How to Get a Police Report for a Car Accident Report in Boston
Car accidents can be extremely damaging to victims, who often require significant compensatory damages. In order to strengthen your claim against a negligent driver, it’s vital to obtain a copy of a police report after a car accident in Boston.
Boston car accident victims can access a copy of their police report in one of two ways. They can either go online to the Registry of Motor Vehicles’ portal or visit the Boston Police Department in person. Regardless of how victims choose to get their report, they must provide certain identifying information. Once you obtain your police report, your experienced attorney can use it to help you recover substantial compensatory damages in a Boston car accident lawsuit.
Our attorneys are dedicated to helping Boston car accident victims get the compensation they deserve against negligent drivers. For a free case evaluation with the Boston car accident attorneys at the Law Office of John J. Sheehan, call us today at (617) 925-6407.
Can You Get a Digital Copy of a Boston Police Report After a Car Accident?
Obtaining a police report for a car accident in Boston is crucial. Although some cities don’t provide victims with multiple retrieval methods, the Registry of Motor Vehicles makes things simpler for Boston victims by offering police reports through an online portal.
If you were injured in a car accident in Boston and required access to the corresponding police report, you could obtain it online. In Massachusetts, the Registry of Motor Vehicles condenses police reports from state and city police departments in one online portal. This can be a great option for victims whose injuries prevent them from visiting the Boston Police Department in person or who don’t live in the surrounding area.
It’s important to note that digital copies of police reports for car accidents in Boston cost $20, which is a one-time, non-refundable fee. If you’re having difficulty accessing your report through the online portal, don’t hesitate to ask our Wakefield car accident attorneys for help.
How to Get a Paper Copy of a Boston Police Report After a Car Accident
Although the online portal for Boston police reports is certainly convenient, some victims may prefer to obtain their police reports in person. Such car accident victims can visit the Boston Police Department to get a copy of a police report for their collision.
While police reports for car accidents in Boston are available online, victims may also be able to obtain a copy of their report in person. Victims or their lawyers can periodically call the Boston Police Department to see if their reports are ready to be picked up.
Unlike those who choose to use the online portal, car accident victims who elect to retrieve their reports in person will need to abide by the Boston Police Department’s open hours.
How Soon Can You Get a Police Report After a Car Accident in Boston?
Depending on how you choose to get your police report after a car accident in Boston, you may have to wait a bit to access it. Because the Boston Police Department doesn’t have an online portal of its own for victims, it can take up to several weeks for victims to obtain their reports digitally. On the other hand, paper copies are often available much sooner.
According to the Registry of Motor Vehicles, it can take up to four weeks to process a request for a police report. Clearly, if you need quick access to your police report, a month may be too long to wait. If time is of the essence, which it so often is for car accident victims, you may be able to obtain your report more quickly by going in person. If you can’t do so yourself because of your injuries, your Malden car accident lawyer can obtain your report on your behalf.
That being said, it will still take a few days for your report to be made available for in-person pickup. Remember, these reports are detailed accounts of an accident’s events. Allow some time for Boston police officers to complete your report and for staff to file it.
What Information Do You Need to Get a Boston Police Report for a Car Accident?
When you attempt to access your police report, you will need to provide certain identifying information, whether you go in person or online. It’s important for victims to know which details they will need to have on hand before obtaining a report for their Boston car accident.
Providing identifying information when attempting to access a police report hastens the process locating your report and establishes your involvement in a car accident. The following are some general pieces of information victims or their Cambridge car accident lawyers will need to provide when requesting a copy of a police report:
- Name
- Mailing address
- Accident date
- Internal reference number
Boston police officers should provide you with the corresponding internal reference number for your report at the accident scene. If you never received it or have since misplaced it, our attorneys can help you. Providing this unique number is generally the fastest way to locate a police report for a Boston car accident, whether in person or online.
Why Should You Get a Police Report After a Car Accident in Boston?
Getting access to a police report is crucial after a car accident in Boston. These reports often contain vital details, including indications of an accident’s cause, so obtaining yours can help support your compensation claim against a negligent driver.
Although police reports aren’t considered evidence in a Boston car accident lawsuit, they can point to evidence. These reports generally note officers’ opinions and likely causes of an accident.
Your Somerville car accident lawyer can use a police report to locate eyewitnesses who can support your claim and investigate any other pieces of evidence that can help you recover compensatory damages against a negligent driver.
Call Our Attorneys After a Car Accident in Boston
If you were injured in a car accident and need assistance obtaining your police report, our lawyers are here to help. For a free case evaluation with the Boston personal injury attorneys at the Law Office of John J. Sheehan, call us today at (617) 925-6407.