Managing the aftermath of a car accident can come with a lot of documentation. This is especially true if you have been hurt and are pursuing a personal injury claim for your car accident. Among many other pieces of paperwork, like medical documentation and paperwork for missed time from work, a car accident report may be one of the items you need to collect for documentation.
If police are called to the scene of a car accident, they will fill out a report on what happened. The report will need to be given to your Burlington car accident lawyer and insurance company. You can usually get a copy of these through e-mail, in person, or by mail.
Burlington Crash Accident Report Uses
The car accident report is a report that is typically created by the officer who responds to the accident. This may include information on where the cars were at the time of the accident, details on how it occurred, and driving conditions. This report serves as a formal record of the incident and is frequently used by insurance companies, lawyers, and juries to determine who is at fault for the accident or, in the case of comparative negligence, how much fault to assign to each party.
While the Burlington Police Dept. will not determine fault, insurance companies frequently utilize this report in settlement negotiations and court when necessary to determine who is liable and responsible for paying damages. This makes it crucial to retrieve your car accident report and ensure that the details are correct because this may be a staple piece of evidence in your case. It is likely that all parties in the case will have accessed this document and reviewed it to develop their argument.
In the event that you have not called the police to the scene, you are required by law to file a crash report within 5 days of the accident if you are not incapacitated due to injury. This is required for any collision that results in injury, death, or over $1,000 of property damage and is something you can do online. Property damage includes damage to a vehicle, bike, or property on which the accident occurred.
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Burlington Car Accident Report Request
Requesting a police report regarding a car accident in Burlington can be done online or in person. Massachusetts Public Records Law does not allow the office to accept record requests over the phone, so you will need to put it in writing or go in person. If you submit the request through a third-party site, you should also send the request through mail to ensure they receive it, as third-party e-mails may not make it through their firewall.
If you request a police crash report, you should wait until five to seven business days after the accident or submission of the report to the Registry of Motor Vehicles to file the request. This will ensure the officers and office staff have enough time to complete the report and update the system. Once the request for the report is made, the Registry of Motor Vehicles will have the results sent to you within four weeks.
What Criteria Do I Need to Meet?
You must meet a few criteria to obtain a copy of your crash report.
You must be one of the following:
- Vehicle Owner or Operator
- Occupant in the Vehicle
- Vulnerable Non-Motorist
- Witness
- Property Owner
- Credentials
There is a $20 fee associated with getting your crash report.
Requesting Your Crash Report Online
You will need a few pieces of information to request your crash report online. This will include:
- Driver’s License Number
- First and Last Name
- Date of Birth
- Driver Social Security Number
You will also need to be prepared to pay the fee at the time of request.
Requesting a Crash Report vs Police Report
A police report is a documentation of the call that the police were on and is specific to documenting a crime. A report for a car accident is known as a crash or car accident report. These are explicitly meant to record the details of a car accident based on what the officer investigated, and both may be useful to your case.
In Burlington, the police report is free to request. The request can be made through the police department and can take about ten business days to receive. This report requires less information to receive and can be requested and sent through the mail even if you are a Massachusetts resident.
When you order a crash report, you should be prepared for the $20.00 fee and know that it can take up to four weeks to receive it from the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). If they can’t find the report with their initial search, this could be because all parties involved have not yet filed their report, and the RMV will continue to search their database for 90 days. Ensuring that you have filed the report or called the police to the accident scene may result in a more timely receipt of your report.
Requesting Your Crash Report or Police Report by Mail
Most options for requesting and receiving records today are online or in person. However, if you do not have a Massachusetts ID, you can make a request to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation through the mail. MDOT requests that you submit your completed paperwork, a picture of your ID, and a money order for the fee to the address listed on the form.
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Your Burlington Car Accident Report
Your car accident report is not only a legal requirement after an accident but a key piece of evidence in your case. Should you decide to pursue a lawsuit, the investigation starts at the incident and report, though don’t let that deter you from taking your own pictures of the accident and injuries. Obtaining your car accident report is an important initial step in your case.
If you are unsure about obtaining your report or have concerns about its details, you can contact the officer who completed the report or their supervisor. They can assist you in making corrections that may be needed. If you have any further questions, the Burlington Police Department website can be another resource for information.
At DiBella Law, we have years of experience helping car accident victims secure the compensation they deserve. Contact a Burlington car accident attorney today and schedule a free consultation. You can also learn answers to your questions through our podcasts hosted by Chris DiBella.
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