How to Get a Police Report After a Car Accident in Bethlehem, PA

While many victims will call 911 after accidents, they may not realize officers write reports or that getting those reports helps them. We can help victims get crash reports and supplemental materials from police, like photos or videos.

Police reports completed by the Bethlehem Police Department are available online after accidents. So are reports written by the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), which patrols highways in Bethlehem. Notify the police of the accident by calling 911. If you do not report immediately, we can help you do so in the following days. We also help victims get reports from law enforcement agencies and amend inaccurate information. Police reports are not evidence, but they do help our lawyers build claims.

For a free and confidential case assessment, call the Bethlehem, PA car accident lawyers of The Reiff Law Firm at (215) 709-6940.

How to Get Accident Reports from the Bethlehem Police Department

For most accidents in Bethlehem, the local police will respond. Officers from the Bethlehem Police Department will write accident reports, which victims can obtain online soon afterward.

When it finishes reports, the Bethlehem Police Department sends documents to CrashDocs.org. Input the report number, the crash’s date, and your last name, and the database can locate the right report.

Accident reports from the Bethlehem Police Department cost $15 and should be ready online within 15 days. While copies of accident reports are no longer available in person at the Bethlehem Police Department, the online option is more convenient for most victims.

How Can I Get a Police Report for an Accident on the Highway in Bethlehem, PA?

Several highways run through Bethlehem, meaning officers from the Pennsylvania State Police may be nearby after a crash. If they respond to your accident, we can help you locate your report.

Highways like US Route 22, PA Route 378, and I-78 see accidents regularly. The PSP also uploads finished crash reports to an online database. Reports written by the PSP cost $22 and are also available within 15 days of accidents.

Be prepared to give the case number, your personal information, and details about the crash. While the PSP sometimes takes days to accept report requests, let us know if you haven’t heard back for a week or longer.

The PSP also sends crash reports to victims by mail upon request. Our Bethlehem, PA personal injury lawyers can help victims complete and send applications to the PSP’s Crash Reports Unit, along with a mail order or certified check for $22.

How Can I Report a Car Accident to the Police in Bethlehem, PA?

You can report a car accident to the police by calling 911. If you’re hurt, the law requires you to call the police under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3746(a).

Stay at the scene until officers arrive. When they do, tell them how the other party caused the accident. Make sure you don’t apologize or accept fault, as that might be used against you later on.

Reporting the crash to the police creates documentation of it. Some negligent drivers do not want to involve the police, but victims should not listen to them. It benefits you to call 911, document the accident, and generate a crash report we can use later.

If you don’t call 911, our lawyers can help you write a written report of the accident and send it to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. You must do this within five days of a crash law enforcement does not investigate, according to § 3747(a).

What if I Can’t Get the Police Report After My Bethlehem, PA Car Accident?

Many car accidents land victims in the hospital for days or weeks. If your injuries prevent you from getting the collision report yourself, we can help you.

Some victims can’t get accident reports because they don’t know the report number. Officers typically give this to victims before they depart. If you misplaced the report number, we can help you locate it and your crash report.

Though crash reports should be ready within 15 days in Pennsylvania, processing delays happen. We can contact either the Bethlehem Police Department or Pennsylvania State Police to find out why the report isn’t ready and get it as soon as possible.

How Can I Amend Inaccurate Collision Accident Report in Bethlehem?

After getting the report, we’ll read it to you immediately. You can point out any inaccuracies, and we can contact the appropriate law enforcement agency to get them fixed.

Indicating the wrong weather conditions, time of day, or primary cause of an accident is a problem. If not addressed, the at-fault driver might try to use those inaccuracies in their favor.

If any parts of the report contrast with your memory, tell us. We can get reports changed to show you needed medical attention at the scene and more accurately reflect the crash.

How Can the Police Report for a Car Accident Help My Case in Bethlehem, PA?

Though police reports are not admissible evidence, they can be used when preparing a case. Our lawyers read crash reports, looking for key information that can lead to admissible evidence.

Having eyewitnesses testify during trials benefits plaintiffs. To ensure their testimony is accurate, we will record their statements soon after the crash. Often, the best way to identify eyewitnesses is from the police report.

We may also use the police report to understand the crash better. Information like the weather and road conditions, time of day, exact location, and other details help us prepare for lawsuits. While you are recovering at home or in the hospital, we can use the police report as an important reference.

Call Our Bethlehem, PA Lawyers About Your Accident Case

For help with your case, call the Bethlehem, PA car accident lawyers of The Reiff Law Firm today at (215) 709-6940.