After a collision, you may wonder if getting a copy of your car accident report in San Francisco is important. Suppose law enforcement reported to the scene of your accident.
In that case, the accident report created by the reporting officer serves as one of the most valuable pieces of evidence detailing the facts and circumstances of your collision.
This document is reviewed carefully by both your attorney and insurance companies, strengthening your claim in any disputes about liability or causation.
Read on to learn how to obtain a San Francisco accident report and how an accident report can help in your case.
What is an Accident Report?
A San Francisco car accident report is a document completed by law enforcement personnel at the car collision scene.
Their investigation at the scene includes observations about the accident, such as the time, date, location, weather, traffic, and road conditions.
These accident reports serve as valuable evidence in a personal injury case following a car accident as the observations reported are by a reliable member of law enforcement detailing their unbiased account of your accident.
These details are important, primarily when you and the at-fault driver’s recollections differ.
Some accident reports even provide a reporting officer’s opinion about fault and strengthen your claim for damages against the at-fault driver.
Your insurance company and your attorney carefully review the details in the accident report to piece together the facts surrounding the cause of your collision.
How Do I Get a Car Accident Report in San Francisco?
Suffering injuries in an accident can make it difficult for you to complete even simple tasks. It’s important to remember that your attorney knows how to obtain a San Francisco accident report.
However, if you try to get a copy of your report on your own, the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) offers individuals three different options.
In Person
You may request a copy of your police accident report in person at the SFPD Police Headquarters in the Crime Information Services Unit at 1245 Third Street.
Reports are not available through district stations but only through this particular unit.
The regular business hours, excluding holidays for the SFPD Police Headquarters, are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Online
You may request a San Francisco car accident report through the SFPD online portal. You must complete the required Request for Incident Report form and upload the document to the portal.
To check on the status of your report, you may email the Crime Information Services Unit at sfpd.cisu@sfgov.org or make a request through your account on the portal.
It may take weeks to get a copy of your San Francisco police report, so it’s essential to get started requesting your copy as soon as possible.
U.S. Mail
To request a copy of your accident report in San Francisco by mail, you must complete the proper request form, which can be found on the SFPD website.
Follow all instructions included on the forms carefully to avoid any delays. Mail the completed form to the SFPD Police Headquarters at the same Third Street address.
Contact Us
At the Law Office of Chuck Geerhart, all clients benefit from decades of legal experience from one of the finest trial lawyers in California.
Chuck Geerhart is a longtime member of the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association (SFTLA) and the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).
If you suffered severe injuries in an accident, Chuck Geerhart has your back.
When you choose our law firm, you choose personal attention from start to finish and a choice never to be passed off to a paralegal or a junior lawyer.
We’ve obtained multi-million dollar settlements for our clients, getting them the financial support they need and deserve.
Moving on after an accident can be difficult not only physically but emotionally. We understand how important it is to get the total value of your claim and hold the correct party responsible for your losses.
Contact us today by phone or email to book a consultation and learn how the Law Office of Chuck Geerhart can help you!