Had a car accident in Atlanta? Getting a copy of the police accident report is key for insurance claims and maybe even for legal action. If you’ve recently been in an accident within Atlanta city limits and require your car accident report from the Atlanta Police Department (APD), this blog is for you.
There are three main ways to get your report:
- Online: This is the fastest option. The APD uses a website called buycrash.com to give people online access to reports. There might be a fee for this.
- In Person: You can go to the APD’s Central Records Unit to pick up your report yourself.
- By Mail: If you can’t go online or in person, you can mail your request for a report.
Who Can Obtain Police Accident Report?
Anyone involved in the accident or someone with a legal reason to see the report can get a copy. This includes insurance companies, towing companies, or lawyers involved in the accident.
How to Get Your Car Accident Report Online
The Atlanta Police Department utilizes a third-party vendor, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, to facilitate online access to accident reports.
Here’s what you have to do:
- Click on the link to com.
- On the buycrash.com page, select Georgia as your state.
- From the second dropdown menu, choose the jurisdiction that investigated your car accident, i.e., the Atlanta Police Department.
- Click on Start Search to proceed.
- You will be asked to provide details, like:
- Last name
- Accident date
- Case report number
- VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
- Driver’s license number
Note: There might be a fee associated with this method.
How to Get Your Car Accident Report in Person
For those who prefer a face-to-face approach, the APD’s Central Records Unit offers in-person report pick-up. Here’s what you need to know:
Location
Atlanta Public Safety Annex
3493 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW
Atlanta, GA 30331
Central Records Unit Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm
Identification Required: It’s recommended that you bring a valid ID for verification purposes.
Getting a Faster Estimate
The APD has an online Open Records Request form you can use to get a more precise estimate of how long it will take and how much it will cost to get your report.
If you have not heard back from the Open Records Unit within three business days, please call them at 404-546-7448.
How to Get Your Report by Mail
If neither online nor in-person options are feasible, you can request the report by mail. Here’s a breakdown of the process:
- Include a written request saying Accident Report and a short statement explaining why you need it (statement of need, as required by C.G.A. 50-18-72).
- Include a check or money order for $5.00 made payable to the City of Atlanta.
- Mail your request to the following address:
Atlanta Police Central Records
3493 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30331
Hours of Operation: 8:30 am – 2:30 pm
Phone: 404-546-7461
How Much Does It Cost?
There are a few fees you might need to pay:
- Making copies of the report: $0.10 per page
- Getting the report on a CD or DVD: $1.00 per disc
- Mailing the report to you: $5.00 flat fee
- Getting a certified report: $3.00
- Record Retrieval, Review, and Copying Fee: Hourly wage charges may apply.
Accepted Payment Methods: Check or Money Order made payable to the City of Atlanta.
How Long Does It Take to Get My Report?
The Atlanta Police Department says it takes 3 to 4 weeks to get you your report, but this could change depending on how complex it is to find and prepare your report.
What Information Do I Need to Get My Report?
To expedite the retrieval process, having the following information readily available is recommended:
- Last Name of an Involved Party: Include one of the individuals involved in the accident.
- Date of the Accident: Knowing the exact date is crucial for locating the correct report.
- Additional Identifiers (Optional but helpful):
- Case Report Number (if available)
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of a car involved
- Driver’s License Number of a party involved
Supplying these details streamlines the process, allowing for efficient retrieval of your accident report.
What Does the Atlanta Police Department Accident Report Include?
The APD accident report contains valuable information for your personal injury claim, including:
- Contact and insurance details of the other driver(s) involved
- A detailed narrative of the accident from the responding officer’s perspective
- Information regarding any citations issued
Understanding the Police Accident Report Structure
The APD accident report generally follows a standardized format with four key sections:
- Initial Page: This section provides details about the other driver, including insurance information and any issued citations.
- Officer’s Narrative: This section outlines the officer’s account of the accident, potentially including a diagram and details about property damage.
- Supplemental Report: This section contains information about other parties involved, including passengers, airbag deployment, seatbelt usage, and any necessary extraction from vehicles.
- Overlay Page: Some county police departments utilize codes within the report. The overlay page serves as a key to deciphering these codes for a clearer understanding of the accident details.
For more details and direct access to the Atlanta Police Department’s services, visit their Central Records Unit website.
Privacy and Redaction
The Atlanta Police Department may remove some personal information from the report to protect people’s privacy. This could include Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, and personal contact information.
Appeals and Corrections
It’s important to understand the process for addressing any inaccuracies you may find within the report.
What if the Report Contains Errors?
Police reports are created based on the information available to the responding officer at the scene of the accident. There’s always a possibility that the report may contain factual errors, particularly if:
- Witness statements were not obtained at the scene.
- There’s conflicting information from the involved parties.
How to Correct a Report
If you think the information in the report is wrong, you can try to get it corrected. Here’s how:
- Gather proof that the report is wrong. This could be witness statements, video footage, or pictures of the accident scene.
- Contact the officer who wrote the report. You can find their contact information on the report or by calling the APD’s non-emergency number.
- Meet with the officer to show them your proof and explain the mistakes in the report.
- If the mistakes are big and the fault is being argued about, you may want to talk to an Atlanta car accident lawyer.
Need Legal Assistance?
If you need help getting your police report or if you think the report is wrong, the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm can help.
Our team can also assist with navigating the process of correcting any inaccuracies within the report to ensure a fair outcome in your case.
Remember: Getting your police accident report quickly can help with insurance claims and legal issues.
