If you were injured in a car accident in Hot Springs, your police report can help you with your claim. Our lawyers start most injury claims by reviewing the police report, as it usually contains a wealth of information.
Fortunately, there are several methods of recovering your police report after a Hot Springs car accident. For the quickest results, you can get your report online from the state through its central repository. No matter who investigated your crash, you can get your report online from the Arkansas State Police. However, you can also mail in your request or pick one up in person. Our team can help you prepare your request or review your report with you if you already have obtained a copy. We can explain how to use it to get compensation and find other evidence to help your claim.
Call us at (479) 316-0438 to receive your free case assessment with our Hot Springs car accident attorneys.
Ways to Get a Copy of Your Police Report for a Hot Springs, AR Car Accident
When a car accident occurs in Hot Springs, the Hot Springs Police Department will usually investigate the crash. After talking to the parties involved and observing the scene, the investigating officer will draft a report that you can then use for your insurance claim or in a lawsuit. If you did not get a copy of the report on the scene, our Hot Springs truck accident lawyers can help you obtain it. Our team will help you explore the option that is most convenient for you and its uses. The following options are how you can get your police report for your lawsuit:
Online
The fastest way to get your police report once it is available is online. Unfortunately, the Hot Springs Police Department does not have an online option to request the report through the city website.
That does not mean you cannot get your report online, though. The Arkansas State Police acts as a repository for all crash reports in the state. This means that if the Hot Springs Police, the State Police, or any other local or state law enforcement agency investigated your crash, the report will still be sent to this repository. Thus, you can request your report online by going to the Arkansas Department of Public Safety and using its “Crash Report Online Purchase System.”
Once on the page, select the option for individual crash reports. You will then need to provide at least one of the following: your name, birthday, driver’s license number, date of the crash, or the crash report number. If you have the crash report number, though, you will only need to enter that to find your report. Make sure your email address is entered correctly, as your report will be sent to you electronically if it is available.
Online reports cost $10 per copy. However, the state does charge a small service fee for the convenience, so the cost will be a fewer dollars more than the options below.
The only exception is if the crash report contains information regarding juvenile occupants. If so, you will need to call the Arkansas State Police Crash Records Section at 501-618-8130 for more details. Our team can help get your report if you are having trouble obtaining it.
In some cases, mailing your request might be the best option. As with the online option, however, the Hot Springs Police Department does not accept mail-in requests for police reports. Requests by mail will also need to be sent to the Arkansas State Police. You will need to download, print, and complete this form. Be sure to complete as much of it as possible so there are no unnecessary delays in processing your request.
When your form is complete, you can mail it to the following address:
Arkansas State Police
Attn: Crash Records Section
One State Police Plaza Drive
Little Rock, Arkansas 72209
You must also include a money order or check for $10 with your request. Our lawyers can help if you have any questions about preparing the document.
In Person
The only way to get your police report directly from the Hot Springs Police Department is to visit them in person. You can pick up your copy from the department’s Records Division located at 641 Malvern Avenue, Hot Springs, AR 71901. They are open from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., Monday through Friday. You can call ahead to confirm they are open at (501) 321-6789 ext. 6707.
Reports you pick up in person will also be $10 per copy.
When Will My Police Crash Report Be Available in Hot Springs, AR?
The time it takes for a report to become available will depend on the accident. The investigating officers must complete the report after leaving the scene, which usually needs to be approved by a supervisor before being sent to the accident records repository.
Once the report is completed, it should be available within ten days. The Hot Springs PD states that their reports are available three to five days after the accident. If you are getting your report online, the average wait time is ten days. If your report is still not available after this time, our team can look into why it is delayed.
What if My Hot Springs, AR Police Report Has Mistakes?
The scene of a car accident can be chaotic, so it is possible that your report contains mistakes or omissions. However, it can be difficult to correct a report once it has been sent to the records repository. Still, our team will contact the investigating officer to see if we can get the report corrected.
If we cannot get the report changed, we might fight to keep it out of your case. Even a report with errors can be helpful. So, if the mistake is not material to the case, we can usually still find uses for the report.
How Are Police Reports Important to Car Accident Cases in Hot Springs, AR?
Police reports are helpful in several ways. In most cases, the other driver’s insurance will want one before processing a claim. Police reports are a useful way to refresh your memory if you are having trouble remembering some of the details.
It is also a good way to identify and contact witnesses. You might not have had a chance to talk to witnesses at the scene, but we can use the report to reach out to them.
Our team finds police reports most useful during settlement negotiations. Many times, the police report is enough to argue liability.
Our Hot Springs, AR Car Accident Attorneys Can Help You Get Your Police Report Today
For a free case evaluation with our Hot Springs personal injury lawyers, contact us by calling (479) 316-0438.