By guest writer Hank Stout
Besides considering hiring a lawyer after a car accident, the next best thing following an accident is to obtain your police accident report. Not only will it provide details about your car accident, but it serves as critical evidence if your car accident case ever goes to trial. It also serves to build an unyielding car accident claim.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation Crash Records Information System (CRIS), there were a total of 11,049 crashes in the city of San Angelo between 2013 and 2017.
There are different ways you can get your police accident report, as listed below. Additionally, there is a free way to get your San Angelo police accident report provided by Sutliff & Stout Law Firm. All you need is Internet access and the information from your accident.
How to Get a Police Accident Report in San Angelo?
According to Texas law, any law enforcement officer that investigates a car accident that results in either injury or death or damage of property of over $1,000 needs to submit a written police accident report to TxDOT no later than 10 days following the date of the accident.
Individuals involved in an accident that was reported to by a San Angelo Police Officer should obtain a copy of their official accident report, filed by the responding officer.
To obtain a report, you’ll need to provide the exact date, location, and name of at least one individual involved in the accident.
To acquire your San Angelo accident report, simply go online, show up in person, or mail in your request. The San Angelo Police Department Records Division does not accept requests through email, fax, or over the phone.
If an accident was responded to by a Texas Peace Officer, then a copy of the Texas Police Officer’s Crash Report can be ordered through the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Information about doing so can be found on their website.
If you have been involved in a non-injury crash or a crash where the damage is not $1,000 or more and a police officer did not investigate the crash and you would like to fill out a report for your records, please download and complete the Driver’s Crash Report (CR-2) (Blue Form).
Online
Most police accident reports for San Angelo are available through the LexisNexis Police Reports website. You can access police reports from anywhere; all you need is internet access. For the database to locate your report, you must provide the state and jurisdiction, the accident report number, the last name of the involved party, and the date of the incident (or the last name of the involved party and the street where the accident occurred).
Once your report has been found on the database, you must then order it for a fee of $8.50, plus tax to download it.
In-Person
Another way to get your police accident report is by getting it in-person. The San Angelo Police Department Records Division is located at 401 East Beauregard. The hours of operation are Monday thru Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. When purchasing reports, the department accepts cash, check, or money order. Make sure to bring with you as many details of the accident as possible so they can locate your report.
To receive your San Angelo police crash report by mail, individuals must fill out the Request for Public Information Form and mail it in. The form requires basic, personal information, as well as details of the incident. For example, in the “Type of Information Requested” field, write “Accident Report.” Then, provide the date and location of the accident, the names of involved individuals, and under “Type of Incident” write, “Car accident.”
Mail the form with a stamped, self-addressed envelope, along with a money order made out to the City of San Angelo. The money order is for $6 for an accident report and $8 for a certified accident report.
Please mail your request to San Angelo Police Department Records Division, P.O. Box 5020, San Angelo, TX 76902.
Getting Your FREE Report from Sutliff & Stout Law Firm
Sutliff & Stout Law Firm also has a service for accident victims to obtain a free accident report by simply clicking here. These reports are available for individuals; this service is not available for other law firms or insurance companies.
If you have questions about your car accident report or about your car accident, our Texas personal injury lawyers are here to help. To discuss your car accident report or case, don’t hesitate to call Houston car accident lawyers Sutliff & Stout at (713) 987-7111 or contact us online today.
Hank Stout co-founded Sutliff & Stout, Injury & Accident Law Firm, to protect and pursue the rights of people who were harmed by the carelessness of others. Mr. Stout is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law and has been actively trying cases for over fifteen years. In recognition of his accomplishments and results, he has been selected by Thompson Reuters as a Super Lawyer since 2014 (a distinction is given to less than 1% of the lawyers in the state of Texas) and has been selected as Lead Counsel. Check out Sutliff and Stout on Facebook and Instagram.
