If you are involved in a car collision in Russellville, contact the police immediately to report it. The police will investigate your crash and draft an accident report that will be crucial to recovering compensation later.
Our lawyers can help you get a copy of your police report and immediately start using it to build your claim. Our team recommends getting it online for the fastest results. However, you can also pick up your report in person or by mail. No matter which method works best for you, our team can explain how your report will work in your claim. We will use it to identify the liable parties, track down witnesses, and argue liability. The police report is usually the first piece of evidence that gives our team a detailed view of your accident. That information will be crucial when negotiating a settlement in your claim.
For a free case review with our Russellville car accident lawyers, contact us by calling (479) 316-0438.
What to Know About Getting a Police Car Accident Report in Russellville, AR
Police reports are vitally important after getting into a car accident in Russellville. In fact, most insurance companies require them to process claims. However, that is not the only reason you will want to get a copy of your police report. Your police report will contain a wealth of information that will be useful when filing a lawsuit later. Our Russellville truck accident attorneys can help you get your report and put it to use, getting the compensation you deserve. With it, we can identify the liable parties, contact witnesses, and track down other important evidence.
Fortunately, there are several ways to obtain your police report in Russellville. Most people prefer getting it online, as it is often the most convenient. It might be easier to pick up a copy in person if you are in the area of the police department headquarters. If you do not have online access, you can still get a copy of the report by mailing in your request. The following will explain more about how to take advantage of these options in Russellville:
Online Requests
If you want your accident report quickly, the best way to do so is to go online. Fortunately, you have a few options to choose from. The Russellville Police Department (RPD) investigates most car accidents, so you can get a copy of your report from their website. On that page, there will be two options to click on: Accident Reports and CrashDocs. However, they both go to the CrashDocs website. There, you will need to input your report number, last name, and the date of the accident to search for your report.
If your car crash was investigated by a law enforcement agency other than the RPD, like the Arkansas State Police (ASP), you can get a copy of your report from the Arkansas Department of Public Safety’s Crash Report Online Purchase System. Choose the individual option and provide your report number for the quickest results. It will ask for additional information like your driver’s license number and birthday. Try to fill in as much information as possible.
The Pope County Sheriff’s Office also has jurisdiction over car accidents in Russellville, so it is possible that they investigated your crash. However, the Sheriff’s Office does not have an online option to get a report. In fact, all car accident reports in the state are forwarded to a central repository, which can be accessed at the link just above.
If a child was involved in a car accident, though, you will not be able to get the report online due to privacy laws. Instead, you will need to call the Records Section of the ASP at 501-618-8130 to obtain a report.
In-Person Requests
If you are out running errands, it might be more convenient to get a printed copy directly from the RPD. To get your report, visit the RPD during its business hours of 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. at 115 W. H St., Russellville, AR 72801.
There is a small fee, usually around $10. Our team can help you get more information, or you can call the RPD Administration Division before you visit at 479-968-3232.
Mail Requests
You can also mail a request for a copy of your police report. However, your mail-in request will not be sent to the RPD. Instead, you will need to mail your request to the ASP to get a copy from the central repository mentioned above. Complete the following form and mail it to the below address:
Arkansas State Police
Attn: Crash Records Section
One State Police Plaza Drive
Little Rock, Arkansas 72209
Please provide as many details as possible so your request can be processed. This includes the report number, crash date and time, location, and parties involved. Our team is standing by to help you complete your request so you get your report in a timely manner.
When Police Reports Are Available
Unfortunately, police reports are not immediately available. The investigating officer needs to interview drivers and witnesses and record observations of the scene. When they get back to the station, they need to process those details into the final report. After that, the investigating officer’s supervising attorney typically needs to approve the report before sending it to the ASP repository. Thus, it could take a day or two to process the report.
The good news is that most police reports are ready within ten business days from the date of the accident. It could be longer if the accident was complex and involved many drivers. For other accidents, reports could be available in as little as three to five days. If your report is still not available after ten business days, our team can reach out to the law enforcement agency that investigated your accident and see what is holding your report up.
How Much Police Reports Costs
The cost of your police report will vary depending on which method you choose to recover it. If you get it online from the ASP central repository, the cost will be $10 plus a small surcharge. The cost will also be around $13 if you get your report from CrashDocs.com.
If you mail in your request, there will be a $10 flat fee for one report. However, you must send the payment in the form of a check or money order. It will also only cost $10 per copy if you decide to pick your report up in person from the RPD. You will also need to provide identification to get your report in person.
Our Russellville, AR Car Accident Attorneys Can Help You Get Your Report and File Your Claim
Call us at (479) 316-0438 to speak with our Russellville personal injury attorneys and receive your free case evaluation.