Getting a police report can be helpful if you are pursuing damages for a car accident. Many insurance companies will want to see a copy of the report, and having it handy on your end can speed up your claim.
To get a copy of a police report in Searcy, you may be able to visit the police department in person or call them to request a copy. However, neither the Searcy PD nor the White County Sheriff’s Office websites have instructions for how to do this. Alternatively, the Arkansas State Police ultimately collect all crash reports, and they have an online portal where you can request a copy online for $10.
For help with your car accident case and help getting a copy of your police report, contact our Arkansas personal injury lawyers today at (479) 316-0438.
Can I Get a Copy of the Police Report for My Crash from the Searcy Police?
The Searcy Police Department’s website has a lot of information about different offices within the PD, including a phone number for the “Records Clerk”: (501) 279-1077. This desk might be able to direct you as to how to get a copy of the report over the phone or online, or they might be able to help you if you would rather go in person.
As per the instructions on other portals for police reports in Arkansas, you should expect this to cost around $10.
If you are having trouble getting your report through the police department, our Searcy car accident lawyers can help you get the report through other means discussed below.
Can I Get a Copy of the Police Report for My Crash from the White County Sheriff’s Office?
The White County Sheriff might also have a copy of the report if one of their deputies prepared the report. Their website does not have any specific information about how to get a report or who to contact, but if you know that someone from the Sheriff’s Office responded to your crash, they would likely have your report somewhere.
Getting Car Accident Reports from the Arkansas State Police in Searcy
Arkansas funnels all of its police reports for car crashes to the Arkansas State Police, making them the ultimate “statutory repository” of all reports in the state. As such, the easiest way to get a copy of your police report in Searcy would be to go online to the Arkansas Crash Reports website from the Department of Public Safety and order your report there.
This website just requires some personal info such as your name and driver license number and info about the report – namely the crash report number and the date of the accident. From there, you just plug in the info and pay for the report; then, you should be able to download, send, and print it at your leisure.
How Much Does a Police Report Cost in Searcy, AR?
The State Police website charges $10 for a copy of a police report. This all goes toward the cost of administering the system, making copies, etc. If you obtain a report directly from the police department, it is not clear if the cost is different.
Which Police Department Do I Get My Crash Report from in Searcy, AR?
As noted, Searcy has its own Searcy Police Department, but the White County Sheriff’s Office might also respond to crashes. It is possible that an accident on the highway might also see a response from the Arkansas State Police. If you were away from home when the accident occurred, it may even be a different police department that responded to the crash altogether.
Generally, whichever department the responding officer was from will be the department that has your report. If you are confused about which department the officer was from, but you have their contact info or badge number, your local police might be able to redirect you to the right department.
In any case, the report should eventually be available online from the Arkansas State Police, as they collect police reports from all departments across the state. You just need your crash report number, your license, and the date of the accident to get the report online, and there is no need to know which department the officer was from.
What is In a Police Report for a Car Accident in Searcy, AR?
Police reports contain a lot of information about your accident. Some of this info is the kind of info you will already have if you were conscious at the scene of the crash and you were able to talk to the other drivers, get their contact info, etc. However, the report will always contain some additional info you do not have: the police officer’s observations.
After a car accident, drivers and passengers are rattled. You might have the sense to get the other driver’s contact and insurance info, but you might have missed information like the make, model, and color of their car or the license plate number. It might not have even crossed your mind to take notes about something like the weather conditions or exactly what mile marker on the highway the crash took place. All of this info should be in the police report.
If you had to go straight to the ER after an accident or you were unconscious or seriously injured, you might not have gotten any of the info above. In that case, your crash report will be essential, and it will be able to provide you that info.
Lastly, the police report will also contain information the officer personally observed, such as the presence of vehicle damage and injuries, the location of the cars, and statements from the other driver. In many cases, you cannot reliably use their narrative of the accident written in the report, as it is based on hearsay if they did not see the crash happen. However, everything they said about the scene of the accident was personally observed, and this can help build your case.
Call Our Searcy, AR Car Accident Attorneys Today for Help
For a free case review and help getting your police report, call our Searcy car accident attorneys at (479) 316-0438.