accident report so that you set yourself up for success in a later insurance claim or court case.
Hear from Our Yonkers Car Accident Attorneys About Your Case Today
Whether you need help with your police report or assessing the other parts of your recovery efforts, The Westchester personal injury lawyers at The Martello Law Firm, PLLC is here to help. Get a free case evaluation when you call us today at (914) 685-6950.
