How to Get a Car Accident Police Report in Washington State
If you’ve been in a car accident or were one of the direct witnesses of an injury car accident, you should call 9-1-1. Ideally, emergency responders will arrive, including police officers who can conduct a brief investigation and write up a Police Traffic Collision Report. While not admissible in court, accident reports are used by insurance companies to help determine fault in motor vehicle accidents.
Am I required to call the police for a minor accident in Washington State?
In Washington State it is not required by law to call the police for minor accidents (though insurance information must be exchanged before parties can legally leave the scene of the crash). It is usually a good idea to call the police anyway, even when injuries and property damage are minor. Having an accident report can help you get a full and fair settlement for your injuries and losses.
Whether or not you call the police after an accident, you must report the collision to your insurance company.
How to Get a Car Accident Police Report in Washington State
When there are injuries from an accident, call 9-1-1 immediately. Assuming police arrive, they will conduct a brief investigation to try and figure out who caused the accident and whether any statutory violations occurred such as running a red light. If so, they will make a note about which driver violated the law in the accident report. They will also take notes about where and when the accident occurred, what vehicles were involved in the accident, and identify visibility and road conditions. Next, they will gather information from any witnesses and take notes about any injuries. They may create a diagram of the accident scene.
Be prepared to provide the following information to the police:
- Personal information such as name, address, telephone number, and insurance details.
- A driver’s statement about your side of the accident. Be careful not to admit fault when describing the facts of the accident!
Before responding officers leave the scene, ask them for:
- Name and badge numbers
- Police or incident report number or a phone number you can call to obtain the number or ask follow up questions later
Filing your own police report
If the police don’t arrive after your 9-1-1 call, you can still file your own police report online; and it should be done as soon as possible because the at-fault party may try to wriggle out of accepting responsibility if you wait.
To file your own police report you will want to:
- Gather all the information discussed above.
- Take pictures of the accident scene, any visible injuries, and the vehicles involved in the accident from all angles.
- Record witness statements with your cell phone camera.
- If the other party admits fault, record a statement of the driver admitting fault or have them sign a statement admitting fault.
Note: If there is over $1,000 in property damage, Washingtonians are required by law to report the collision online to the Washington State Patrol through an OMVCR unless a responding officer files a Police Traffic Collision Report.
Review your police report
You will want to obtain a copy of your police report so you can read it and see how the responding officer assigned blame for the accident. Click here to request a copy of your Washington collision report.
What do I do after the police report is filed?
After you have sought medical care and filed your police report, you may wish to contact an experienced local car accident attorney who can discuss your legal rights and ensure they are protected through the settlement process.
Seek the help of a car accident lawyer
If you or a loved one was injured in a collision because of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced car accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
